French Conversation · Level 63
76 words
French word
coincer
Pronunciation
IPA/kwɛ̃se/
Meaning
- verbcatch
Example
Je me suis coincé le doigt dans la porte.
I got my finger caught in the door.
More examples
Il a réussi à coincer son interlocuteur avec une question.
He managed to corner his interlocutor with a question.
Core concept
A wedge holds something tightly between two surfaces, leaving it unable to move.
Common phrases
coincer quelqu'un
corner someone
coincer une roue
jam a wheel
Similar words
pincer: Squeeze skin or an object between two things, causing pain or damage.
bloquer: Prevent a machine, door, or mechanism from moving or operating.
boucher: Close off a hole or passage and prevent anything from passing through.
caler: Jam an object or machine into a gap so it stays firmly in place.
Definition in French
Placer ou maintenir fermement quelque chose entre deux éléments de façon qu'il ne puisse plus bouger ; s'emploie aussi pour dire qu'une personne ou un objet est bloqué.
Word origin
French coincer derives from coin, meaning 'wedge' or 'corner', from Old French and ultimately Latin cuneus, 'wedge'.
Usage tips
- For a trapped body part, French commonly uses the pronominal pattern se coincer quelque chose, as in se coincer le doigt.