New Caledonia· medium· informal
y avoir une couille dans le manou
“for there to be a ball in the wrap (manou = a printed cotton sarong, a New Caledonian word)”
No New Caledonia voice yet, so this is read in French.
Meaning
to have gone wrong somewhere
Explanation
The New Caledonian way of saying something's amiss, a local twist on the mainland 'une couille dans le potage' (a snag in the soup).
Example
Le camion refuse de démarrer, y a une couille dans le manou.
The truck won't start, there's definitely a hitch somewhere.
Origin
Origin uncertain
Where
New Caledonia
More like this
- casse pas la têtedon't worry about it
- se bouffer la gueuleto kiss with tongues
- à la mitainedone by hand rather than with machines
- accouche, qu’on baptisehurry up and get to the point
- attacher sa tuqueto brace yourself, something intense is about to happen
- avoir bon dosto serve as a convenient excuse for someone else's failings