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pantin

puppet

noun pahn-TAHN Rare

Also means

pushover

Usage Note

Pantin originally referred to a jointed cardboard figure whose limbs are pulled by a string — a popular 18th-century toy. Figuratively it describes a person who is manipulated by others or who moves about aimlessly with no will of their own. Faire le pantin means to clown around. Paris has a suburb called Pantin, though the connection is debated.

Examples

"Il agit comme un pantin sans volonté."

Natural Translation

He acts like a puppet with no will.

Literal Translation

He acts like a puppet without will.

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