péter les plombs
What does péter les plombs mean? péter les plombs is a French moderate that translates to “to blow a fuse, to lose it” in English.
Literal Translation
to blow the fuses
Meaning & Usage
"to blow a fuse, to lose it"
Synonym of 'péter un câble' — to lose your temper or go crazy. The 'plombs' are lead fuses in old electrical systems that would melt and blow when overloaded. Applied to humans who similarly overload and explode. It's the slightly older, more established version of the expression.
Examples in the Wild
'Elle a pété les plombs en plein supermarché' — she lost it in the middle of the supermarket. Classic French anecdote territory.
When to Use It
Context
- Casual conversations with friends
- Informal settings where profanity is accepted
- As a spontaneous exclamation
Avoid
- Professional or formal settings
- Job interviews, meetings, or customer-facing situations
Cultural Context
While 'péter un câble' is newer and arguably more common among younger speakers, 'péter les plombs' has wider recognition across all age groups. Both describe the same phenomenon of emotional circuit-breaking. French speakers might use them interchangeably in the same conversation.
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