TERMIUM Plus®

The Government of Canada’s terminology and linguistic data bank.

PAGAILLE [3 records]

Record 1 2006-01-23

English

Subject field(s)
  • Proverbs and Maxims
OBS

This expression is commoner in the UK [United Kingdom] and Commonwealth countries than in the US [United States]. It can mean something that's in a state of total confusion or disarray, or people who are collectively in a muddle or at loggerheads about how to deal with some situation. For example, a British newspaper article in 2002 reported that the Conservative opposition had accused the Government of being "at sixes and sevens" over what to do with the rail network.

French

Domaine(s)
  • Proverbes et dictons

Spanish

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Record 2 2006-01-23

English

Subject field(s)
  • Translation (General)
  • Maneuvering of Ships

French

Domaine(s)
  • Traduction (Généralités)
  • Manœuvre des navires
DEF

A la hâte, dans les expressions : appareiller en pagaille, mouiller en pagaille.

Spanish

Campo(s) temático(s)
  • Traducción (Generalidades)
  • Maniobras de los buques
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Record 3 2006-01-23

English

Subject field(s)
  • Regional Dialects and Expressions
  • Special-Language Phraseology
DEF

A badly confused or ridiculously muddled situation.

OBS

[The expression] "situation normal all fouled up" [is used] in polite conversation.

French

Domaine(s)
  • Régionalismes et usages particuliers
  • Phraséologie des langues de spécialité
CONT

Grand désordre d'objets.

CONT

Quelle pagaie! C'est la pagaille.

CONT

Mettre, foutre le désordre, la pagaille dans quelque chose.

OBS

pagaille : Cette graphie, puisée des Rectifications de l'orthographe recommandées par le Conseil supérieur de la langue française, est attestée dans le Petit Robert (2004).

Spanish

Save record 3

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