One of the first expressions that newcomers to France might encounter. A lot.
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Besides the obvious, ”Merde!” in theater and ballet circles (where saying "bonne chance" is basically inviting disaster) means, "break a leg." The tradition supposedly dates back to horse-and-carriage days when a pile of merde outside a venue meant tons of wealthy patrons had shown up and a packed house was guaranteed. In the sidewalk version, Paris newcomers dodging canine landmines who step in doggie doo, depending on which foot, discover it can be a lucky break: plant your left foot, and voilà, “C’est pas grave, c’est le pied gauche!” (“It’s ok, it’s the left foot!”). The right? Doom and despair, naturally. So when life hands you merde, it could be that your luck is about to change. - BPJ