télégraphier

to telegraph

verb tay-lay-gra-FYAY Rare

Usage Note

Télégraphier means to send a telegram, but is now mostly historical since the telegraph network is defunct. Figuratively it means to make something obvious or signal one's intentions too clearly — télégraphier ses intentions is equivalent to English 'to telegraph one's moves'. The noun is télégraphe and the system télégraphie.

Examples

"Il a télégraphié la nouvelle à sa famille."

Natural Translation

He telegraphed the news to his family.

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