Vivre d'amour et d'eau fraîche - Lawless French Expression


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Informal French Expression

Meaning	to live on love alone; to be irresponsible
Literally	to live on love and fresh water
Register	informal
Pronunciation		[vee vr(eu) da moo ray doh fresh]
IPA		[vi vʁ(ə) da mu ʁe do fʁɛʃ]

Usage notes: Have you ever been truly, madly, deeply in love? Then the French expression vivre d’amour et d’eau fraîche or se nourrir d’amour et d’eau fraîche might describe how you felt, as if you didn’t need food, friends, family, or anything else but your love and maybe a bit of water to survive.

More generally, vivre d’amour et d’eau fraîche means to live a carefree existence, with no worries or responsibilities. It’s often used in the negative in reference to people who refuse to grow up.

Par exemple…

J’ai vu les jeunes mariés ce matin ; ils vivent toujours d’amour et d’eau fraîche.		I saw the newly-weds this morning; they’re still living on love alone / still madly in love.
Tu dois trouver un emploi, on ne peut pas vivre d’amour et d’eau fraîche !		You have to get a job, you can’t live on love alone! (You have to start being responsible!)