de but en blanc
To do things backwards
字面意思: From goal to white
Use it to describe someone being blunt or dropping big news without any warning or conversational lead-up.
15秒了解
- To say something abruptly without any introduction.
- Skips the small talk and goes straight to the point.
- Derived from old military cannon firing techniques.
意思
This phrase means to say or do something suddenly and without any warning or preparation. It is like blurting something out or jumping straight to the point without any small talk first.
关键例句
3 / 6A friend asking a personal question
Elle m'a demandé mon salaire de but en blanc.
She asked me my salary out of the blue.
Announcing a big life change
Je ne peux pas t'annoncer ça de but en blanc.
I can't just tell you that without any warning.
A sudden request from a boss
Le patron m'a donné sa démission de but en blanc.
The boss gave me his resignation out of nowhere.
文化背景
Originating from 16th-century artillery, this phrase describes a cannon firing directly at the white center (le blanc) of a target (le but) without a curved trajectory. It transitioned from military jargon to everyday French to describe blunt, direct communication that skips the 'social trajectory' of small talk.
The 'Small Talk' Rule
French culture values 'la politesse' and lead-ins. Using this phrase often highlights a slight breach of social norms, making it very useful for describing social gaffes.
Don't confuse with 'Point-blank'
While it shares military roots with the English 'point-blank', it is rarely used for physical shooting today. Keep it for verbal surprises!
15秒了解
- To say something abruptly without any introduction.
- Skips the small talk and goes straight to the point.
- Derived from old military cannon firing techniques.
What It Means
Imagine you are chatting about the weather. Suddenly, your friend asks to borrow a thousand euros. That is de but en blanc. It means doing something abruptly. You skip the introduction. You skip the context. You just dive right into the main point. It is the verbal equivalent of a jump scare. You are catching someone off guard. It is not necessarily rude. It is just very direct.
How To Use It
You usually place this at the end of a sentence. You can also use it after a verb of speaking. Common verbs include dire, demander, or annoncer. For example, Il m'a demandé ça de but en blanc. It acts like an adverb. It describes the sudden manner of the action. You do not need to change it for gender. It always stays exactly as it is. It is a fixed block of words.
When To Use It
Use it when you are surprised by a question. Use it when you have big news to share. Maybe you are at a dinner party. You decide to announce you are moving to Japan. No lead-up, just the facts. That is de but en blanc. It is great for storytelling. It adds drama to your anecdotes. It helps explain why you were shocked in a conversation. It works well when someone is being too blunt.
When NOT To Use It
Do not use it for physical movements. If you trip and fall, that is not de but en blanc. It is strictly for communication or decisions. Avoid it in highly technical reports. It is a bit too descriptive for dry data. Do not use it if there was a long introduction. If you talked for an hour before the point, it does not apply. It requires that element of total surprise.
Cultural Background
This phrase comes from old military language. In the 16th century, it referred to cannons. The but was the target. The blanc was the white center of the target. To fire de but en blanc meant firing in a straight line. You did not need to calculate the trajectory. You just pointed and shot. Over time, it moved from the battlefield to the dinner table. Now, we shoot words instead of cannonballs.
Common Variations
You might hear tout de go. This is much more informal. It means 'right away' or 'without ceremony'. Another option is brutalement. This sounds a bit more aggressive. Sans préambule is the formal cousin. It means 'without a preamble'. Stick to de but en blanc for the best balance. It sounds natural and sophisticated at the same time.
使用说明
This is a versatile, neutral phrase. It fits perfectly in both casual gossip and serious professional discussions about communication style.
The 'Small Talk' Rule
French culture values 'la politesse' and lead-ins. Using this phrase often highlights a slight breach of social norms, making it very useful for describing social gaffes.
Don't confuse with 'Point-blank'
While it shares military roots with the English 'point-blank', it is rarely used for physical shooting today. Keep it for verbal surprises!
The White Center
The 'blanc' in the phrase refers to the white center of old archery and cannon targets. It's the same reason the bullseye is called 'le blanc' in some contexts.
例句
6Elle m'a demandé mon salaire de but en blanc.
She asked me my salary out of the blue.
Shows the lack of social etiquette or lead-up.
Je ne peux pas t'annoncer ça de but en blanc.
I can't just tell you that without any warning.
Used here to show the speaker wants to be more gentle.
Le patron m'a donné sa démission de but en blanc.
The boss gave me his resignation out of nowhere.
Professional context where the news was unexpected.
Il a dit 'je t'aime' de but en blanc, c'était trop bizarre !
He said 'I love you' out of the blue, it was so weird!
Perfect for describing awkward social moments via text.
L'enfant a demandé si les poissons dorment, de but en blanc.
The child asked if fish sleep, just like that.
Highlights the spontaneous nature of children.
Aborder ce sujet de but en blanc serait risqué.
Approaching this subject without preparation would be risky.
Used to advise against being too direct.
自我测试
Choose the correct phrase to describe a sudden, direct question.
Il m'a demandé de l'épouser ___, sans même un dîner !
The context of a marriage proposal without a dinner implies a sudden, direct action, which fits 'de but en blanc'.
Complete the sentence to mean 'out of the blue'.
On ne peut pas changer de stratégie comme ça, ___.
Changing strategy 'de but en blanc' means doing it abruptly without prior discussion.
🎉 得分： /2
视觉学习工具
Formality of 'de but en blanc'
Used with friends to describe gossip.
Il a lâché l'info de but en blanc.
The sweet spot for this phrase.
Elle a posé la question de but en blanc.
Used in literature or professional settings.
Nous ne pouvons agir de but en blanc.
When to fire 'De But en Blanc'
Asking for a favor
Can I borrow your car?
Breaking news
I'm quitting my job!
Awkward questions
How much do you weigh?
Sudden decisions
Let's move to Italy today.
常见问题
10 个问题No, that is a common misconception. It means 'abruptly' or 'straight to the point', like Il a posé la question de but en blanc.
The phrase itself isn't rude, but it describes behavior that can be perceived as blunt or lacking manners.
Yes, it is neutral enough for professional use, especially when cautioning against making sudden decisions like Ne décidons pas de but en blanc.
The best translations are 'out of the blue', 'point-blank', or 'without preamble'.
No, it is an adverbial phrase and remains invariable. It is always de but en blanc.
No, the order is fixed. Reversing it would make no sense to a French speaker.
Yes, but in the sense of a 'target' used in historical artillery practice.
Tout à coup means 'suddenly' for events, while de but en blanc is specifically for things said or decided without preparation.
It is very common in both. You will find it in novels and hear it in daily conversation.
It's better for communication. For a physical surprise, use à l'improviste.
相关表达
Sauter du coq à l'âne
To jump from one subject to another without logic.
Sans crier gare
Without warning / out of nowhere.
À brûle-pourpoint
Point-blank / Very suddenly (similar meaning).
Tout de go
Straight away / Without hesitation.
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