/melɑ̃ʒe le tɔʁʃɔ̃ e le sɛʁvjɛt/ lit. ‘to mix the tea towels and the napkins’
French idiom, everyday. To compare or mix up two things that don’t belong together.
Draft Not yet checked by a native French speaker.
How do people use Mélanger les torchons et les serviettes
?
Everyday French, and nearly always in the negative, as a warning: “il ne faut pas mélanger les torchons et les serviettes”, “on ne mélange pas les torchons avec les serviettes”. It can still carry its old snobbish meaning (don’t mix people of different rank), so it sometimes comes with a raised eyebrow.
Also said mélanger les torchons avec les serviettes
Mélanger les torchons et les serviettes
in real sentences
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Il ne faut pas mélanger les torchons et les serviettes.
You shouldn’t lump the tea towels in with the napkins.
Tatoeba, sentence by Cocorico, CC BY 2.0 FR
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On ne mélange pas les torchons avec les serviettes.
Don’t mix the dishcloths with the serviettes.
Tatoeba, sentence by sacredceltic, translation by sharris123, CC BY 2.0 FR
Where does Mélanger les torchons et les serviettes
come from?
French Wiktionary dates it to the 17th century and explains it by the household linen: the nobles at table used napkins, the servants used tea towels, and the two weren’t washed or stored together. So it first meant keeping the social classes apart, and only later, by extension, not lumping together things that don’t compare.
Mistakes learners make with Mélanger les torchons et les serviettes
Using it in the positive. French Wiktionary notes it comes almost only after “il ne faut pas”, “on ne” or “ne jamais”; “je mélange les torchons et les serviettes” sounds odd.
Other French idioms like Mélanger les torchons et les serviettes
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?
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