What does debout in French mean?

What is the meaning of the word debout in French? The article explains the full meaning, pronunciation along with bilingual examples and instructions on how to use debout in French.

The word debout in French means standing, up, upright, standing, head, far-fetched, nonsensical, go into a headwind, it doesn't hold up, that doesn't hold up, it won't work, that won't work, Get up everyone!, Keep going!, Stay strong!, Three Evangelists, upright, on your hind legs, up on your hind legs, be asleep on your feet, be up, be still standing, be still standing, be still up, be still awake, tall story, Department of Public Prosecutions, stand up, get on its feet, stand up, not hold up, not hold water, not stand up, be dead on your feet, stand, standing, stand, stand up, headwind. To learn more, please see the details below.

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Meaning of the word debout

standing

adverbe (sur ses pieds)

(verb, present participle: -ing verb used descriptively or to form progressive verb--for example, "a singing bird," "It is singing.")
Le client buvait un café debout au comptoir. // Comme il n'y avait plus de places assises, j'ai été debout tout le trajet. // Ma mère n'aime pas manger debout.
My mother doesn't like eating standing up.

up

adverbe (qui est levé)

(adjective: Describes a noun or pronoun--for example, "a tall girl," "an interesting book," "a big house.")
Luc est déjà debout parce qu'il a un train à prendre. // Et ton fils est toujours debout à 22 heures ?
Luke is already up because he has a train to catch. // Is your son still up at 10 pm?

upright

adverbe (vertical)

(adverb: Describes a verb, adjective, adverb, or clause--for example, "come quickly," "very rare," "happening now," "fall down.")
On a présenté le tableau debout.
The painting was presented upright.

standing

adverbe (qui tient encore)

(verb, present participle: -ing verb used descriptively or to form progressive verb--for example, "a singing bird," "It is singing.")
Après la tempête, il reste encore des arbres debout. // Malgré un déluge d'artillerie, les défenseurs sont encore debout.
After the storm, some trees are still standing. // Despite heavy artillery fire, the defenders are still standing.

head

adjectif invariable (vent : de face)

(prefix: Added to front of word stem--for example, unsaid = un+said.)
Si le voilier est vent debout, il doit changer de trajectoire.
If sailing into a headwind, you need to change course.

far-fetched, nonsensical

locution adjectivale (familier (pas croyable, invraisemblable)

(adjective: Describes a noun or pronoun--for example, "a tall girl," "an interesting book," "a big house.")

go into a headwind

locution verbale (avoir un vent de face)

(verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.")
Le voilier a le vent debout et ne peut plus avancer.

it doesn't hold up, that doesn't hold up

(figuré (c'est illogique) (figurative)

(expression: Prepositional phrase, adverbial phrase, or other phrase or expression--for example, "behind the times," "on your own.")
Il se serait suicidé puis aurait rangé le fusil ? Cela ne tient pas debout !

it won't work, that won't work

(figuré (ça ne marchera pas)

(expression: Prepositional phrase, adverbial phrase, or other phrase or expression--for example, "behind the times," "on your own.")
Tu penses que Céline et Hélène viendront à la même fête ? Cela ne tient pas debout !

Get up everyone!

interjection (familier (Réveillez-vous !) (colloquial)

(interjection: Exclamation--for example, "Oh no!" "Wow!")

Keep going!, Stay strong!

interjection (courage !)

(interjection: Exclamation--for example, "Oh no!" "Wow!")
Allez, debout les morts ! Il ne reste plus que 5 kilomètres.

Three Evangelists

nom propre (roman de Fred Vargas) (novel, film)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)
"Debout les morts" met en scène une cantatrice et un hêtre...

upright

locution adverbiale (en position verticale)

Un poulain se tient très vite debout sur ses jambes.

on your hind legs, up on your hind legs

locution adverbiale (en appui sur ses jambes postérieures)

(expression: Prepositional phrase, adverbial phrase, or other phrase or expression--for example, "behind the times," "on your own.")
L'ours se mit debout sur ses pattes de derrière pour accéder à la ruche.
The bear stood up on its hind legs to reach the beehive.

be asleep on your feet

verbe intransitif (figuré (être extrêmement fatigué) (figurative)

(verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.")

be up

locution verbale (ne pas être couché) (out of bed)

Luc est déjà debout, il a un train à prendre.

be still standing

locution verbale (figuré (résister) (figurative)

(verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.")
Malgré un déluge d'artillerie, les défenseurs sont encore debout.

be still standing

locution verbale (ne pas s'être effondré)

(verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.")
Malgré le tremblement de terre, cet immeuble est encore debout !

be still up, be still awake

locution verbale (ne pas encore être couché)

(verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.")
Il était encore debout malgré l'heure tardive.

tall story

nom féminin (figuré (balivernes) (figurative, informal)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)

Department of Public Prosecutions

nom féminin (ministère public) (law)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)
La parole est à la magistrature debout.

stand up

locution verbale (lever)

Les infirmières s'y sont prises à deux pour mettre le patient debout.

get on its feet

locution verbale (mener à bien) (figurative)

(verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.")
Pierre a mis debout un projet dont il est très fier.

stand up

(se lever)

(phrasal verb, intransitive: Verb with adverb(s) or preposition(s), having special meaning and not taking direct object--for example, "make up" [=reconcile]: "After they fought, they made up.")
Marie aide son grand-père à se mettre debout.

not hold up, not hold water, not stand up

locution verbale (figuré (ne pas être cohérent, valable) (figurative)

(verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.")
Désolé, mais ton histoire ne tient pas debout.

be dead on your feet

locution verbale (figuré (être très fatigué) (figurative)

(verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.")

stand

(rester debout)

(intransitive verb: Verb not taking a direct object--for example, "She jokes." "He has arrived.")

standing

nom masculin (fait de rester debout)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)

stand

locution verbale (disposer de ses jambes)

(intransitive verb: Verb not taking a direct object--for example, "She jokes." "He has arrived.")

stand up

locution verbale (figuré (être vraisemblable) (figurative)

(phrasal verb, intransitive: Verb with adverb(s) or preposition(s), having special meaning and not taking direct object--for example, "make up" [=reconcile]: "After they fought, they made up.")

headwind

(allure avec vent de face) (weather)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)
Par vent debout, on ne peut que louvoyer.

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