Noël malin

Sneaky French Expression


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Meaning	Christmas sales / bargains
Literally	cunning Christmas
Register	informal
Pronunciation		[nuh ehl mah leh(n)]
IPA		[nɔ ɛl ma lɛ̃]

Usage notes: The informal French expression Noël malin refers to Christmas sales or bargains, and also plays on consumers’ vanity at the same time.

Par exemple…

Offres Noël malin		Christmas offers [for the savvy shopper]
Un Noël malin avec Boutique Xyz !		Don’t miss the amazing Christmas sales at Xyz Store!
Noël malin, Noël radin		Shrewd Christmas, cheap Christmas
Pour un Noël malin et écolo : des cadeaux recyclés		For an affordable [and cunning] and ecological Christmas: recycled gifts

If you’re wondering what malin, which means "shrewd" or "cunning," has to do with Christmas, the answer is simple: it doesn’t. This expression isn’t describing Christmas or the sales, but rather you: the cunning consumer who is far too smart to pass up these amazing bargains. Or at least, that’s the idea. When a store says Noël malin, what they’re really saying is Noël (pour le) malin.

Malin is normally an adjective or noun, but can be used as an adverb, as in the phrase acheter malin – to shop smart.

More shopping expressions