plaquer

pin down, tackle

verb plah-KEH Less Common

Also means

ditch, dump (a partner)

Usage Note

Plaquer in sports means to tackle someone to the ground (rugby especially). In everyday colloquial French it very commonly means to dump a partner or quit a job abruptly: il l'a plaquée (he dumped her). The noun plaque (plate, plaque) shares the root but is unrelated in meaning.

Examples

"Il a plaqué son emploi du jour au lendemain."

Natural Translation

He quit his job from one day to the next.

Literal Translation

He ditched his job from day to next.

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