avoir beau

French

Pronunciation
  • IPA(key): /a.vwaʁ bo/
  • Audio(file)

Verb

avoir beau

  1. may well, well might (+ infinitive); whatever, no matter what (even though) someone does/says, etc.
    on a beau faire ― whatever you do; no matter what one does
    on a beau protester ― however much you protest
    il a eu beau essayer ― try as he might
    On a beau rappeler, personne ne répond.
    You can call back as much as you like/However much you call back/Even if you call back, nobody answers.
    On a beau dire, il n’est pas bête. ― Say what you like, he's not stupid.
    • 1921, Marcel Proust, Le Côté Guermantes, section II:
      « Cette pierre vivante a beau être mon cousin, elle me fair peur […]  »
      This living stone may well be my cousin, but it frightens me.
    • 1961, “Le Prochain Amour”, in Jacques Brel (lyrics), Marieke:
      On a beau faire on a beau dire / Ça fait du bien d’être amoureux / Je sais je sais que ce prochain amour / Sera pour moi la prochaine défaite
      Do whatever you like, say however much you want / that it feels good to be in love; / I know, I know that this next love / will be my next defeat.

Usage notes

Followed by an infinitive expressing the verb "do", "say", etc.

This article is issued from Wiktionary. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.