French Word of the Day: Deminer
Briefly

The French word 'démine', pronounced day-mee-nay, translates to 'to clear mines', originally relating to the removal of landmines and unexploded weapons, notably from the World Wars. However, its figurative usage is equally important, as it parallels the English phrase 'to defuse' or 'to de-escalate', commonly used in heated discussions. The word highlights both literal safety concerns and social dynamics, illustrating the importance of managing tensions in discussions such as budget debates. This dual meaning positions 'démine' as a versatile term in both safety and communication contexts.
Because it's useful for all sorts of explosive situations - literal or metaphorical.
This term would come up when discussing real landmines or other explosive devices that need to be removed from an area for safety reasons.
It is basically akin to 'defuse' or 'de-escalate' in English.
Le gouvernement a tenté de déminer la conversation sur le budget.
Read at The Local France
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