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affaler

collapse, slump down

verb ah-fah-LAY Rare

Also means

to haul down (nautical)

Usage Note

Affaler most commonly appears as the reflexive s'affaler, meaning to flop or slump heavily onto something, as in s'affaler sur le canapé ('to collapse onto the sofa'). In sailing, its original sense is to haul down a sail or let it drop.

Examples

"Elle s'est affalée dans le fauteuil."

Natural Translation

She slumped into the armchair.

Literal Translation

She herself has collapsed into the armchair.

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