jouer de la harpe

French

Pronunciation

  • IPA(key): /ʒwe d(ə) la aʁp/

Etymology 1

Literally "to play the harp." A pun on harpe (“harp”), which is also slang for "finger," and harper (“slang, to steal”), as well as an allusion to the digital dexterity needed to pick pockets, compared to that of playing the harp. Compare English fiddle (“slang, to mess with; to fraudulently manipulate”) and obsolete finger (“to steal, purloin”).

Verb

jouer de la harpe

  1. (criminal slang, ambitransitive) To steal, to pickpocket.
    Synonyms: voler, pincer
  • être parent du roi David (“to be a thief; a scoundrel”)

Etymology 2

See pincer de la guitare (“to be bored in prison”, literally “to pluck the guitar”).

Verb

jouer de la harpe

  1. (criminal slang, intransitive) To be in prison; incarcerated, behind bars.
    Synonyms: pincer de la harpe, pincer de la guitare, être sous les verrous

Further reading

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