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clou

nail

noun KLOO Less Common

Origin: Latin 'clavus'

Also means

highlight, star attraction

Usage Note

Clou literally means a nail (the hardware kind), and its plural clous appears in passage clouté, the old word for a pedestrian zebra crossing (marked with metal studs). The figurative le clou du spectacle means the highlight or showstopper of an event.

Examples

"Il a planté un clou dans le mur."

Natural Translation

He hammered a nail into the wall.

Literal Translation

He planted a nail in the wall.

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