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dérouler

unroll, unfold

verb deh-roo-LEH Less Common

Also means

take place, unfold (events)

Usage Note

Dérouler literally means to unroll something like a scroll or carpet. The reflexive se dérouler is the common idiom meaning 'to take place' or 'to unfold': la cérémonie s'est bien déroulée ('the ceremony went smoothly'). The two senses are closely linked by the image of events 'unrolling'.

Examples

"La fête s'est bien déroulée hier soir."

Natural Translation

The party went well last night.

Literal Translation

The party unrolled well last evening.

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