French Phrase
La poubelle déborde.
Meaning
This phrase literally means that the garbage container is so full that its contents are spilling out. It uses the verb 'déborder', which is also used for liquids overflowing from a glass or rivers overrunning their banks. In a household context, it is a common observation or a subtle hint that someone needs to take the trash out.
When to use
Use this in a domestic setting when the garbage has not been emptied and is starting to pile up. It can also be used figuratively to describe a situation that has become unmanageable or overwhelming.
✦Grammar Breakdown
Lapoubelledéborde
La poubelle
A feminine noun named after Eugène Poubelle, the Paris prefect who mandated waste containers in 1884.
Déborde
The third-person singular present form of 'déborder', a regular -er verb meaning to overflow or exceed limits.
🗨In Conversation
Dis, tu as vu ? La poubelle déborde.
Hey, did you see? The trash can is overflowing.
Ah mince, je vais la sortir tout de suite.
Oh shoot, I will take it out right away.
✕Common Mistakes
La poubelle est déborder.
Avoid using the auxiliary verb 'être' with the infinitive; use the conjugated verb 'déborde' instead.
La poubelle est trop complète.
While 'complète' means complete, use 'pleine' for full or 'déborde' for overflowing.
↔Alternatives
Il faut sortir la poubelle.
The trash needs to be taken out.
La poubelle est pleine.
The trash can is full.
Cultural Tip
In France, waste management is taken seriously with specific rules for 'le tri sélectif' (waste sorting). Mentioning that a bin is overflowing might prompt a discussion about recycling schedules or the arrival of 'les éboueurs' (trash collectors).