Learnons-nous Franglais avec BoJo
In the wake of French outcry over the Aukus military pact between Australia; the UK; and the US, Boris Johnson demonstrated linguistic skills that match his capacity for tact and diplomacy. Speaking from Washington, en Franglais, he had this message for Emanuel Macron:
I just think it's time for some of our dearest friends around the world to, y'know, prenez un grip about all this, and donnez-moi un break.
Boris Johnson, via BBC News droid
Marvellous! That'll go down well in Paris. I just hope that M. Macron has a sense of humour.
But at least he's making the effort, bless him.
Actually, I don't care whether or not Macron has a sense of humour. And BoJo apparently speaks French very well; this is a deliberate dig at his French counterparts. As much as I think he's a complete tosspot, it made me laugh.
I cheerfully admit to not being as au fait avec les Français et Franglais as him; but, since he was addressing Macron and his pals in the third person, I can't help but think he should have said prennent un grip, and donnent-moi un break. Then again, perhaps that's the whole point of Franglais in the first place. (shrug)