Informal French Expression

Meaning he’s not that great/special, he’s nothing to write home about Literally he doesn’t break a duck’s three feet Register informal Pronunciation [eel neu kas pah trwah pah tah oo(n) kah nar] IPA [il nə kas pɑ trwa pat a œ̃ ka naʀ]

Usage notes: Since ducks only have two feet, it would take someone or something truly exceptional to break three – or at least that’s the idea behind the French idiom il ne casse pas trois pattes à un canard.

Par exemple…

Pierre est sympa, mais il ne casse pas trois pattes à un canard. Pierre is nice, but he’s not that special / nothing to write home about. J’ai vu le film – ça ne casse pas trois pattes à un canard. I saw the movie – it’s nothing special.

The base expression is ne pas casser trois pattes à un canard, so obviously it can be used with other (mediocre) subjects.

Gaëlle ne casse pas trois pattes à un canard. Gaëlle isn’t that great. Ils ne cassent pas trois pattes à un canard. They’re not that great. Tu ne casses pas trois pattes à un canard. You’re not that great.

Informally,is dropped and this expression is pronounced

Synonymous expressions (all informal)

ça ne casse pas des briques – literally, "it doesn’t break bricks"

– literally, "it doesn’t break bricks" ça ne casse rien – "it doesn’t break anything"

– "it doesn’t break anything" ça ne pisse pas loin – "it doesn’t pee far"

– "it doesn’t pee far" ce n’est pas la gloire – "it’s not glory"

– "it’s not glory" ce n’est pas terrible – "it’s not that great"

– "it’s not that great" ce n’est pas transcendant – "it’s not transcendent"

– "it’s not transcendent" il n’y a pas de quoi pavoiser – "there’s no reason to put out flags"

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