Recently I learned the French expressions "Grosso Modo" and Voili Voilou".
Both seem like monsters from the legend of Godzilla to me. IE: Creatures that just have epic battles indiscrimnently in large metropolitan cities.
Apparently they are not this.
They are in fact terms that basically translate as "I do not know what to say right now."
I find it ironic that the French have not one but two language place holders for those awkward moments in a conversation when it is probably best to just walk away. You should not just stand there with one's hands in one's pockets saying things like "Grosso Modo" and "Voili Voilou".
Or maybe they are indeed calling out to these mythic creatures hoping that the awkward silence in their conversations will be replaced by the spectacle of two nuclear infused monsters fighting to the death.
Like "it seems that we have reached the limit of interest in our conversation but --- hey! Look up there! It seems I have summoned two giant creatures!"
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