English to French translation

Put the kibosh on something

July 6, 2009

“This could put the kibosh on our plan,” my friend Paul wrote during an instant message conversation. I had never come across this expression and “kibosh” reminded me of “shibboleth”, so I immediately assumed it was of Jewish origin. Wrong!

836, kye-bosk, in slang phrase "put the kibosh on", of unknown origin, despite intense speculation. Looks Yiddish, but origin in early 19c. English slang seems to argue against this. One candidate is Ir. caip bháis, caipín báis "cap of death," sometimes said to be the black cap a judge would don when pronouncing a death sentence, but in other sources identified as a gruesome method of execution "employed by Brit. forces against 1798 insurgents" [Bernard Share, "Slanguage, A Dictionary of Irish Slang"].
Etymonline

The French translation could be: Cela pourrait mettre notre plan en l’air.

Comments

Fascinating! I'll have to take a look at Etymonline. Thanks.

I came across that word for the first time last year and commented on it on my own blog. Every time I hear a word like that that I hadn't heard before my linguistic curiosity is switched on and I dive into the history of these words.

I like your new website format and very useful content. I didn't know of Etymonline and will add it to my reference list.

Greetings from a budding new translator in Brighton.
Susanne

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