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saute

sudden change, mood swing

noun SOHT Less Common
Mind & Emotions Emotions

Usage Note

Saute in modern usage almost always appears in the compound une saute d'humeur (a mood swing) or une saute de vent (a sudden wind shift). It derives from the verb sauter (to jump). Outside these fixed phrases it is rarely used alone, so learning the collocations is more useful than the bare noun.

Examples

"Ses sautes d'humeur rendent la situation difficile."

Natural Translation

Her mood swings make the situation difficult.

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