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fil

thread, wire

noun FEEL Less Common
Home & Lifestyle Household Items

Also means

storyline, flow

Usage Note

Fil covers both literal threads (fil de coton — cotton thread) and wire (fil électrique — electric wire). Figuratively, le fil refers to the thread of a story or argument, and perdre le fil means 'to lose the thread' of a conversation. Au fil du temps (over the course of time) is a common literary phrase.

Examples

"Elle coud avec un fil rouge."

Natural Translation

She sews with a red thread.

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