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P

to play leap frog

CATEGORY    

 Standard English

MEANING

"leapfrog" is  a game in which one player bends down and another leaps over him or her as if he or she was a frog. "to play leapfrog" is to perform such a game.

USE

It takes two to play leapfrog but the game can be played by more than two persons. Children around the world like to play leapfrog. You don't need any special equipment. Just leap over your playmate and that's it. Everyone has played leapfrog at least once in his/her life.

WE RECEIVED THE FOLLOWING BEST ANSWERS :

  • I think "to play leapfrog" is a game that children play. In French we say "saute-mouton" (Brigitte Lassire, CAB2, ERP oissel)
  • To leap means the same as to jump or to hop, and frog is an animal always jumping.  ( Ben, Horti, ERP Oissel )
  • It's a game. The frog is the person who jumps over another one. In French "to play leapfrog" means "jouer à saute-mouton". (Patrick Temple, DAM2, 

 

FOLLOW-UP

 Here is another one with the word "frog" :

PHRASE: "to have a frog in one's throat"

QUOTE: "She was unable to speak clearly because she had a frog in her throat."

MEANING :

Speaking with a 'frog in one's throat' has to do with talking with an obstruction of saliva or phlegm in one's throat which causes a wraspy sound while talking like the sound of a frog's croaking. Usually associated with a cold, it may also be brought on by aspirating saliva into the windpipe when one is caught off guard to speak, then having the wraspy sound or shortness of breath upon beginning to speak. Typically, this can be cleared up by coughing or swallowing.

from: John Moak, posted january, 15 2004

SIMILAR EXPRESSION IN FRENCH:

avoir un chat dans la gorge
 

If you know other phrases with the word "frog", write to us. click here now to send it. 

Si vous connaissez d'autres expressions avec le mot "frog", cliquez ci-dessus pour l'envoyer.

 

 

 

 

 

 

  to put the wind up someone"

QUOTE    

"Banning hooligan players has sure put the wind up some of them"

-Giles, Cartoonist, Cartoon 2000, p 84.  

MEANING

 If something or someone puts the wind up you, you are afraid or scared, because you are fearful of possible consequences which might ensue. "To put the wind up somebody" means to scare, for example when you threat someone or tell a dreadful and frightening story.

USE

It is a colloquial and almost slang expression which must be used sensibly.

WE RECEIVED THE FOLLOWING BEST ANSWERS :

  • I think that 'to put the  wind up somebody" means to scare somebody. In French the expression could be "flanquer la trouille"
  • I guess it means" to make afraid" as when you say something terrible to somebody.The French for it is "flanquer la frousse"

FOLLOW-UP

 Here is  a saying with the word "wind" :

proverb : "It's an ill wind that blows nobody any good"

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