What does débrouiller in French mean?

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

The word débrouiller in French means untangle, arrange, manage, sort things out with, manage with, get by with , get by on, do without, do without it, get by without it, take care of things so you can do, get by, get sorted out, I'll manage, I'll cope, I'll get by, handle it like a boss, manage on your own, cope on your own, stand on your own two feet. To learn more, please see the details below.

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Meaning of the word débrouiller

untangle

verbe transitif (démêler)

(transitive verb: Verb taking a direct object--for example, "Say something." "She found the cat.")
Je débrouille les fils de la boîte à couture.
I'm untangling the thread in the sewing box.

arrange

verbe transitif (mettre de l'ordre)

(transitive verb: Verb taking a direct object--for example, "Say something." "She found the cat.")
Il débrouille ses papiers pour les classer.
He's arranging his papers in order to file them.

manage

verbe pronominal (trouver seul une solution)

(intransitive verb: Verb not taking a direct object--for example, "She jokes." "He has arrived.")
Je ne demande rien à personne, je me débrouille seul.
I don't ask anything from anyone; I manage by myself.

sort things out with

(s'arranger avec [qqn])

(verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.")
Débrouille-toi avec ton mari, c'est votre problème.
Sort things out with your husband. It's your problem.

manage with

(arriver à s'en sortir)

Pour manger, je me débrouille avec les légumes du jardin.
For food, I get by with vegetables from the garden.

get by with , get by on

(faire avec de simples moyens)

Eva n'est pas riche mais elle se débrouille avec ce qu'elle a.
Eva isn't rich, but she gets by with (or: on) what she has.

do without

(faire en se passant de [qch])

(phrasal verb, transitive, inseparable: Verb with adverb(s) or preposition(s), having special meaning, not divisible--for example,"go with" [=combine nicely]: "Those red shoes don't go with my dress." NOT [S]"Those red shoes don't go my dress with."[/S])
Nous nous débrouillerons sans crème fraîche, nous prendrons du yaourt.
We'll make do without crème fraîche; we'll use yoghurt.

do without it, get by without it

verbe pronominal (faire sans)

(verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.")
J'ai oublié l'ouvre-boîtes, nous devrons nous débrouiller sans.
I've forgotten the tin opener; we'll have to do without it.

take care of things so you can do

(s'arranger pour)

(verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.")
Je me débrouillerai pour venir lundi.
I'll take care of things so that I can come on Monday.

get by

verbe pronominal (être relativement bon) (informal)

(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.")
Je me débrouille en anglais.
I get by in English.

get sorted out

verbe pronominal (s'éclaircir)

(verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.")
Le dossier de la succession se débrouille.
The succession is getting sorted out.

I'll manage, I'll cope, I'll get by

(je m'en sortirai)

(expression: Prepositional phrase, adverbial phrase, or other phrase or expression--for example, "behind the times," "on your own.")
Je n'ai pas mon dictionnaire mais je vais me débrouiller.
I haven't got my dictionary, but I'll cope.

handle it like a boss

(familier (très bien réussir à faire [qch]) (slang)

(verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.")
Dis donc, c'était la première fois que tu cuisinais un plat aussi compliqué et tu t'es débrouillé comme un chef !

manage on your own, cope on your own

(agir sans aide)

(verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.")
Pour cette opération, je me débrouillerai seul, tu peux rester chez toi samedi.

stand on your own two feet

(savoir agir seul) (figurative)

Orpheline très jeune, Ophélie a vite appris à se débrouiller seule.

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