le mou échec
a mou failure
Wörtlich: the soft failure
Use it to describe a disappointing result that failed because it lacked energy or conviction.
In 15 Sekunden
- A failure lacking energy or impact.
- Used for underwhelming or 'meh' results.
- Implies a lack of effort or backbone.
Bedeutung
A failure that happens without any energy, passion, or impact. It describes a situation that didn't just fail, but fizzled out weakly because it lacked backbone or effort.
Wichtige Beispiele
3 von 6Talking about a boring movie
Le film était un mou échec, je me suis endormi au milieu.
The movie was a soft failure, I fell asleep in the middle.
Describing a failed office party
La fête de bureau a fini en mou échec car personne n'a dansé.
The office party ended in a weak failure because nobody danced.
Texting a friend about a date
Son date d'hier ? Un mou échec total, ils n'avaient rien à se dire.
Her date yesterday? A total soft failure, they had nothing to say to each other.
Kultureller Hintergrund
The term 'mou' is frequently used in France to describe people or things lacking vigor. French culture often critiques 'la mollesse' (softness/laziness) as it contrasts with the national ideal of intellectual and social engagement. This phrase captures a specific modern cynicism toward underwhelming experiences.
The 'Peps' Factor
Use this phrase when something lacked 'peps' (energy/zest). It’s the perfect word for things that were just plain boring.
Don't be too mean!
Calling someone's hard work a 'mou échec' is quite insulting. It implies they didn't put in any effort. Use it for situations, not people's dreams.
In 15 Sekunden
- A failure lacking energy or impact.
- Used for underwhelming or 'meh' results.
- Implies a lack of effort or backbone.
What It Means
Imagine you're trying to start a campfire. You have the wood and the matches, but the logs are damp. You strike a match, it flickers for a second, and then... nothing. That is a le mou échec. It is not a giant explosion or a dramatic disaster. It is just a sad, quiet fizzle. In French, mou means soft, flabby, or limp. When you pair it with échec (failure), you are describing something that failed because it simply did not have the strength to succeed. It is the kind of failure that makes you shrug your shoulders rather than cry. It is the ultimate 'meh' moment.
How To Use It
You will mostly use this to describe events, projects, or efforts that were underwhelming. Grammatically, adjectives like mou usually sit after the noun in French, so you might more commonly hear un échec mou. However, putting mou before the noun adds a stylistic, almost poetic punch of disappointment. You can say something *was* a mou échec to emphasize that it lacked 'peps' (energy). For example, if you organized a party and only two people showed up and sat in silence, you could tell your best friend it was a mou échec. It is a very evocative way to say 'well, that was a waste of time.'
When To Use It
This phrase is perfect for those low-stakes disappointments in life. Use it when you are venting to a friend about a boring movie. Use it when a new recipe turns out to be completely tasteless. It is great for texting because it is short and paints a clear picture. If you are at a restaurant and the 'special' is just a piece of dry toast, you might whisper to your partner that it is a mou échec. It captures that specific feeling of being let down by something that did not even seem to try.
When NOT To Use It
Do not use this for anything serious or tragic. If someone fails a major exam or a business goes bankrupt, calling it a mou échec sounds incredibly rude and dismissive. It implies the person was lazy or did not care. Also, avoid it in very formal professional settings. Your boss does not want to hear that the annual report was a 'soft failure.' In those cases, stick to more neutral terms like un résultat décevant (a disappointing result). Keep this one for the soggy croissants and boring dates of the world.
Cultural Background
In France, there is a deep cultural respect for 'le panache'—doing things with style, energy, and flair. Even if you fail, if you did it with passion, people will often still respect the effort. A mou échec is the exact opposite of panache. It suggests a lack of volonté (willpower) or énergie. It is a bit of a cultural jab at laziness or lack of conviction. The French language has many colorful words for failure, but mou adds a layer of physical limpness that is particularly stinging in a culture that values sharp wit and strong opinions.
Common Variations
You will often hear un bide (a flop) when talking about a show or a joke that fails. If something is a total disaster, the French use un échec cuisant (a stinging failure). If you want to say something fell flat, you can say tomber à plat. While le mou échec is more of a descriptive collocation, these variations help you navigate the different 'flavors' of failure in French conversation.
Nutzungshinweise
The phrase is informal and carries a tone of disappointment or cynicism. Remember that 'mou' usually follows the noun, so using it before 'échec' is a deliberate choice to emphasize the lack of energy.
The 'Peps' Factor
Use this phrase when something lacked 'peps' (energy/zest). It’s the perfect word for things that were just plain boring.
Don't be too mean!
Calling someone's hard work a 'mou échec' is quite insulting. It implies they didn't put in any effort. Use it for situations, not people's dreams.
The Panache Rule
In France, failing with style is okay. Failing 'mou' is not. If you're going to fail, do it with energy!
Beispiele
6Le film était un mou échec, je me suis endormi au milieu.
The movie was a soft failure, I fell asleep in the middle.
Uses the phrase to describe a lack of engagement.
La fête de bureau a fini en mou échec car personne n'a dansé.
The office party ended in a weak failure because nobody danced.
Describes a lack of atmosphere and energy.
Son date d'hier ? Un mou échec total, ils n'avaient rien à se dire.
Her date yesterday? A total soft failure, they had nothing to say to each other.
Informal way to describe zero chemistry.
Mon gâteau est un mou échec, il n'a pas du tout gonflé.
My cake is a soft failure, it didn't rise at all.
A humorous take on a kitchen mishap.
La manifestation a été un mou échec avec seulement trois personnes.
The protest was a weak failure with only three people.
Describes a lack of social impact.
Ma séance de sport était un mou échec aujourd'hui, je n'avais pas de force.
My workout was a soft failure today, I had no strength.
Personal reflection on a lack of physical energy.
Teste dich selbst
Choose the correct word to describe a failure that lacked energy.
Le concert n'avait aucune ambiance, c'était un ___ échec.
The word 'mou' describes the lack of energy or 'softness' of the failure.
Complete the sentence to describe a boring speech.
Son discours était tellement ennuyeux, un vrai ___ échec.
A boring speech lacks impact, making it a 'mou échec'.
🎉 Ergebnis: /2
Visuelle Lernhilfen
Formality of 'Le Mou Échec'
Used with friends and family to vent about boring things.
C'était un mou échec, ce resto.
Can be used in casual work chats about low-stakes projects.
Le projet a fini en mou échec.
Too dismissive for professional reports or serious news.
N/A
When to call it a 'Mou Échec'
A party with no music
Une soirée sans ambiance
A flat souffle
Un gâteau raté
A boring first date
Un rendez-vous ennuyeux
A weak attempt at a joke
Une blague pas drôle
Häufig gestellte Fragen
10 FragenIt means 'soft' or 'limp.' Think of a wet noodle or a sponge. In this phrase, it describes a failure that lacks firmness or strength.
It is more of a descriptive collocation. While 'un échec mou' is the standard grammar, 'le mou échec' is used for stylistic emphasis to highlight the 'softness' of the failure.
Only with close colleagues in a casual setting. It sounds a bit too cynical and informal for a meeting with your boss.
Not usually. If you call a person 'mou,' you're saying they are lazy or lack energy. Use 'le mou échec' for events or results instead.
The opposite would be 'un échec cuisant' (a stinging/burning failure), which is a dramatic, painful disaster, or simply 'un grand succès'.
In French, moving an adjective before the noun often adds emotional weight or a poetic touch. It makes the quality of being 'soft' the most important part of the description.
No, it's not slang, but it is definitely informal. You'll find it in everyday conversation rather than in textbooks.
Absolutely! If a dish was supposed to be crispy but came out soggy and disappointing, it's a 'mou échec'.
Yes, it's quite dismissive. It suggests that the thing wasn't even worth the effort of failing properly.
No, it's understood throughout the French-speaking world, as 'mou' and 'échec' are universal terms.
Verwandte Redewendungen
un bide
a total flop (usually for a show or joke)
un échec cuisant
a stinging, painful failure
tomber à plat
to fall flat
faire chou blanc
to come up empty-handed
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