Summary
A casual French way to say "to be running late" — literally about being in the soil compacting! This expression comes from agricultural roots and is perfect for intermediate learners who want to express urgency naturally.
Être à la bourre
Difficulty & Formality
40% - Intermediate
20% - Very casual, but very informal
Daily conversation, apologizing for lateness
Meaning
Literal translation:
To be in the compacting (of soil)
Real meaning:
To be running late / to be in a rush
This expression captures the frantic energy of someone who's behind schedule and needs to hurry up to catch up with everyone else.
Example
Désolé, je suis à la bourre ! J'arrive dans 5 minutes !
Sorry, I'm running late! I'll be there in 5 minutes!
Origin / Fun Fact
This expression comes from "bourrer la terre" — the agricultural practice of compacting soil in the fields. Farmers who fell behind on this task had to work later than others, rushing to finish before nightfall. Over time, "être à la bourre" became a popular way to say someone is running late or in a hurry, keeping that sense of urgency from its farming origins.
Variations Based on Formality
Phrase
Meaning
Formality Level
Je suis grave en retard.
I'm freaking late.
Je suis à la bourre.
I am running late.
Je suis en retard.
I am late.
Your Turn
Are you always "à la bourre" or do you manage to arrive on time? What's your worst "running late" story?
Share your chaotic morning tales in the comments below — we've all been there!
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About Alexis
Alexis is the creator behind the popular Instagram accounts @french.expressions and @expresiones.francesas, where thousands of language learners discover French idioms through engaging visual content.
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