In entry #753, we saw six different expressions used in Québec containing the words chien or chienne.
One of the expressions we saw in that entry was avoir du chien. Here’s what you read in that post about this expression:
If you’ve “got dog,” it’s because you’re determined. You’ve got personality. You’re a go-getter.
Ces deux jeunes-là ont du chien et réalisent de grandes choses.
Those two young people are go-getters and are doing big things.
Elle a du talent et du chien.
She’s got talent and determination.
In the comments section, RogerDog commented that he had seen a sign in Montréal promoting the comedy M. Peabody et Sherman, and that the expression avoir du chien was used on it.
I came across the sign too, so I took a photo. It says:
Une comédie qui a du chien
The expression works well here because one of the characters is a dog.
There are probably different ways to translate this, but if we want to hint at dogs, maybe we can say:
Une comédie qui a du chien
A comedy with bite
I wonder what the English version really says outside of Québec. Has anybody seen a poster for it?
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By the way, the expression avoir du chien means something different in France. The site linternaute.com defines the French use of avoir du chien as meaning “to be beautiful,” when speaking of a woman.
But it goes on to say that a woman qui a du chien is more than just belle; she also has ce petit truc en plus that makes her completely irresistible.
The english posters I’ve seen haven’t had any tag line. There’s a whole separate set of posters with just Mr. Peabody that have him in various historical outfits that say “He’s Leaving His Mark on History”, but that’s all.
OK, thanks!
WOW, thanks! I first heard this expression in France when it was used to describe me in my late 20s! I never thought it meant belle…. I am not a classic beauty. I thought it meant I did have something special though, and took it as a compliment that I never quite fully understood. And actually, I am still not sure that I understand since you said it means more than beautiful in French from France.
Maybe we’ll need the opinion of someone from France, but the definition says that the woman who has “chien” is not only beautiful but also has a certain something that makes her especially irresistible in the eyes of others.
You got a very nice compliment!