paille

straw

noun PIE Rare

Usage Note

Paille means both the drinking straw (boire avec une paille) and dried straw used for animal bedding or thatching. The expression être sur la paille means to be broke or ruined — literally 'to be on the straw', evoking the image of sleeping on straw instead of a bed. Chapeau de paille is a straw hat.

Examples

"Elle boit son jus avec une paille."

Natural Translation

She drinks her juice with a straw.

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