French phrase of the Day: Trier sur le volet
This expression goes right back to the Middle Ages and has nothing to do with shutters.
Why do I need to know trier sur le volet ?
Because if someone says they chose you for the job and adds this expression, you should be flattered.
What does it mean?
Trier sur le volet – pronounced tree-ay sir luh voe-lay - literally translates to “to sort on the shutter” but its real meaning is closest to the English expression “to separate the wheat from the chaff” or even “to find the diamond in the rough.” It is simply to be specifically picked or chosen, and it carries a positive connotation.
Based on the idea of filtering through several options and choosing the best, this expression has a very logical origin story.
These days volets almost always refers to shutters, but this phrase goes back to the Middle Ages when the “volet” was the word for a cloth that was used to sort seeds. Gradually over time, this cloth was transformed into a wooden plate that was used to sort peas and beans.
The expression went on to refer to more than just seeds, but at the time it was used frequently to stress the importance of actually selecting the good seeds.
So trier sur le volet means selecting the best.
Nowadays, you might hear this expression being used by a French employer talking about the different candidates she is choosing from, or maybe you’ll hear it as someone discusses their real estate options.
Use it like this
Les joueurs de l’équipe de France de handball ont été triés sur le volet – The players for France’s handball team were carefully selected for the job.
J'ai finalement trié sur le volet. Amy sera la parfaite stagiaire d'été. – I’ve finally separated the wheat from the chaff. Amy will be a great summer intern.
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Why do I need to know trier sur le volet ?
Because if someone says they chose you for the job and adds this expression, you should be flattered.
What does it mean?
Trier sur le volet – pronounced tree-ay sir luh voe-lay - literally translates to “to sort on the shutter” but its real meaning is closest to the English expression “to separate the wheat from the chaff” or even “to find the diamond in the rough.” It is simply to be specifically picked or chosen, and it carries a positive connotation.
Based on the idea of filtering through several options and choosing the best, this expression has a very logical origin story.
These days volets almost always refers to shutters, but this phrase goes back to the Middle Ages when the “volet” was the word for a cloth that was used to sort seeds. Gradually over time, this cloth was transformed into a wooden plate that was used to sort peas and beans.
The expression went on to refer to more than just seeds, but at the time it was used frequently to stress the importance of actually selecting the good seeds.
So trier sur le volet means selecting the best.
Nowadays, you might hear this expression being used by a French employer talking about the different candidates she is choosing from, or maybe you’ll hear it as someone discusses their real estate options.
Use it like this
Les joueurs de l’équipe de France de handball ont été triés sur le volet – The players for France’s handball team were carefully selected for the job.
J'ai finalement trié sur le volet. Amy sera la parfaite stagiaire d'été. – I’ve finally separated the wheat from the chaff. Amy will be a great summer intern.
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