Être en nage literally means “to be swimming,” but it is used to describe heavy sweating. The expression creates an image of being practically bathed in one’s own sweat. A related expression is être en sueur, which also means sweating, but etre en nage is more vivid and specific. Historically, nage referred to sailing or rowing, then came to mean swimming. In the 16th century, etre en nage or etre a nage meant swimming in water or another liquid. Over time, the meaning shifted toward being completely wet, and now it specifically refers to being drenched in sweat. Nager is the literal verb for swimming and is conjugated as a standard -er verb.
"Originally, a nage referred to the act of sailing or rowing, before coming to mean swimming. In the 16th century, “être en nage” or “être à nage” meant swimming in water or another liquid. It gradually took on the figurative meaning of “to be completely wet” and is now used in the more specific sense of “to be drenched in sweat”."
"Use it like this: “Après avoir couru, il était en nage.” - After running, he was drenched in sweat. “Je suis en nage avec cette chaleur.” - I’m sweating heavily in this heat. “Elle est arrivée en nage après avoir monté les escaliers.” - She arrived soaked in sweat after climbing the stairs."
"The verb nager also means swimming in the literal sense, but in order to say that you drop the “être” and the “en” and conjugate the verb as a standard -er verb. Eg “Je nage, je nageais, je vais nager” (I swim, I was swimming, I’m going swimming)."
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