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faufiler

to slip through

verb foh-fee-LEH Rare

Origin: from faufil 'basting thread'

Also means

to baste (sewing)

Usage Note

Faufiler most commonly appears as the reflexive se faufiler, meaning to weave or thread oneself through a crowd or tight space: elle s'est faufilée entre les voitures. Its sewing sense — to baste or tack fabric loosely — is also standard but used in more specific contexts. The image of slipping through unseen makes it vivid in narrative prose.

Examples

"Il se faufile entre les passants."

Natural Translation

He slips through the passers-by.

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