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piquer

to sting

verb pee-KEH Less Common
Body & Health Senses

Also means

to steal

Usage Note

Piquer means to prick or sting (as an insect does), to give an injection (se faire piquer), and in informal French, to steal or pinch something (il m'a piqué mon stylo). Piquer une colère means to fly into a rage, and piquer une tête means to dive headfirst — both very colloquial idioms.

Examples

"Une abeille l'a piqué au bras."

Natural Translation

A bee stung him on the arm.

Literal Translation

A bee him-has stung at-the arm

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