Making polite conversation

If you want to know what you can and can’t say, this page should help…

The conversation

Bob: Hi, do come in. I don’t think we’ve met before.

Ruth: Hi. No, we haven’t. I’m Ruth. I work with Helen.

Bob: I’m Bob. I’m delighted to meet you at last - Helen has told me so much about you.

Ruth: All good, I hope!

Bob: Of course. Let me take your coat.

Ruth: Thanks.

Bob: So you found us all right?

Ruth: Yes, I followed Helen’s map. I brought this - I hope you like champagne.

Bob: You really shouldn’t have! Thank you. But you’re drenched - what dreadful weather we’re having. Can I get you a towel to dry your hair? Perhaps you’d like to freshen up after your journey?

Ruth: You mean have a shower? No, I’m fine, really. I’ll soon dry off.

Bob: No, I meant would you like to use the bathroom?

Ruth: Have a bath?

Bob: No. How shall I put it ... Would you like to powder your nose?

Ruth: My nose? No thanks, I don’t wear make-up. But I really need to pee.

Bob: Oh, yes, that’s what I meant. The, er, loo, is at the end of the hall, on your right... I’ll just get so me glasses.

Ruth: Good idea! I always say there’s nothing like a glass of bubbly for breaking the ice.

Pronunciation practice

The conversation

You really shouldn’t have = Tu n’aurais pas dû

drenched = trempé

dreadful = affreux

freshen up = se rafraîchir

bubbly = champagne

break the ice = briser la glace

use the bathroom (GB), use the restroom (US), wash one’s hands, powder one’s nose (vieilli), go to the loo = aller aux toilettes

Notez que si l’on cherche les toilettes dans un endroit public on peut aussi employer les termes "ladies" et "ladies’ room" pour les femmes et "gents" ou "mens" pour les hommes. Cependant, ces expressions sont un peu démodées aujourd’hui et les Britanniques utilisent plus souvent le mot "loo". "Pee", par contre, est familier et déconseillé dans des contextes formalistes.

Extra vocabulary

be tactless = manquer de tact

be well-mannered/bad-mannered, weil-bred/ill-bred = être bien/mal élevé

butt orbreak into the conversation = interrompre la conversation

cheekicheeky = culot/culotté

have no manners = n’avoir aucun savoir-vivre

in polite company = en bonne société

make polite conversation = échanger des politesses

make small talk = faire la conversation

offhand = désinvolte

refined = raffiné

rude, coarse = grossier

snub = (n) mépris ; (vb) snober