Worse than Michelle Wolf?

The Washington press corps has spent a few days being embarrassed about Michelle Wolf’s raunchy and mean-spirited presentation at Saturday’s annual dinner for the White House Correspondent’s Association. In the fullness of time, they may find it even more difficult to defend another part of the evening’s program.

Even correspondents attending the event for the first time and unaware of its recent tradition of inviting comedians to offer harsh partisan commentary should have known what to expect from Ms. Wolf. A quick check…

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Macron thanks Australian leader’s ‘delicious wife’

French President Emmanuel Macron committed a rather delicious faux pas on Wednesday that left his Australian audience scratching their heads.

Mr Macron has been in the country on a diplomatic trip, discussing weighty issues like climate change and defence.

The president’s immaculate English, however, failed him momentarily as he thanked PM Malcolm Turnbull.

“Thank you and your delicious wife for your warm welcome, the perfect organisation of this trip,” he said.

“Thanks to you and Lucy, thank you very much, Mr Prime Minister,” he added, before the two men shook hands.

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The French president had been speaking in English, and some watching the press conference were not quite sure if they had heard correctly – or if Mr Macron had, indeed, committed a little lèse majesté.

Recordings of the exchange quickly confirmed that Mr Macron had referred to Mrs Lucy Hughes Turnbull, recipient of the order of Australia and chief of the Greater Sydney Commission, as “delicious”.

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But all was not quite what it seems.

The French word is délicieux, which can be used to describe a very tasty meal.

But it can also be used to refer to something very good or very agreeable, in the sense of “delightful”. Mr Macron chose the word he wanted, but not the meaning he wanted.

The French president’s command of English is considered to be excellent. A week before Wednesday’s slip-up, he addressed the US Congress in Washington DC.

His speech – including a few puns and jokes – earned him a standing ovation and the praise of many on social media for his eloquence.

‘False friends’

French and English share many similar-sounding words, but some do not mean what you might think. Such “false friends”, as linguists call them, can lead to misunderstandings.

To be “encensé” does not means to be incensed, but showered with praise. French motorists in the UK can sometimes be confused about warnings of “soft verges” – a phrase which they might think refers to male organs.

“Dresser” a creature – animal or human – means to tame them, not put a garment on them.

Don’t tell your French boss you’re “excité” at the idea of working with them. Conversely “promiscuité” has no sexual connotation – it just means unwanted proximity.

“Une distraction” in French is welcome – such as a hobby or something that keeps your entertained.

A “maniaque” is just a fussy person, not a crazy one. Someone who is “pétulant” is lively, not bad-tempered.

There is, of course, a long history of political messages lost in translation.

A translator in the White House back in 1830 rendered a request from Paris – “le gouvernement français demande“ – as a demand, the arrogance of which offended the English speakers.

• BBC Culture: The greatest mistranslations ever

But perhaps the oddest story comes from US President Jimmy Carter, who famously expressed a sexual desire for communist Poland in 1977, thanks to an interpretation slip-up.

Wednesday’s slip-up, however, was quickly forgiven, with Prime Minister Turnbull smiling and shaking hands with Mr Macron.

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