French Conversation · Level 130
46 words
French word
écoper
Pronunciation
IPA/ekope/
Meaning
- verbget a fine
Example
Il a écopé d'une amende pour excès de vitesse.
He got a fine for speeding.
More examples
La société a écopé d'une lourde amende après l'enquête.
The company was hit with a hefty fine after the investigation.
Core concept
A person suddenly left holding the bucket for an unwanted burden.
Common phrases
écoper d'une amende
be hit with a fine
écoper d'une sanction
receive a penalty
Similar words
se prendre: To end up getting a fine for an offense.
se faire verbaliser: To be ticketed for a traffic violation and face a fine.
se faire flasher: To be caught by a speed camera and possibly receive a later fine notice.
se voir infliger: To be formally fined by an authority or court.
Definition in French
Signifie subir une sanction (souvent une amende), fréquemment employé avec la construction « écoper de + quelque chose ».
Word origin
The verb comes from écope, a tool for bailing water from a boat, and its literal bailing sense extended to bearing an unwanted penalty.
Usage tips
- In the penalty sense, écoper normally appears as écoper de plus a noun, as in écoper d'une amende.
Other meanings
- be punishedverb
- bail outverb
Opposites
- éviteravoidverb