French word of the Day: Rétropédalage
No, it's nothing to do with hipsters on retro bicycles.
Why do I need to know rétropédalage?
Because it’s useful when complaining about the government, a cherished pastime in France.
What does it mean?
It literally means ‘backpedalling’, and just like in English, it is mostly used in a figurative sense, when somebody goes back on something they said or did.
The term was in the news recently, after several local prefectures announced the end of compulsory mask wearing outdoors in their towns. They were later accused of rétropédalage after suspending the measures at the request of Interior Minister Gérald Darmanin.
The word is often used to convey a sense of embarrassment, when a person or organisation has to walk back a hasty or controversial statement, or abandon an unpopular policy.
It can be used as a noun (le rétropédalage), or a verb (rétropédaler).
If the initial comments were particularly controversial, the person might resort to un rétropédalage in an attempt to sauver les meubles.
Use it like this
Tout le monde est en colère malgré sa tentative de rétropédalage – Everybody’s angry despite his attempted backpedalling.
Après un tollé autour de ses propos, il a été contraint de rétropédaler – After an uproar, he was forced to walk back his comments.
Ils avaient annoncé la fin du port du masque en extérieur, mais ils ont rétropédalé depuis – They had announced the end of compulsory outdoor mask wearing, but they’ve since backpeddled.
Comments
See Also
Why do I need to know rétropédalage?
Because it’s useful when complaining about the government, a cherished pastime in France.
What does it mean?
It literally means ‘backpedalling’, and just like in English, it is mostly used in a figurative sense, when somebody goes back on something they said or did.
The term was in the news recently, after several local prefectures announced the end of compulsory mask wearing outdoors in their towns. They were later accused of rétropédalage after suspending the measures at the request of Interior Minister Gérald Darmanin.
The word is often used to convey a sense of embarrassment, when a person or organisation has to walk back a hasty or controversial statement, or abandon an unpopular policy.
It can be used as a noun (le rétropédalage), or a verb (rétropédaler).
If the initial comments were particularly controversial, the person might resort to un rétropédalage in an attempt to sauver les meubles.
Use it like this
Tout le monde est en colère malgré sa tentative de rétropédalage – Everybody’s angry despite his attempted backpedalling.
Après un tollé autour de ses propos, il a été contraint de rétropédaler – After an uproar, he was forced to walk back his comments.
Ils avaient annoncé la fin du port du masque en extérieur, mais ils ont rétropédalé depuis – They had announced the end of compulsory outdoor mask wearing, but they’ve since backpeddled.
Join the conversation in our comments section below. Share your own views and experience and if you have a question or suggestion for our journalists then email us at [email protected].
Please keep comments civil, constructive and on topic – and make sure to read our terms of use before getting involved.
Please log in here to leave a comment.