Glossary entry (derived from question below)
French term or phrase:
casser
English translation:
in this case sounds like to break things, smash stuff etc
French term
casser
There's no object --- does it mean that he broke things:
He often broke things and shouted to the point of frightening his family.
Or is casser "arguing" ?
| tout casser |
Stéphanie Soudais
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Non-PRO (1): writeaway
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Proposed translations
in this case sounds like to break things, smash stuff etc
| agree |
jmleger
: I think so too
0 min
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Thank you.
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| agree |
Jean-Claude Gouin
10 mins
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Thank you.
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| agree |
helena barham
3 hrs
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Thank you Helena.
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writeaway
: if a 100% literal translation will do. am not convinced.
7 hrs
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No other possibility if you take into account the language level, it does not sound like slang.
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Transitwrite
: break things
1 day 12 hrs
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Thank you Sharon.
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Morocco
Sworn Translator/Traducteur Assermenté
Native in: Arabic 
Works in: English to Arabic, Arabic to English, French to Arabic
He often broke things
Chile
Human-scale Globalization
Native in: English (Variant: British)
Works in: Spanish to English, French to English, English to Spanish, and 2 more.
have a nervous breakdown
It would usually be 'se casser' in this context but if this is a witness statement correct grammar cannot be assumed.
| agree |
Juan Jacob
: C'est aussi mon opinion.
2 hrs
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| disagree |
Tony M
: Yes, but you would hardly say "he often has nervous breakdowns"
6 hrs
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writeaway
: fly off the handle
6 hrs
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| neutral |
Julie Barber
: It wouldn't have to be "se casser" - which doesn't mean to have a nervous breakdown anyway
7 hrs
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| disagree |
Drmanu49
: no used in French with that meaning, it would be "craquer".
8 hrs
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to humiliate (bring us down)
I'm not sure, but I thought that "casser" can mean "to humiliate" (to bring us down)
"5. humilier en rabaissant (quelqu'un) (familier)
(jaloux, ils ont tout fait pour le casser) "
I hope this helps.
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Note added at 4 hrs (2009-01-06 05:10:42 GMT)
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I meant "to humiliate us" or "make us feel worthless."
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Julie Barber
: Only one that makes sense to me really here!
4 hrs
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Thanks, Julie. Happy New Year!
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Sandra Petch
: Did you see "Brice de Nice"? ;-)
5 hrs
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Thanks, Sandra! No, I haven't seen that. I will google it later. Have a nice day.
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lundy
: yes, along the lines of someone who completely demolishes someone else's views, opinions etc
6 hrs
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Thanks, lundy. Happy New Year.
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| neutral |
Stéphanie Soudais
: Good idea but I am not totally convinced: it should be followed by a noun: "casser les gens", "casser quelqu'un"
8 hrs
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Thanks, Stéphanie. You're right, but there may have been a typo (de nous casser). Bonne Année!
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lash out
broke down/lost control/lost it/cracked up
I've made some suggestions in various registers.
Reference comments
tout casser
Cela commence à bien faire vos demonstrations de force, on a compris que vous étiez capables de casser, de crier, d'ailleurs, la violence n'est-elle pas l'arme des plus faibles
http://www.rennes-infhonet.fr/article-societe-842-villejean-...
nous avons ciblé les symptômes, c'est à dire les ruminations (pensées qui assiègent notre champ de pensée et qui sont anxiogènes, elles nous poussent à une réflexion interminable) et et les phobies d'impulsion (peur de tuer, de casser, de crier)
http://forum.doctissimo.fr/psychologie/stress-anxiete-angois...
agressivité, colère, envie de tout casser.
Mon mari a des colères terribles cassant tout a sa portée, rien ne peut l'arrêter. Dans ses moments là ce n'est plus le même homme.
| neutral |
MatthewLaSon
: C'est bien une possibilité, mais il doit y avoir un mot qui manque quelque part.
1 day 3 hrs
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Discussion