poudre

/pudʁ/
powder

Elle a saupoudré la poudre sur le gâteau.

She sprinkled the powder on the cake.


What It Really Means
To deceive or mislead someone with false appearances.
Literal Meaning
To throw powder in the eyes.
Literal Breakdown
poudrepowder+aux yeuxin the eyes
Mental Image
The idea of obscuring vision with powder, symbolizing deception.
When to Use
A politician might use 'poudre aux yeux' to describe a rival's misleading campaign promises.
Cultural Note
The phrase originates from the idea of throwing powder to obscure vision, much like deception.
general

A fine, dry substance made by grinding or crushing a solid material.

La poudre à pâte est utilisée pour faire lever les gâteaux.

Baking powder is used to make cakes rise.

Can refer to various types of powder, including cosmetic, medicinal, or culinary powders.

cosmetics

Cosmetic powder used to set makeup or reduce shine.

Elle a appliqué de la poudre translucide pour matifier son teint.

She applied translucent powder to mattify her complexion.

Often used in makeup routines to finish the look.

historical/military

Gunpowder, a mixture of saltpeter, sulfur, and charcoal used in firearms and explosives.

Les soldats ont chargé leurs mousquets avec de la poudre.

The soldiers loaded their muskets with gunpowder.

Historically significant in warfare and fireworks.

Collocations

poudre de rizrice powderpoudre à canongunpowderpoudre compactecompact powder

Related Phrases

poudre aux yeuxidiom
smoke and mirrors

Pro Tip

Cosmetic Usage

In makeup, 'poudre' often refers to setting powder or translucent powder.

Gold Rule

Context Matters

The meaning of 'poudre' varies widely; always consider the context.

Word Origin

From Old French 'poudre,' from Latin 'pulvis,' meaning 'dust' or 'powder.'

Usage Notes

The word 'poudre' can refer to various types of powders depending on the context, from culinary to cosmetic to military.

Word Breakdown

poudre
powder
root
Dictionnaire Français-Anglais