passer l'éponge
To be in trouble
Literalmente: To pass the sponge
Use it to tell someone you've forgiven them and want to move forward without hard feelings.
Em 15 segundos
- To forgive and forget a past mistake.
- Wiping the emotional slate clean.
- Moving on from a grudge or argument.
Significado
It means to forgive and forget a past mistake or argument. It is like wiping a chalkboard clean so you can start fresh with someone.
Exemplos-chave
3 de 6Accepting a friend's apology for being late
C'est bon, j'ai passé l'éponge sur ton retard.
It's okay, I've moved past your lateness.
Ending a long argument with a partner
On passe l'éponge et on recommence à zéro ?
Shall we wipe the slate clean and start over?
A boss forgiving a minor error
Exceptionnellement, je passe l'éponge pour cette fois.
Just this once, I'll let it slide.
Contexto cultural
The expression dates back to the era when shopkeepers and tavern owners recorded debts on slate boards. To 'pass the sponge' was a literal act of erasing a customer's debt, symbolizing a fresh financial start. Today, it has evolved from a financial favor into a social gesture of emotional forgiveness.
The 'Sur' Connection
When you want to specify what you are forgiving, use the preposition 'sur'. For example: `passer l'éponge sur une erreur`.
Don't get literal
If you are actually cleaning a table with a sponge, just say `nettoyer`. Using `passer l'éponge` will make people think you're forgiving the table!
Em 15 segundos
- To forgive and forget a past mistake.
- Wiping the emotional slate clean.
- Moving on from a grudge or argument.
What It Means
Imagine someone spills wine on your favorite rug. You could stay angry forever. Or, you could passer l'éponge. It means you decide to forgive the person. You wipe away the resentment. The slate is clean again. It is about letting go of a grudge. It is a very peaceful, kind expression.
How To Use It
You use it like a regular verb. You can say Je passe l'éponge. This means "I am letting it go." You can also ask someone else to do it. On passe l'éponge ? is a great way to end a fight. It turns the page on a bad moment. It is simple, direct, and very effective.
When To Use It
Use it when a friend is late for dinner. Use it after a small misunderstanding with a colleague. It works perfectly when someone says they are sorry. It shows you are the bigger person. It is great for restoring harmony in any relationship. It feels like a warm hug after a cold argument.
When NOT To Use It
Do not use it for massive, life-changing crimes. If someone steals your car, don't passer l'éponge immediately! It is usually for social slips or minor mistakes. Also, avoid it in very stiff legal documents. It is a bit too colorful for a courtroom. Use it for heart-to-heart moments instead.
Cultural Background
This phrase comes from the 17th century. Back then, people used slates to keep track of debts. If you were a regular at a tavern, the owner wrote your tab on a slate. If they liked you, they might wipe it clean. They literally used a wet sponge to erase your debt. It was the ultimate gift of friendship.
Common Variations
You might hear passer un coup d'éponge. This is slightly more casual. It implies a quick, decisive action. Another one is faire table rase. This is much stronger. It means starting from zero after a total disaster. But passer l'éponge remains the most common way to say "no hard feelings."
Notas de uso
This phrase is neutral and safe for almost any situation. It is particularly useful in spoken French to de-escalate tension.
The 'Sur' Connection
When you want to specify what you are forgiving, use the preposition 'sur'. For example: `passer l'éponge sur une erreur`.
Don't get literal
If you are actually cleaning a table with a sponge, just say `nettoyer`. Using `passer l'éponge` will make people think you're forgiving the table!
The Tavern Connection
Remember the tavern debt story! It helps you visualize 'erasing' the problem just like erasing a chalk mark.
Exemplos
6C'est bon, j'ai passé l'éponge sur ton retard.
It's okay, I've moved past your lateness.
Shows the speaker is no longer annoyed.
On passe l'éponge et on recommence à zéro ?
Shall we wipe the slate clean and start over?
A gentle way to suggest reconciliation.
Exceptionnellement, je passe l'éponge pour cette fois.
Just this once, I'll let it slide.
Professional but shows a bit of leniency.
Désolé pour hier. On passe l'éponge ?
Sorry about yesterday. Are we good?
Short and effective for digital communication.
Le poulet est carbonisé, mais je passe l'éponge si tu commandes une pizza !
The chicken is burnt, but I'll forgive you if you order pizza!
Uses the idiom to lighten the mood.
Après des années de dispute, ils ont enfin passé l'éponge.
After years of arguing, they finally buried the hatchet.
Describes a long-term resolution.
Teste-se
Choose the correct verb form to complete the sentence.
Tu m'as menti, mais je ___ l'éponge car je t'aime.
The phrase is 'passer l'éponge'. 'Passe' is the first-person singular conjugation.
Complete the question to ask for forgiveness.
Est-ce qu'on peut ___ l'éponge sur cette histoire ?
You 'pass' the sponge to erase the memory of the event.
🎉 Pontuação: /2
Recursos visuais
Formality of 'Passer l'éponge'
Talking to friends or family.
Allez, on passe l'éponge !
Standard daily interactions.
Je préfère passer l'éponge.
Professional settings.
Nous avons décidé de passer l'éponge.
When to use 'Passer l'éponge'
Broken Item
C'est juste un verre, je passe l'éponge.
Late Arrival
On passe l'éponge sur ton retard.
After a Fight
On passe l'éponge ?
Small Lie
Je passe l'éponge pour cette fois.
Perguntas frequentes
10 perguntasNo, it actually means the opposite! It means the trouble is over because someone has decided to forgive you.
Yes, it is very common in professional settings to move past a minor mistake. You might say Passons l'éponge sur ce malentendu.
It is similar, but pardonner is more formal and heavy. Passer l'éponge feels more like 'moving on' and 'forgetting'.
Usually, no. It is best for social faux pas or small errors. For a major betrayal, it might sound too casual.
The best equivalents are 'to wipe the slate clean' or 'to let bygones be bygones'.
Not at all. It is a standard idiom that everyone from children to grandparents uses.
Absolutely. You can say J'ai passé l'éponge to mean 'I have already forgiven that'.
Not really with a sponge, but tourner la page (to turn the page) is a very close cousin.
It refers to the sponges used to wipe chalk off slate boards in old shops and taverns.
No, you usually pass it 'sur' (on) something. To say you forgive someone, say Je lui ai passé l'éponge.
Frases relacionadas
tourner la page
faire table rase
enterrer la hache de guerre
repartir sur de bonnes bases
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