The odd expressions
A chap on the tram was explaining loudly, on his mobile phone, that he would be late because the tram was stopping at Terres Neuves instead of taking him further.
"Et après ? Il faut que je marche à pied !" (And afterwards? I'll have to walk on foot!)
In French we hardly ever walk without explaining how we propose to walk, even though it is invariably on foot.
It set me thinking about the other silly expressions that we use.
"Would the congregation please be upstanding". (well, would it???)
but never "would the congregation please be downsitting"...
We do something similar in Welsh.
Wnewch chi sefyll ar eich traed. Will you stand on your feet.
As if in some circumstances we might say, Will you stand on your heads...
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