How To Open Oysters

We had some friends over for dinner a few nights ago and decided to go with a seafood theme for the appetizers. This included oysters ("les huitres"), which are surprisingly one of my favorite foods I associate with France. It was the first time I had to open them myself, and fortunately I was supplied with a special oyster knife by Claire's sister Laure in order to make the task more manageable. If you actually want to know how to open oysters, check out this informative web site here.
Obviously, I am not demonstrating the proper technique in the accompanying photo.

French Vocabulary Lesson for the Day: in our French class we received a handout with a list of wonderful expressions which all refer to items of clothing. Some of the noteworthy ones:


se serrer la ceinture = literally, "to tighten one's belt", means the same thing as it does in English: to economize during hard times.


remonter les bretelles à quelqu'un = literally, "to lift somebody up by their suspenders," an expression used to mean "to scold" or "to lecture" somebody for doing something wrong.


prendre une veste = literally, "to take a jacket", an expression used to indicate being shot down in a romantic situation. For example, if you are hitting on a hot woman at a bar and she neglects to talk to you, you could say "J'ai pris une veste."


retourner sa veste = literally, "to return one's jacket", an expression to indicate an abrupt change in opinion.


porter le chapeau = literally, "to wear the hat," an expression meaning, "to be wrongfully accused" of something.


être dans ses petits souliers = literally, "to be in small shoes," an expression to indicate being in an uncomfortable or unpleasant situation.