faire le pont
To be in a difficult situation
直訳: To make the bridge
Use this to describe taking a 'bridge' day off to enjoy a four-day weekend.
15秒でわかる
- Taking an extra day off to create a long weekend.
- Specifically used when a holiday falls near a weekend.
- A cornerstone of French work culture and vacation planning.
意味
This phrase refers to the glorious French tradition of taking an extra day off when a public holiday falls on a Tuesday or Thursday, creating a four-day weekend. You are essentially 'building a bridge' from the holiday to the weekend.
主な例文
3 / 6Chatting with a coworker about May holidays
Est-ce que tu fais le pont pour l'Ascension ?
Are you taking the long weekend for Ascension?
Texting a friend about a trip
On fait le pont, donc on part à la mer jeudi soir !
We're taking the long weekend, so we're heading to the seaside Thursday night!
A boss announcing office closures
L'entreprise fera le pont le vendredi 10 mai.
The company will be closed on Friday, May 10th.
文化的背景
The concept is deeply rooted in the French 'art de vivre' and labor rights. May is famous for having multiple public holidays (May 1st, May 8th, and Ascension), leading to the joke that the French don't work at all during that month. It is so common that many small businesses and bakeries will simply close their doors for the duration of the 'bridge'.
The May Trap
In May, don't expect to get much done in France. Between Labor Day and Victory Day, everyone is 'bridging'. It's the worst time for paperwork but the best time for a picnic!
Check your 'RTT'
French employees often use their 'RTT' (reduction of working time) days to `faire le pont`. It's a specific type of day off unique to the French 35-hour work week.
15秒でわかる
- Taking an extra day off to create a long weekend.
- Specifically used when a holiday falls near a weekend.
- A cornerstone of French work culture and vacation planning.
What It Means
Imagine a public holiday lands on a Thursday. Most people would work Friday. Not in France! You take that Friday off. You have 'bridged' the gap to Saturday. This creates a massive four-day break. It is a national pastime. Everyone plans for it months in advance.
How To Use It
You use it as a verb phrase. It works just like faire du sport. You can say je fais le pont or on fait le pont. It is very flexible. You can use it in any tense. 'I will bridge' or 'We bridged'. It is a joyful expression of freedom.
When To Use It
Use it when discussing your vacation plans. Use it at the office in May. May is the holy month of bridges in France. There are many holidays then. You can ask your boss if the company is 'doing the bridge'. It is a standard part of work-life conversation. Even schools do it often.
When NOT To Use It
Do not use it for a normal three-day weekend. If the holiday is on a Monday, there is no gap. No gap means no bridge. Also, do not use it for literal construction. If you are actually building a bridge over a river, use construire. You might confuse a very literal architect!
Cultural Background
France has a strong culture of 'le repos'. This phrase became popular as labor laws evolved. It reflects the French priority on quality of life. In May, the country almost grinds to a halt. It is called 'le mois des ponts'. Some businesses even force employees to take the day off. It is a collective agreement to relax.
Common Variations
You might hear faire un long week-end. That is the boring version. Stick to faire le pont for more flavor. Sometimes people say un pont de quatre jours. This specifies the length. If you are lucky, you might even faire le viaduc. That is a slangy way to describe an even longer break!
使い方のコツ
The phrase is neutral and can be used in almost any setting, from a corporate boardroom to a casual dinner. Just remember it requires a 'gap' day to make sense.
The May Trap
In May, don't expect to get much done in France. Between Labor Day and Victory Day, everyone is 'bridging'. It's the worst time for paperwork but the best time for a picnic!
Check your 'RTT'
French employees often use their 'RTT' (reduction of working time) days to `faire le pont`. It's a specific type of day off unique to the French 35-hour work week.
Not for Mondays
If a holiday is on a Monday, you don't 'make a bridge'. You just have a 'week-end prolongé'. The bridge requires a gap day (usually a Friday or Monday) to cross!
例文
6Est-ce que tu fais le pont pour l'Ascension ?
Are you taking the long weekend for Ascension?
A very common question in French offices during spring.
On fait le pont, donc on part à la mer jeudi soir !
We're taking the long weekend, so we're heading to the seaside Thursday night!
Shows excitement and planning.
L'entreprise fera le pont le vendredi 10 mai.
The company will be closed on Friday, May 10th.
Formal announcement of a collective day off.
Zut, la boulangerie fait le pont !
Darn, the bakery is closed for the long weekend!
Common frustration for locals.
J'ai vraiment besoin de faire le pont pour me reposer.
I really need to take the long weekend to rest.
Expressing a need for a break.
Les enfants font le pont cette semaine.
The kids have a long weekend this week.
Schools often align with these holidays.
自分をテスト
Choose the correct verb to complete the phrase about taking a long weekend.
Comme le jeudi est férié, nous allons ___ le pont.
The idiom specifically uses the verb `faire` (to make/do).
Identify when this phrase is applicable.
Le 14 juillet tombe un mardi, je vais ___.
Since Tuesday is a holiday, taking Monday off 'builds the bridge' to the weekend.
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ビジュアル学習ツール
Formality of 'Faire le pont'
Used with friends and family.
On fait le pont ?
Standard office talk.
Je fais le pont cette année.
Official company announcements.
L'établissement fera le pont.
Where you'll hear 'Faire le pont'
At the Office
Asking a colleague about their leave.
At School
Checking if classes are cancelled on Friday.
At the Bakery
Seeing a sign that they are closed.
Planning a Trip
Booking a hotel for 4 days.
よくある質問
10 問No, it is strictly an idiom for taking a day off. If you want to talk about construction, use construire un pont.
Technically no, that would be a very long bridge! People usually only 'bridge' when the holiday is on a Tuesday or Thursday.
Not at all! It is a very common professional question like Est-ce que l'entreprise fait le pont ?.
Usually, you have to use one of your vacation days or an RTT day to cover it, unless the company gifts it to everyone.
You might hear faire le viaduc if there are two holidays in one week and someone takes the whole week off!
Then you are out of luck. In France, if a holiday falls on a weekend, you generally don't get a day off in lieu. No bridge for you!
Yes, it is widely understood in Belgium and Switzerland, though the specific public holidays might differ.
It is much more common to use faire. While prendre un jour pour faire le pont is okay, the idiom is almost always faire le pont.
France has four public holidays in May. It is the peak season for 'bridging' because the weather is nice and the holidays are frequent.
No, students use it too! Schools often announce Il n'y a pas école, on fait le pont.
関連フレーズ
Un jour férié
A public holiday
Un week-end prolongé
A long weekend
Poser un jour
To take/request a day off
Faire le viaduc
To take an extra-long bridge (slang)
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