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French Phrase of the Day: Ça claque

Why do I need to know ça claque? Because if you tend to pour a heavy drink, your French friend might respond with this phrase. What does it mean? Ça claque - roughly pronounced sah clack - translates as 'it slaps' or 'it hits'. You might hear claquer (or alternatively gifler ) to describe someone being physically smacked or slapped. The phrase ça claque you may hear when someone is describing a violent thunderstorm, as the verb claquer can also refer to loud cracks and booms. For example, a person trapped in a heavy thunderstorm or cyclone might say ça claque de partout, j'ai peur (It's thundering everywhere. I am afraid). Advertisement Ça claque also has another colloquial definition, referring to something stunning or awesome. In this sense, it is close to the popular slang expression amongst English-speaking youth: 'it hits' or 'it slaps'. For example, a French headline about a retro bathing suit coming back into fashion might read: La marque ressort un nouveau maillot de bain des années 60... et ça claque toujours! (The brand is bringing back a bathing suit from the 60s…and it's still a hit!) You might also hear someone say ça claque when discussing something that makes an impression or stands out. For example, a friend might encourage you to mention an unconventional work experience on your resumé. They may say: Il faut absolument garder la partie sur tes années au cirque. Ça claque! (You need to keep the part about your years at the circus. That stands out!) And finally, you might hear someone use ça claque to describe a particularly strong alcoholic beverage or a spicy dish, similar to saying in English 'it's got a kick'. Use it like this J'adore Édith Piaf. Tout le monde connaît les paroles de 'Non, je ne regrette rien'. Ça claque toujours! - I love Edith Piaf. Everyone knows the words to Non, je ne regrette rien. It still hits! Oh, cette boisson contient beaucoup de whisky. Ça claque vraiment! - Oh, this drink has a lot of whisky in it. It's really strong!