Vivons Heureux Numéro 1, Quiz 55: fait des expériences

The above audio sample and transcription is from Vivons Heureux avant le fin de le monde podcast Numéro 1. We do not own the content. Listen to the entire episode here.

do experiments

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What does “fait des expériences” mean?

Fait des expériences means does experiments or conducts experiments.

Literal scientific use: Il fait des expériences en laboratoire. (He conducts experiments in the lab.) → Common in science, psychology, or research contexts.

Figurative / personal use: Elle fait des expériences pour mieux se connaître. (She’s experimenting to get to know herself better.) → In life, art, relationships—trying new things, testing limits.

Cultural nuance: Faire des expériences can refer to rigorous testing (in a lab) or trial-and-error learning (in daily life). It’s used broadly in French, and the meaning depends on context.

What does “est renvoyée” mean?

Est renvoyée means is sent back, is dismissed, or is expelled, depending on context. It’s the passive voice of the verb renvoyer in the feminine singular form.

Renvoyer is a flexible verb: it can refer to returning something, dismissing someone, or even referring something back (like a case in court). The meaning depends heavily on the object or context—but est renvoyée almost always signals an action done to someone/something, not something they initiate.

This is very common in psychology, sociology, or media language, where we speak of the image renvoyée par quelqu’un (the image someone sends back), meaning how a person is perceived based on what they outwardly project.

What does “vis-à-vis” mean?

Vis-à-vis is a versatile French expression that literally means face to face, but it has several common figurative uses in both French and English.

1. In relation to / with regard to Used to compare or reference something.

Il a changé d’attitude vis-à-vis de ses collègues. (He changed his attitude toward his colleagues.)

C’est une décision importante vis-à-vis de la loi. (It’s an important decision with regard to the law.)

2. Facing each other / opposite In spatial terms—especially with seating or buildings.

Ils étaient assis en vis-à-vis. (They were seated face to face.)

Un appartement sans vis-à-vis. (An apartment with no direct view into someone else’s.) → Very common in French real estate ads—it means no neighbors looking directly into your windows.

Culturally: Vis-à-vis is elegant and common in both formal and neutral French. In English, it’s also borrowed, especially in formal writing (vis-à-vis regulations), though in French it’s used more flexibly in both spatial and abstract relationships.

What does “rivaux éventuels” mean?

Rivaux éventuels means potential rivals or possible competitors.
– Rivaux = rivals, competitors (plural of rival)
– Éventuels = possible, potential, that may arise (False Friend ≠ eventual)

Ils ont surveillé de près leurs rivaux éventuels. (They kept a close eye on their potential rivals.)

Culturally, éventuel is a false friend: it does not mean eventual, but rather possible or hypothetical. This phrase is often used in politics, sports, or business, when referring to those who might compete, but haven’t necessarily done so yet.

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