Meaning: To be at a complete loss, getting nowhere fast, spinning one’s wheels
Literal translation: To pedal in the sauerkraut
Notes: This is one of my favorite French expressions.Pédaler dans la choucroute offers a fantastic visual image of someone working like crazy but getting exactly nowhere. It’s also completely bizarre – why on Earth would anyone be riding a bike in a bowl of sauerkraut?
Example
Ce n’est pas la peine de continuer à chercher – tu pédales dans la choucroute.
Don’t bother continuing to search – you’re spinning your wheels.
Synonymous expressions:
Example
Ce n’est pas la peine de continuer à chercher – tu pédales dans la choucroute.
Don’t bother continuing to search – you’re spinning your wheels.
Synonymous expressions:
- pédaler dans la semoule – to pedal in the semolina
- pédaler dans le yaourt – to pedal in the yogurt
Mon École-French School 