Why are newspapers known as canards (ducks) in french?

WE ALSO LOOK AT OTHER EXPRESSIONS AROUND THE WORD CANARD One of the first words you learn when taking French lessons is likely to be _journal_ for newspaper (not to be confused with the

English journal, which is _journal intime_ in French). Although everyone in France knows – and uses – _journal_ locals also call newspapers _canards_ (meaning ducks). “_Qu’est-ce qui est

écrit dans le canard?_” is another way of asking what is in the newspaper. _The Connexion_ looks at the origin of this unusual expression that, contrary to popular belief, was not initially

meant for the press. _CANCANER_ Aside from meaning duck, _canard_ can be used to refer to people who speak too much (just as someone from the UK might say someone is ‘rabbiting’ on). In

addition, _cancaner_* is a (slightly rude) verb that can be used to describe someone who talks too much, mimicking the sound a duck makes (note that in French ducks go _coin_ and not quack).

Other words with a similar meaning in French include_ bavasser_, _bavarder_ or _palabrer_. The word was also used in a now defunct expression _répandre un canard_ which meant spreading fake

news. From this expression, _canard_ was slowly used to describe certain newspapers from the late eighteenth to the nineteenth century which were of poor standard and had a reputation of

spreading misinformation. Over the years, the word took on the broader meaning of a newspaper in general and not just one of poor quality. However, nowadays, French people make a difference

between _un canard_ and _le canard_ when talking about newspapers. Whilst the former refers to any newspaper, the latter refers to _Le Canard Enchaîné_, a satirical and investigative

newspaper published every Wednesday. “_Tu as vu la dernière information parue dans le Canard?_” means “_have you seen the latest news in__Le Canard Enchaîné__?_” _Le Canard Enchaîné _is also

nicknamed _Le Palmipède_ or ‘the bird with webbed feet’. OTHER USES OF ‘CANARD’ _C__anard_ has also inspired a number of other verbs and expressions in French. _Ne pas casser trois pattes à

un canard_ which is equivalent to saying ‘there’s nothing to write home about it’ in English. Example: “_Je viens de fêter mes 64 ans. Cela ne casse pas trois pattes à un canard_” (“I just

celebrated my 64 years old. It wasn’t anything to write home about.”) _Etre un canard boiteux_ is the French equivalent to the British expression ‘lame duck’ – similarly, _etre le vilain

petit canard _means to be the ugly duckling. _Froid de canard_(a duck’s cold) means that it is extremely cold. Finally, for younger people _faire le canard_ or _être un canard_ is used to

describe a man who is a pushover in his relationship. *_Cancaner_ is not to be confused with _canarder_ which means to rattle off a gun and takes inspiration from duck-hunting methods.

Example: “_Ils canardent comme des vraies barges, faut qu’ils arrêtent_” (“They are firing like crazy, they got to stop” a line used when translating the film _Tropic Thunder _into French).

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