panier

n. m.

1. (Auctioneers' and junk-dealers' slang): 'Bundle', job-lot.

2. 'Botty', 'bum', woman's behind. Elle a un gentil petit panier! She's got a smashing little sit-me-down! Mettre la main au panier. To put one's hand up a skirt. (The expression panier à crottes, although totally devoid of charm, refers generally to a woman's behind.) Secouer (also: faire sauter) le panier à crottes: To have a dance.

3. Panier percé: 'Hole-in-the-pocket' character, spendthrift person.

4. Faire sauter l'anse du panier (iron.): To 'fiddle accounts', to divert funds. (Originally, as the expression suggests, the fiddle was one involving pennies rather than pounds and operated by light-fingered maids.)

5. Faire le panier à deux anses: To go for a 'loving-cup' walk, to have a woman on each arm.

6. Le dessus du panier (of person or object): The 'cream of the cream', the 'pick of the bunch', the very best.

7. Panier de crabes: 'Hornets' nest', situation loaded with aggro and partisan feelings where it would be dangerous to take a hand.

8. Panier à salade: 'Black-Maria', police van used to ferry prisoners and suspects.

9. Mettre dans le même panier: To 'tar with the same brush', to consider people or items to be of equally low standing or value.

10. Con comme un panier: Bloody stupid. (The Yorkshire/Lancashire 'daft as a brush' is no equivalent as it is jocular and non-pejorative.)

11. Coucouche panier!

  a (joc.): Off to bed!

  b (joc. & iron.): Down, Rover! (This expression is often used by women to over- enthusiastic suitors.)