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ACTING THE GOAT OR FOOLING AROUND, WE EXPLORE THE FRENCH PHRASE TO DESCRIBE THE CLASS CLOWN Arrête de faire le mariole ! Use this saying the next time you come across someone who is being

silly or acting smart.  We look at the many potential origin stories surrounding this fun French phrase.  WHAT DOES FAIRE LE MARIOLE MEAN? It does not strictly have a literal translation,

but is used to describe a person who makes a show of themselves, usually in a foolish manner.  In English, you might say: to fool around, to act the clown, to try to be clever.  Similar

sayings include: * Jouer au plus malin - To play the wise guy * Faire son petit malin - To be a smart Alec * Etre débile - To be silly * Faire l'imbécile - To play the fool  * Faire le

clown/guignol - To clown around * Etre un pinpin - To be bad at something Read also: Learning French: the origins and meaning of fada WHAT ARE THE ORIGINS OF FAIRE LE MARIOLE? There are

several potential origin stories surrounding this expression. The most common explanation relates to Dominique Gay Mariole, a soldier of Napoleon’s imperial guard who was nicknamed

l’Indomptable (the indomitable one) due to his large stature. He also had the reputation of being a prankster. It is said that, at the moment of presenting arms, Mariole held a cannon on his

shoulder instead of a rifle. This supposedly inspired the expression, leading to the definition: to make a show of oneself. Other sources claim that the expression originates from the

Italian word mariolo, which translates to ‘rascal’ or ‘rogue’. Apparently, the word entered the French language around the 16th Century and the expression evolved from there. Read also:

Learning French: the origins and meaning of dingue Alternatively, some argue that the expression was actually inspired by the Virgin Mary, or small images of her called marioles which were

popular in the 13th Century. It is said that the term was used to refer to people who tried to give the impression that they were more pious than they really were, and evolved over time to

describe any sort of attention-seeking behaviour. Another explanation is that the word mariole derives from marionette. Puppet shows often feature dramatic storylines and exaggerated

characters which would explain why faire le mariole implies making a fool of oneself. WHEN DO YOU SAY FAIRE LE MARIOLE? Say this to scold or tease someone who is acting foolish: Read also:

‘Arrête tes bêtises!’ - Nine ways to scold someone in French You can also use it to describe someone who is a bit silly: It is also employed to describe someone who is delusional or bad at

something: TO WHOM DO YOU SAY FAIRE LE MARIOLE? It is colloquial language that can be used with friends and family. Saying this could risk hurting someone’s feelings but the phrase is mainly

used in a lighthearted manner.  You should probably avoid using it in very formal or professional situations. A more neutral alternative would be: être malin (clever), or être stupide

(silly).  If you would like us to explain a particular word or expression, or if you have any other Learning French suggestions, let us know at: [email protected]