Racing a Deadline at a French Office
Talk about due dates, ask for more time, share out the work and celebrate when the project is finally wrapped up.
In many French offices people say la deadline in speech, while l'échéance or la date butoir appear in emails and contracts. Colleagues and often managers tutoient each other, and being sous l'eau (swamped) is a common complaint. Working late happens, but France's right to disconnect means evening emails shouldn't be expected, so teams try to warn early, prévenir, when a date is slipping.
- 1
C'est pour quand, exactement, ce projet ?
When is this project due, exactly?
- 2
La deadline, c'est vendredi prochain.
The deadline is next Friday.
- 3
On manque vraiment de temps.
We're really short of time.
- 4
Je pense pas qu'on y arrive d'ici jeudi.
I don't think we'll make it by Thursday.
- 5
On peut repousser la deadline de quelques jours ?
Can we push the deadline back a few days?
- 6
Ce sera prêt demain au plus tard.
I'll have it ready by tomorrow at the latest.
- 7
On travaille contre la montre.
We're working against the clock.
- 8
Je suis sous l'eau.
I'm swamped.
- 9
Faut mettre le paquet.
We need to go all out.
- 10
On va devoir rester tard ce soir.
We'll have to stay late tonight.
- 11
Tu peux reprendre ça ?
Can you take this over?
- 12
C'est la priorité absolue.
It's the top priority.
- 13
On se concentre sur l'essentiel.
Let's focus on the essentials.
- 14
Ça peut attendre.
That can wait.
- 15
On a pris du retard.
We've fallen behind.
- 16
On est dans les temps.
We're on schedule.
- 17
Le client le veut pour hier.
The client wants it yesterday.
- 18
Je dois prévenir mon manager.
I need to warn my manager.
- 19
On a fini juste à temps.
We finished just in time.
- 20
Ouf, c'est bouclé !
Phew, it's all wrapped up!