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caler

to wedge, to stall

verb kah-LEH Rare

Also means

to chock, to prop up

Usage Note

Caler is used for physically wedging something (e.g. a door) or for an engine stalling. La voiture a calé means 'the car stalled.' Colloquially it also means to give up or to feel full: je cale ('I'm stuffed / I give up').

Examples

"Le moteur a calé au feu rouge."

Natural Translation

The engine stalled at the red light.

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