bad language

Try foutre.
Google it.

well Bags it depends what you mean by respect as said before we all have different standards and what offends one does not others.

I never tolerated bad language from either of my children, but we are all different.

There is nothing condescending about Respect.

...sounds like the term for a collapsed souffle..
And...as I said before I got sucked into this thread...back to the ironing board.

I have googled quite enough for one day thank you.

It means "do one". I think. #couldntresistcouldi

There are arm movements!

Will not link.

That's a very polite version, jingl...

From the Urban Dictionary:
" va te faire foutre
Literally, 'Go do / make yourself.' One of the most vulgar forms of dismissal in the French language. To execute the gesture, make a fist with the right hand, and extend the arm out straight, parallel to the ground, fingers up. With the left hand open, slap the right bicep just above the elbow while raising the right forearm upwards to 90 degrees. Known as the 'Bras d'honneur.
Roughly equivalent to fuck off, go fuck yourself, up yours, etc.
While stopped at a red light, the person behind you honks their horn for you to move. You give them the Bras d'honneur, and shout through the open window, 'Va te faire foutre, putain d'espèce d'enculé!'
Obviously the French are less polite than us.
You can get the T-shirt too.
#musttryitsometime

That's the one I read janeainsworth!

I didn't put it up on Gransnet. [halo]

Did you try that thing with your arm? It felt like having your reflexes tested.

Bisous j

Baiser - a polite French word for certain parts of the anatomy 'kissing'

What I love about the French, is that even in the heat of the moment, swearing like a trooper in a traffic "incident" - their grammar is impeccable!!!!

Well I have just come back from Zumba gold and as we were clenching our biceps in time to the music I couldn't help thinking of the 'Bras d'honneur'. That image is going to stay with me for a while I think.

If you want the Italian version "va fan culo" (try lip reading when the Italians are playing football) culo roughly meaning arse. Isn't Gransnet nice and educational for us old ladies?

They never said that on Montalbano but I remember quite a lot of Fanden on The Bridge or The Killing!

As we are all ( or nearly all) grandmothers, I am appalled that such bad language is written on a Forum for grandparents. I'm glad my grandchildren don't have a grandmother who uses 4-letter swear words. I want them to have good start in life with values that make life easier for them.
If this makes me into a stuffed shirt as jingle called it then I will have to be one in her estimation.

I'have to admit that I have not read all the 8 pages of posts about swearing. Why should I want to do that?

You should read the whole thread Margaret. There's a responsible, well-argued discussion in here, some sense of taking the heat out of emotive, shocking words, and some philosophsing about how we all react in different ways to swear words. An interesting thread.

margaretx

There are some sensible posts on here. No-one is advocating swearing, and everyone thinks that children should not be sworn at, or allowed to swear at others, but there are descriptions of how word meanings change over the years, and of how not to react with shock horror (it just encourages the rebels to shock again!) but to point out the difference between dropping a hammer on a toe and letting out something regrettable, and verbally abusing someone with swearwords and curses.

Do read it all - it is most interesting.

MargaretX - no one in life will have a better start than my grandchildren are getting, or better values given to them. Their parents, their church, and, yes, even their granny, see to that.

Ask them about what Oxfam is trying to do in the world. You would be amazed at their knowledge.

But they have a grandmother who uses 4-letter words. Obviously some families are more broad minded about these things.

Life is a four letter word.

That's not the Four letter word I was thinking of.

It's not the family MargaretX. Just me.

Glass

Bit Epigramatic there Merlot.