What does fil in French mean?

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

The word fil in French means thread, cotton, string, wire, string, thread, edge, sharp edge, weft, ins and outs, thread, thread, line, on the line, as goes by, with the flow, with the current, along the waterside, as arises, over the years, day after day, day by day, over time, in the course of time, over the course of time, be tied down, call, phone call, easy to see through, one thing leading to another, give a hard time, give the run-around, give a call, straight grain, conformity, harmony, warp thread, ne'er cast a clout till May be out, be in line with , be in keeping with, sewing thread, butter slicer, plumb line, barbed wire, power cable, common thread, central theme, Ariadne's thread, breadcrumb trail, discussion thread, thread, wire, live wire, earth wire, earth, floss, dental floss, guiding principle, wire, electric wire, narrative thread, story arc, narrative arc, high-wire artist, high-wire act, stringless green bean, story that can be easily seen though, will never set the world on fire, hang by a thread, needle threader, cable threader, make a phone call, make a call, phone, call, lose the thread, get a call, receive a call, wireless network, wireless, cordless phone, wireless mouse, on a knife edge, on the edge, on a razor's edge, wireless telegraphy, cordless phone. To learn more, please see the details below.

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Meaning of the word fil

thread, cotton

nom masculin (cordon de textile) (UK: sewing)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)
La couturière sortit un fil bleu de la boîte.
The dressmaker took a blue thread out of the box.

string

nom masculin (cordon) (puppet)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)
Les fils des marionnettes étaient quasiment invisibles avec ce décor blanc.

wire

nom masculin (câble) (electrical)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)
Il faudrait cacher les fils électriques.
The electrical wires should be hidden.

string

nom masculin (filament dur d'un légume)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)
Au bout du dixième fil dans ses haricots, la petite fille décida de laisser son plat. C'est une variété de haricots verts sans fil.
This is a non-stringy variety of green bean.

thread

nom masculin (enchaînement d'idées)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)
Il faut suivre le fil de son discours.
You have to follow the thread of his speech.

edge, sharp edge

nom masculin (tranchant)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)
Ne te coupe pas avec le fil du couteau.
Don't cut yourself with the edge of the knife.

weft

nom masculin (trame) (fabric)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)
Il faut couper ce tissu dans le sens du fil.
You need to cut this fabric with the weft.

ins and outs

nom masculin (moyen secret d'action)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)
Il connaît tous les fils de cette affaire.
ⓘCette phrase n'est pas une traduction de la phrase originale. She unraveled all the threads of the case until they finally led her to the solution.

thread

nom masculin (littéraire (succession continue) (figurative)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)
Il faut prendre soin du fil de la vie.
You must take care of the thread of life.

thread

nom masculin (internet : sujet d'un forum) (internet)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)
Cet utilisateur a déjà ouvert plus de 100 fils.
This user has already opened over a hundred threads.

line

nom masculin (familier (téléphone)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)
Le fil a été coupé toute la journée d'hier.

on the line

locution adverbiale (familier (au téléphone)

(expression: Prepositional phrase, adverbial phrase, or other phrase or expression--for example, "behind the times," "on your own.")
J'ai décroché, mais il n'y avait personne au bout du fil. // - Allô, bonjour, c'est Agathe au bout du fil...
"Hello, it's Agatha here."

as goes by

(figuré (tout le long de [qch])

(expression: Prepositional phrase, adverbial phrase, or other phrase or expression--for example, "behind the times," "on your own.")
L'expérience s'acquiert au fil des jours.
Experience is gained as the days go by.

with the flow, with the current

locution adverbiale (à la dérive, en suivant le courant)

(expression: Prepositional phrase, adverbial phrase, or other phrase or expression--for example, "behind the times," "on your own.")
Le petit garçon laissa son bateau partir au fil de l'eau.
The little boy let his boat go with the current.

along the waterside

locution adverbiale (sur un cours d'eau et sans barrage)

(expression: Prepositional phrase, adverbial phrase, or other phrase or expression--for example, "behind the times," "on your own.")
Sur les rivières à fort débit, on peut installer une centrale au fil de l'eau. Les moulins à aube étaient les premières installations au fil de l'eau.
Watermills were the first buildings along the riverside.

as arises

locution adverbiale (figuré (au fur et à mesure, en temps réel)

(expression: Prepositional phrase, adverbial phrase, or other phrase or expression--for example, "behind the times," "on your own.")
Les réclamations sont traitées au fil de l'eau, sans priorité. Ce logiciel bénéficie de mises à jour au fil de l'eau.
This software benefits from real-time updates.

over the years

locution adverbiale (le temps passant, avec le temps)

(expression: Prepositional phrase, adverbial phrase, or other phrase or expression--for example, "behind the times," "on your own.")
Leur relation s'est consolidée au fil des années.

day after day, day by day

locution adverbiale (avec le temps)

(expression: Prepositional phrase, adverbial phrase, or other phrase or expression--for example, "behind the times," "on your own.")
Le soleil s'est installé au fil des jours.

over time, in the course of time, over the course of time

locution adverbiale (le temps passant)

(expression: Prepositional phrase, adverbial phrase, or other phrase or expression--for example, "behind the times," "on your own.")
Au fil du temps, nous découvrons notre nouvelle région.
Over time, we are getting to know our new area.

be tied down

locution verbale (figuré (être surveillé continuellement) (figurative)

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

call, phone call

nom masculin (appel téléphonique)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)
Il y a eu 5 coups de fil pendant notre absence.
There were five calls whilst we were out.

easy to see through

locution adjectivale (grossier, prévisible)

(expression: Prepositional phrase, adverbial phrase, or other phrase or expression--for example, "behind the times," "on your own.")

one thing leading to another

locution adverbiale (indice après indice, petit à petit)

Nous avons bu et parlé, et de fil en aiguille, il m'a confié qu'il était toujours amoureux de toi. À la base, je voulais regarder une vidéo sur Dalí, puis, de fil en aiguille, j'en suis arrivée à une vidéo sur les différentes variétés d'espagnol.

give a hard time, give the run-around

locution verbale (figuré, familier (causer des difficultés à [qqn]) (informal)

(verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.")
Cet exercice de maths me donne du fil à retordre : tu peux venir m'aider ?

give a call

(familier, figuré (téléphoner)

(verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.")
Ingrid donne un coup de fil à son frère tous les jours.

straight grain

nom masculin (sens du tissage) (textiles)

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

conformity, harmony

nom masculin (figuré (ligne logique)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)
Cette décision va dans le droit-fil de notre politique.

warp thread

nom masculin (sens des fils d'une étoffe) (fabric)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)
Il faut coudre dans le droit-fil et non dans le biais.

ne'er cast a clout till May be out

(proverbe (il ne faut pas se découvrir trop tôt) (proverb, equivalent)

(expression: Prepositional phrase, adverbial phrase, or other phrase or expression--for example, "behind the times," "on your own.")
– Je n'ai pas pris de veste et maintenant, j'ai froid. – Eh oui, en avril, ne te découvre pas d'un fil !

be in line with , be in keeping with

locution verbale (être dans la suite logique de [qch])

(verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.")
Cette décision est dans le droit-fil de la politique de l'entreprise.

sewing thread

nom masculin (fil servant à coudre)

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

butter slicer

nom masculin (fil servant à couper le beurre)

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

plumb line

nom masculin (fil pour contrôler un aplomb)

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

barbed wire

nom masculin (fil hérissé de fils coupants)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)
Ce champ est clos de fil barbelé.

power cable

nom masculin (conducteur électrique)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)
L’appareil est en panne, parce que le fil conducteur est cassé.
The equipment is not working because the power cable is broken.

common thread, central theme

nom masculin (thème majeur)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)
Le fil conducteur de ses œuvres est l'Europe.
The common thread of his work is Europe.

Ariadne's thread

nom masculin (Mythologie : système de guidage) (Greek myth)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)
C'est grâce au fil d'Ariane que le Minotaure s'échappa du labyrinthe.

breadcrumb trail

nom masculin (figuré (repère, guide) (figurative)

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

discussion thread, thread

nom masculin (conversation de forum internet) (internet)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)
Les fils de discussion sont utilisés dans les forums électroniques.

wire

nom masculin (brin de fer)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)
Il fait des sculptures en fil de fer.
He makes sculptures out of wire.

live wire

nom masculin (électricité : câble alimenté) (electricity)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)
On met en évidence la présence d'électricité dans un fil de phase.

earth wire, earth

nom masculin (électricité : fil relié à la terre) (UK, electricity)

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

floss, dental floss

nom masculin (fil pour nettoyer les dents)

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

guiding principle

nom masculin (thème, idée majeure)

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

wire, electric wire

nom masculin (fil conducteur d'électricité)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)
Cette prise doit être réparée car les fils électriques ressortent.
This plug needs to be repaired because the wires are coming out.

narrative thread

nom masculin (thème principal d'un récit)

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

story arc, narrative arc

nom masculin (trame, fil conducteur)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)
On distingue très bien le fil rouge de ce récit. C'est une série policière où le détective résout un meurtre par épisode avec, en fil rouge, la recherche de son frère disparu.
It's a crime drama where the detective solves a murder in every episode, but there's a common thread, which is that he's looking for his missing brother.

high-wire artist, high-wire act

nom masculin et féminin (rare (équilibriste) (circus performer)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)
Il y a toujours des fildeféristes dans les spectacles de cirque.

stringless green bean

nom masculin (haricot non filandreux)

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

story that can be easily seen though

nom féminin (figuré (histoire prévisible)

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

will never set the world on fire

locution verbale (familier, péjoratif (être un peu bête)

(verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.")
Mon collègue est gentil, mais il n'a pas inventé le fil à couper le beurre.

hang by a thread

locution verbale (figuré (être précaire)

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

needle threader

nom masculin (Couture : aiguille crochetée) (object passing)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)
La couturière utilise un passe-fil pour faire passer son fil dans les mailles qui l'intéressent.

cable threader

nom masculin (Électricité : câble fin à tirer)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)
Le passe-fil aide l'électricien à faire passer des câbles rigides dans les gaines.

make a phone call, make a call

locution verbale (familier (téléphoner) (informal)

(verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.")
Excuse-moi, je dois te laisser cinq minutes ; il faut que j'aille passer un coup de téléphone.

phone, call

(familier (téléphoner à [qqn]) (informal)

(transitive verb: Verb taking a direct object--for example, "Say something." "She found the cat.")
Je te passe un coup de fil dès que j'ai la réponse.

lose the thread

locution verbale (figuré (ne plus suivre) (figurative)

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

get a call, receive a call

locution verbale (familier (avoir un appel téléphonique)

(verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.")
Il reçut un coup de fil pendant la consultation.

wireless network

nom masculin (connexion informatique)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)
Un réseau sans fil connecte différents postes ou systèmes entre eux par ondes radio.

wireless

locution adjectivale (technologie: sans cordon)

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

cordless phone

nom masculin invariable (téléphone portatif)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)
Prends le sans-fil si tu vas dans le jardin !

wireless mouse

nom féminin (Informatique)

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

on a knife edge, on the edge

locution adverbiale (de justesse) (figurative)

(expression: Prepositional phrase, adverbial phrase, or other phrase or expression--for example, "behind the times," "on your own.")

on a razor's edge

locution adverbiale (de justesse)

(expression: Prepositional phrase, adverbial phrase, or other phrase or expression--for example, "behind the times," "on your own.")

wireless telegraphy

nom féminin (communication par ondes)

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

cordless phone

nom masculin (téléphone portatif)

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

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Related words of fil

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French (le français) is a Romance language. Like Italian, Portuguese, and Spanish, it comes from popular Latin, once used in the Roman Empire. A French-speaking person or country can be called a "Francophone". French is the official language in 29 countries. French is the fourth most spoken native language in the European Union. French ranks third in the EU, after English and German, and is the second most widely taught language after English. The majority of the world's French-speaking population lives in Africa, with about 141 million Africans from 34 countries and territories who can speak French as a first or second language. French is the second most widely spoken language in Canada, after English, and both are official languages at the federal level. It is the first language of 9.5 million people or 29% and the second language of 2.07 million people or 6% of the entire population of Canada. In contrast to other continents, French has no popularity in Asia. Currently, no country in Asia recognizes French as an official language.