Learning French: the origins and meaning of être Gros-Jean comme devant
The expression comes from France’s most studied and well-known fabulist
Jean de la Fontaine wrote The Milkmaid and the Pot of Milk in 1678
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“Je suis Gros-Jean comme devant.”
This French idiom will probably have you scratching your head.
Who is John? Why is he big? What is the meaning of this bizarre expression?
It actually refers to feeling disappointed or foolish.
However, you certainly will not be disappointed by the interesting origin story behind this old phrase which was first coined by Jean de la Fontaine.
What does être Gros-Jean comme devant mean?
It literally translates as: to be big John as before.
A more appropriate way of interpreting this peculiar phrase would be to refer to the idea of disappointment, failure or unfair treatment.
It can describe someone who puts in effort without seeing any progress.
In English, you might say you are feeling deflated or find yourself back to square one.
A French synonym is: avoir le bec dans l'eau (to be high and dry).
Read also: Understanding 'etre au taquet': exploring the French expression of intense effort
What are the origins of être Gros-Jean comme devant?
This funny expression comes from French poet Jean de La Fontaine in his 1678 fable, La Laitière et le Pot au lait (The Milkmaid and the Pot of Milk).
This story describes a milkmaid who imagines herself making a great fortune by selling milk. However, she faces disillusionment after dropping her pot, seeing her potential riches smashed and splashed on the ground.
The final lines go like this:
“Quelque accident fait-il que je rentre en moi-même,
Je suis gros Jean comme devant.”
(An accident happens and I return to myself,
I am John Smith as before.)
La Laitière et le Pot au lait - Jean de La Fontaine - Thalie Envolée (HD)
The word devant (in front) used to be understood as avant (before). It is still used this way in formal contexts.
But why is the milkmaid calling herself Gros-Jean? This mysterious character is not based on a real person. Jean is a name which has traditionally been used to refer to someone average.
The plot thickens as we learn that the adjective gros is not a reference to size. In Old French, it was mainly used to describe something, or someone, naive, foolish or simple. So, Jean de la Fontaine simply used this description to emphasise his point.
This is similar to the English phrase, an average Joe. It could also be compared to use of the name John Smith as a placeholder or term for referring to someone ‘common.’
Therefore, the milkmaid calls herself Gros-Jean as her dream of becoming rich is taken away and she finds herself as just another everyday person.
Read also: Frenchman’s bid to remove the shame of having the name Kevin
When do you say être Gros-Jean comme devant?
You can say this after working hard without seeing any results:
It can be used to describe feeling deflated:
Read also: Understanding 'pédaler dans la semoule': A deep dive into French idioms
To whom do you say être Gros-Jean comme devant?
It is a colloquial expression which can be said with friends and family.
It is mostly used by older generations. Young people in France might not understand what you are referring to, but now you can explain the interesting history behind Gros-Jean.
Read also: Billy, Lucy, Alex: is there a French town or village with your name?
In fact, the famous Jean appears in a few different French phrases.
Other Jean expressions?
Jean-foutre - A good-for-nothing
Jean Farine - A clown/The butt of the joke
Jean Bête - A silly Billy
Un Jean-Jean - An imbecile
Jean qui rit, Jean qui pleure - Someone who flits from happy to sad
