We Love Clotilde

Clotilde Dusoulier, one of our top favorite food bloggers.

When it comes to Parisian food and French culture you just can't beat our dear Clotilde of Chocolate and Zucchini. She is not only a passionate foodie but her "French idiom" series is also often hysterical. This week's idiom is, "S'occuper de ses oignons." Read on, and if you are too busy right now, then: Mind your own f****** bollocks!!!

Literally translated as "taking care of one's onions," it means minding one's own business, and it is used in situations when someone is meddling in someone else's affairs.

Example 1: "Je n'ai pas besoin de tes conseils, occupe-toi de tes oignons !" "I don't need your advice, mind your own business!"

Example 2: "Si tu veux vraiment qu'elle s'occupe de ses oignons, il faut que tu arrêtes de l'appeler à l'aide au moindre problème." "If you really want her to mind her own business, you have to stop calling her for help every time you have a problem."

The onions in question are old slang for buttocks, or testicles. The word "onion" is seldom (if ever) used in that sense today, but the idiom lived on.

Something about that sweet, angelic face of Clotilde has her pottymouth expressions starting our day out with a smile. Needless to say, "mind yer onions" immediately became our official workgroup expression of the week.



If you need a need a more physical dose of French culture without actually taking the trip we've found a real gem for you. Save your money on fuel charges and security fees and just buy authentic French accoutrement online! At Basic French you can outfit yourself with your own little year in Provence, or at least a few months.

From kitchenware and bath linens to all kinds of stuff you didn't realize you desperately needed, this is the site for the euro travel starved, such as myself. Happy hunting.