“Quel navet !” is a fun French idiom that translates literally to “What a turnip!” and means a “dud”, “flop”, “rubbish” or “third-rate” in the context of cinema. A French translation is un mauvais film (a bad movie).
Quel navet !
What a dud, what a bad movie!
Example sentences
This first sentence uses the inversion form for asking questions.
As-tu vu le nouveau Star Wars? – Ouai, je l’ai vu. Quel navet !
Did you see the new Star Wars (movie)? – Yeah, I saw it. What a dud!
For this second sentence ne…que is a French negation form meaning “only”.
Avant cet acteur a joué dans de bons films mais maintenant il ne joue que dans les navets.
Before this actor played in good movies but now he only plays in third-rate duds.
Expression origin
This expression dates back to the 17th century when French art students described l’Apollon du Belvédère, a repica of a 4th century BC statue, as a “navet allongé” (lying turnip). Since then, the expression has been used to describe poorly painted paintings, poorly written plays and poorly conceived films.
Related lesson
References
French expressions | Lessons by David Issokson
