Bashiqa (asker) Nov 3, 2014:

@TT Now that I have had time to think.
Been on the road since 8.00 am and yes I do realise that we are talking English -Urban English. Have to say not part of my usual vocab.
PM who is handling the job finds it quite amusing.
Thanks for the warning.

DLyons Nov 3, 2014:

@Tom Thumb OK. Withdrawn.

Adrian MM. (X) Nov 3, 2014:

@DLyons Thanks, but not a good idea in the Discussion Entries to favour even my offering.

Yvonne Gallagher Nov 3, 2014:

Limp lettuce

meant nothing to me but actual wilted lettuce (and certainly not a synonym for "totally knackered" which was what you originally asked for, so absolutely useless as a translation of expresion IMHO) but with the added urban dict. definition given by TT I certainly wouldn't be using it. That is really obscene.

Adrian MM. (X) Nov 3, 2014:

@Bashiqa You still don't get it, do you? It is limp lettuce in English that is the urban-talk obscenity.

Bashiqa (asker) Nov 3, 2014:

@TT Thanks for the comment, although surprised that me daughter did not think it obscene and she is more French than English. The translation into English id not for French consumption so not (as far as I can see) a problem, but will pass this onto the client.
Have a good day, Chris.

Adrian MM. (X) Nov 3, 2014:

@Bashiqa I suggest you have a rethink of your potentially obscene 'loose vagina' suggestion and choose one of the answers that have been coined with such effort.

Bashiqa (asker) Nov 2, 2014:

@TT I don't think limp lettuce would mean anything in France, any more than the French version having any meaning in England. As I said earlier, I have left a note for client offering the many alternatives as the choice is almost limitless.

Adrian MM. (X) Nov 2, 2014:

@ bashiqa - limp lettuce Whilst you are at liberty to choose your own catastrophically ambiguous answer http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=limp lettuce, you might be better advised to pick any answer other than your own for consumption outside of France.

Bashiqa (asker) Nov 2, 2014:

@ All After all your fine efforts I'm staying with the vegetables and opting for 'limp as a lettuce', and leaving a ote for client indicating various options.
Thank you, Chris.

Bashiqa (asker) Nov 1, 2014:

@ All Wife has just turned up explanation of the origin of this. Might or might not be of interest to you. Être dans les choux

Signification : Avoir échoué, être laissé pour compte, s’évanouir

Origine : Expression française de la deuxième moitié du XIXème siècle qui se baserait sur la métaphore du chou pour indiquer un retard ou un échec mais la question serait de savoir pourquoi ce légume en question ? Pour certains interprètes, le choix du chou serait du principalement de la patronymie qui existe entre ce chou et le verbe échouer. De plus et à l’époque, ce fameux légume serait bien intégré dans la cuisine française vu la facilité de sa culture mais il jouirait de très peu de considération caractérisant une alimentation très commune et grossière et c’est d’ailleurs pour cette raison qu’il ne peut caractériser que ce qui serait dépréciatif comme la bêtise, le manque de moyens, l’étourderie, etc…