donner tort
To have instinct
حرفيًا: To give wrongness
Use it when the facts finally prove that someone's previous opinion or doubt was completely mistaken.
في 15 ثانية
- To prove someone wrong through facts or outcomes.
- Used when reality contradicts someone's prediction or opinion.
- Common in debates, sports, and daily 'I told you so' moments.
المعنى
Actually, this phrase means to prove someone wrong or to show that they were mistaken. It is the opposite of 'giving someone credit'—you are essentially 'giving' them the blame for being incorrect.
أمثلة رئيسية
3 من 6Proving a skeptic wrong at work
Le succès du projet a fini par donner tort aux critiques.
The project's success ended up proving the critics wrong.
A weather prediction gone wrong
Le grand soleil a donné tort à la météo.
The bright sun proved the weather forecast wrong.
Admitting a friend was right about a movie
Je déteste l'admettre, mais ce film m'a donné tort.
I hate to admit it, but this movie proved me wrong.
خلفية ثقافية
The phrase reflects the French Cartesian tradition of logic and debate. In French social circles, 'donner tort' is part of the 'esprit de contradiction' where challenging others' views is a sign of engagement rather than hostility. It became a standard rhetorical tool in the 17th-century salons of Paris.
The 'I told you so' alternative
If you want to say 'I told you so' without being too rude, use `Les faits me donnent raison` (The facts prove me right) instead of focusing on their 'tort'.
Don't confuse with 'avoir tort'
Remember: `Avoir tort` is 'to be wrong.' `Donner tort` is 'to prove wrong.' Don't say 'Je donne tort' if you just mean you are mistaken!
في 15 ثانية
- To prove someone wrong through facts or outcomes.
- Used when reality contradicts someone's prediction or opinion.
- Common in debates, sports, and daily 'I told you so' moments.
What It Means
Donner tort is about being the living proof that someone else messed up. Imagine your friend says it will rain. You go outside, the sun is shining, and you stay dry. You have just 'given him wrongness.' It is not about being mean. It is about the facts of the situation contradicting a person's opinion or prediction. You are the evidence that their logic failed.
How To Use It
You use it with a person as the indirect object. For example, L'histoire lui a donné tort means history proved him wrong. You can also use it when you admit you were wrong. If you say Je te donne tort, you are actively telling someone they are incorrect. It is a very common way to settle an argument. It sounds much more natural than saying someone is 'not right.'
When To Use It
Use it when the results are in. Use it at work when a project succeeds despite a skeptic's doubts. Use it with friends when a 'bad' restaurant turns out to be amazing. It is perfect for those 'I told you so' moments. Just remember to keep it lighthearted if you want to keep your friends. It is great for debating movies, sports, or office strategies.
When NOT To Use It
Do not use it for moral 'wrongs' or crimes. If someone steals something, they are coupable, not just tort. Also, avoid using it if you are just expressing a different opinion. It requires a factual outcome to prove the point. If you just disagree about a color, don't use it. It feels too final for a simple matter of taste. Don't use it to be a bully in meetings.
Cultural Background
French culture loves a good intellectual debate. Proving someone wrong isn't always seen as an insult. It is often just part of the 'joute verbale' or verbal jousting. In France, being wrong is an opportunity to learn or refine an argument. The phrase has been around for centuries. It reflects a society that values logic and evidence over just 'feeling' right. It is a staple of political commentary and sports journalism.
Common Variations
You will often hear avoir tort, which simply means 'to be wrong.' While avoir tort is a state of being, donner tort is an action. Something or someone *gives* the wrongness to the person. You might also hear avoir tort sur toute la ligne. This means being wrong about every single detail. It is the ultimate 'you failed' expression. Use it sparingly!
ملاحظات الاستخدام
The phrase is neutral and versatile. Use the indirect object (lui, leur) when referring to people. It is most effective when the 'subject' of the sentence is the evidence itself (e.g., the facts, the results, the weather).
The 'I told you so' alternative
If you want to say 'I told you so' without being too rude, use `Les faits me donnent raison` (The facts prove me right) instead of focusing on their 'tort'.
Don't confuse with 'avoir tort'
Remember: `Avoir tort` is 'to be wrong.' `Donner tort` is 'to prove wrong.' Don't say 'Je donne tort' if you just mean you are mistaken!
The French Love for Logic
In French meetings, 'donner tort' is often used constructively. It's not a personal attack; it's a way to pivot to a better strategy based on new data.
أمثلة
6Le succès du projet a fini par donner tort aux critiques.
The project's success ended up proving the critics wrong.
The success is the 'actor' that proves the people wrong.
Le grand soleil a donné tort à la météo.
The bright sun proved the weather forecast wrong.
A very common everyday observation.
Je déteste l'admettre, mais ce film m'a donné tort.
I hate to admit it, but this movie proved me wrong.
Used when you expected to hate something but liked it.
Le score final donne tort à tous les parieurs !
The final score proves all the bettors wrong!
Short and punchy for a text message.
Le GPS vient encore de nous donner tort.
The GPS just proved us wrong again.
Humorous take on getting lost despite being sure of the way.
Le temps finit toujours par donner tort aux menteurs.
Time always ends up proving liars wrong.
A more philosophical or emotional application.
اختبر نفسك
Choose the correct pronoun to complete the sentence: 'Il pensait que j'allais échouer, mais mes résultats ___ ont donné tort.'
Il pensait que j'allais échouer, mais mes résultats ___ ont donné tort.
We use the indirect object pronoun 'lui' because you give 'tort' TO someone.
Which verb completes the phrase to mean 'to prove the skeptics wrong'?
Les faits vont ___ tort aux sceptiques.
The standard idiom is 'donner tort à quelqu'un'.
🎉 النتيجة: /2
وسائل تعلم بصرية
Formality of 'Donner Tort'
Used with friends during a debate.
Tu vois ? Je t'ai donné tort !
Standard usage in news or work.
Les chiffres donnent tort à la direction.
Academic or literary context.
L'histoire donnera tort à cette décision.
When to use 'Donner Tort'
Sports
The underdog wins the match.
Weather
It rains during a 'dry' forecast.
Work
A risky strategy pays off.
Relationships
Proving a friend's doubt was baseless.
الأسئلة الشائعة
11 أسئلةActually, no. While some older translations might confuse it with intuition, in modern French it strictly means 'to prove someone wrong.' If you want to say someone has instinct, use avoir du flair.
Yes, it is perfectly neutral. You might write Les résultats du trimestre donnent tort aux prévisions initiales to explain a change in data.
It depends on your tone! If you say it with a smile during a debate, it's fine. If you shout it, it sounds like a harsh 'I told you so!'
The opposite is donner raison à quelqu'un, which means to prove someone right or to agree that they were correct.
Yes, you use à before the person. For example: donner tort à Marie or lui donner tort.
Yes! In fact, objects or events are the most common subjects. La réalité nous a donné tort (Reality proved us wrong).
Not at all. It is standard French used by everyone from students to the President.
You would usually say J'avais tort. You only use donner tort if something else proved you wrong, like L'expérience m'a donné tort.
Sure! If you thought a coffee would be bad and it's great, you can say Ce café m'a donné tort.
You could use contredire or infirmer, but donner tort is the most natural and common expression.
No, it just implies they were mistaken or had a false belief. It's about error, not necessarily dishonesty.
عبارات ذات صلة
avoir tort
to be wrong
donner raison à
to prove someone right
avoir du flair
to have instinct / to be intuitive
se tromper
to make a mistake
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