Vivons Heureux Numéro 1, Quiz 53: téléguidée

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.

remote controlled

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The snippet in English

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The above translation from Deepl

What does “d’un côté” mean?

D’un côté means on one hand or on one side, and it’s used to introduce one part of a contrast, often followed by de l’autre (côté) (on the other hand).

D’un côté, j’aimerais partir en vacances. De l’autre, j’ai trop de travail.
(On one hand, I’d like to go on vacation. On the other, I have too much work.)

It sets up balanced or opposing ideas, like pros and cons, or internal conflict.

It can also appear on its own, especially in speech, to introduce a point that suggests “well, yes, but…”
D’un côté, tu as raison…
(You’re kind of right, but…)

Culturally, it’s very common in structured argument, opinion pieces, or any context where nuance or weighing of ideas matters.

What does “ça m’arrange” mean?

Ça m’arrange means that works for me, that suits me, or that makes things easier for me.

On peut se voir à 18h ? – Oui, ça m’arrange.
(Can we meet at 6 p.m.? – Yes, that works for me.)

Si tu peux le faire à ma place, ça m’arrange.
(If you can do it instead of me, that helps me out.)

It expresses that something is convenient, beneficial, or takes a load off. It can be used politely or casually, and is very common in everyday conversation.

Culturally, it’s a smooth way to agree to something while subtly indicating that it fits your schedule, plans, or needs. You might also hear it in the negative:
Ça ne m’arrange pas trop. (That’s not ideal for me.)

What does “infâme greluche parisienne” mean?

Infâme greluche parisienne is a very colloquial and biting phrase, blending insult, irony, and stereotype. Here’s a breakdown:

Infâme = vile, disgusting, despicable
→ Strongly negative and formal in tone

Greluche = silly woman, airhead, or bimbo (slang, often sexist)
→ Dismissive, usually aimed at someone seen as superficial or annoying

Parisienne = Parisian woman
→ Adds a layer of stereotype: often implies someone seen as snobbish, fashionable, entitled, or overly chic and shallow, depending on tone

So, infâme greluche parisienne translates roughly as:

That vile Parisian airhead
or
That despicable, stuck-up Paris fashion girl

It’s loaded with contempt, and would typically be used either in a satirical, class-conscious critique or as a very harsh (and dated) insult. Culturally, this kind of phrase draws on deep caricatures of Parisian women as being overly sophisticated, self-centered, or out of touch with “real” people.

Very context-sensitive—can be humorous or mean-spirited depending on who’s saying it and why.

What does “téléguidée” mean?

Téléguidée is the feminine past participle of téléguider, meaning remote-controlled or guided remotely.

Une voiture téléguidée.
(A remote-controlled car.)

Une opération téléguidée depuis l’étranger.
(An operation directed remotely from abroad.)

In everyday language, téléguidée can also be used metaphorically to describe a person who is controlled or manipulated by someone else, as if they aren’t acting freely.

Elle donne l’impression d’être complètement téléguidée par son entourage.
(She seems to be completely controlled by the people around her.)

Culturally, calling someone téléguidé(e) suggests lack of independence, external influence, or being used like a puppet, and can have a strong critical or ironic tone.

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