During a visit to a mental asylumUN ASILE PSYCHIATRIQUE, a man asked the director how they determined whetherSI a patient should be institutionalised.
The director explained, “Well, we fill up a bathtubNOUS REMPLISSONS UNE BAIGNOIRE. Then we give the person a teaspoonUNE CUILLĂRE Ă CAFĂ, a teacupUNE TASSE Ă THĂ, and a bucketUN SEAU, and ask them to emptyDE VIDER the bathtub.”
The man nodded confidentlyHOCHA LA TĂTE AVEC ASSURANCE. “Oh, I see! A normal person would use the bucket, because it’s bigger than the spoon or the teacup.”
The director frowned slightlyFRONĂA LĂGĂREMENT LES SOURCILS, then gestured to the orderliesFIT UN GESTE AUX SURVEILLANTS. “No, a normal person would pull the bathtub drain plugTIRER LA BONDE DE LA BAIGNOIRE. Now then… would you preferPRĂFĂRERIEZ-VOUS a bed near the window?”
Vocabulary
Frown: to wrinkle the forehead in disapproval or thought.
Gesture: to make a movement with the hand or head to express an idea.
The director frowned slightlyFRONĂA LĂGĂREMENT LES SOURCILS at the man’s answer.
He gestured to the orderliesFIT UN GESTE AUX SURVEILLANTS before speaking.
Grammar
The joke mainly uses past simple to narrate events and reported speech, with a mix of past continuous and conditional structures for the explanation and final question.
Past simple: The director explained and the man nodded.
Reported speech / indirect question: A man asked the director how they determined whether a patient should be institutionalised.
Synonyms & Alternatives
Frowned slightly: scowled a little, looked puzzled.
Nodded confidently: agreed assuredly, bobbed his head surely.
Mini Dialogue
Doctor: We fill the basin and give Mr. Dupont a spoon, a mug, and a pail to empty it.
Visitor: Ah, a sane person would choose the pail!
Doctor: No, he would pull the drain plugTIRER LA BONDE.
A man is driving up a steepRAIDE and narrowĂTROITE mountain road. A woman is driving down the same road.
As they pass each other, the woman leans outSE PENCHA Ă L’EXTĂRIEUR of her car window and yells "PIG!"
The man immediately leans out of his window and replies, "BITCH!"
They each continue on their way, and as the man roundsTOURNA the next corner, he crashes intoPERCUTA a pig right there in the middle of the road, and dies.
Vocabulary
To lean out: to move your upper body outside (e.g. through a window).
To crash into: to hit something violently, often by accident.
She leans outSE PENCHA Ă L’EXTĂRIEUR of the window to shout.
He crashes intoPERCUTA an obstacle on the road.
Grammar
The joke mainly uses past simple for narration, with sequencing of actions creating irony.
Past simple: The woman yelled and the man replied.
Sequential actions: As he rounded the corner, he crashed into a pig.
Synonyms & Alternatives
Lean out: stick out, bend out.
Crash into: collide with, smash into.
Mini Dialogue
Tom: I leaned outME PENCHAI Ă L’EXTĂRIEUR of the train window to take a photo.
James: Careful, you could crash intoPERCUTER something!
Little Johnny attended a horse auctionVENTE AUX ENCHĂRES with his father.
He watched as his father moved from horse to horse, running his hands up and down the horse’s legs and rumpCROUPE, and chest.
After a few minutes, Johnny asked, “Dad, why are you doing that?”
His father replied, “Because when I’m buying horses, I have to make sure that they are healthy and in good shapeEN PLEINE FORME before I buy.”
Johnny, looking worried, said, “Dad, I think the postmanFACTEUR wants to buy Mum.”
Vocabulary
Rump: the hindquarters or rear part of an animal.
In good shape: physically fit and healthy.
The father checks the horse’s rumpCROUPE.
He wants the horses to be in good shapeEN PLEINE FORME.
Grammar
The joke mainly uses past simple to narrate events and direct speech, with a mix of present continuous for ongoing actions and present simple in reported explanations.
Past simple: Little Johnny attended a horse auction with his father.
Present continuous: He is running his hands up and down the horse’s legs.
Reported / direct speech: “Dad, why are you doing that?”
Synonyms & Alternatives
Rump: hindquarters, rear.
In good shape: fit, sound.
Mini Dialogue
Tommy: Why are you feeling the dog’s legs and back like that?
Father: Because when I’m buying dogs, I have to make sure they are healthy and in good shapeEN PLEINE FORME before I buy.