fryn (corrigez-moi)

[regal zodiac]

Please be patient

Our volunteers look into many questions every day; sometimes it takes them a little while to answer.

Pro tip: you can rename the thread title with `.tr <thread name>`

Make it descriptive, including relevant context, but also to the point. This way you improve your chances of getting a more relevant and specific answer.

[errant kite]

here "hermine" is not referring to the animal, but directly to the fur (ermine fur)
he's touching in the direction the fur is naturally going

le sens de => the direction of

[inner hawk]

ah okay, that makes sense, thanks!

[thin tulip]

A play on the expression carresser dans le sens du poil
Literal meaning: stroke along the direction fur/hait naturally grows
Figurative meaning: act generously in favour of someone/a group to build good rapport with them

[inner hawk]

oh got it, that is really cool actually
cause thinking about it, why would the journalists think it's important to note that he was caressing the robes literally in that direction:D

[errant kite]

I wasn't sure if it was figurative or not without more context yeah

[thin tulip]

Uh yeah I'd say it's definitely figurative

[inner hawk]

yeah tbh I was thinking they were just really down to the detail so we can imagine the event lol

[thin tulip]

Also "les robes noires" would refer to law professionals here, not the actual robes

[inner hawk]

so many figurative expressions in one sentence 😄

[thin tulip]

Yeah, it's pretty intricate

You'll find those in flowery journalistic writing sometimes