exactement vague

You can use it as an adjective phrase to describe a situation. "C'est exactement vague." It works best as a reaction. If your friend says they will arrive "sometime after lunch," you can sigh and say, "C'est exactement vague, merci." It highlights the frustration of the lack of detail in a playful way. You can also use it to describe your own lack of plans. "Mon plan pour les vacances est exactement vague." This shows you are relaxed and have no set schedule. It is very flexible. Just place it after the verb être or use it to modify a noun like une réponse.

Use it when talking to friends about their flaky plans. It is perfect for discussing politics or corporate jargon. If a boss says "we need to synergize our paradigms," that is exactement vague. Use it when you are being a bit sarcastic. It is great for texting when someone is being mysterious about a date. You might even use it at a modern art gallery. If a painting is just a gray square, calling it exactement vague makes you sound sophisticated and witty. It is a great tool for social commentary in everyday life.

Do not use it in a math class or a science lab. Those places require actual precision. Avoid it when giving emergency directions to an ambulance. It is a bit too cheeky for a serious police report or a legal contract. If someone is genuinely confused and trying their best, don't use it to mock them. Use it for *intentional* vagueness, not accidental confusion. It carries a hint of irony, so save it for situations where a bit of sass is welcome.

The French love a good paradox. Intellectual gymnastics are practically a national sport in France. There is even a famous regional stereotype called the réponse de Normand. People from Normandy are jokingly said to never say "yes" or "no" clearly. Exactement vague fits right into this cultural tradition of valuing nuance and the "unspoken." It celebrates the complexity of language. It shows that you understand the subtext of a conversation. It is a very "Parisian" way to be slightly cynical yet intellectually engaged.

You might hear flou artistique. This refers to an "artistic blur" or intentional messiness in a project. Another variation is précisément imprécis. This means "precisely imprecise." If you want to be more formal, you could use volontairement ambigu. That means "intentionally ambiguous." However, exactement vague remains the most fun to say. It has a nice, snappy rhythm. It sounds like you are giving a compliment while actually pointing out a flaw.