Can You Master the French Shrug?

Jan. 6, 2007 — -- With the Eiffel Tower, amazing wine and cheese, and accordion players in the artistic quarter of Montmartre, Paris could be a dreamlike destination for the 10 million Britons who visit the French capital … if only Paris did not have the French!

Britons account for a third of the visitors to Paris -- partly thanks to the Chunnel, which allows people to go from London to Paris in only two-and-a-half hours. So the Paris region grew worried when it learned that some British visitors had been put off by French arrogance.

The French have the reputation of being rude and unwilling or unable to speak English, according to Henriette Zoughebi, spokeswoman for the promotion of the Paris region.

To draw the Brits back to the French capital, the Paris region launched a massive communications campaign, based on a Web site called C'est so Paris, which makes fun of French gestures and attitudes.

"We play on self-derision and on the fact that in France and in Paris we are not very good with languages," said Zoughebi.

The Web site displays pictures of the main Gallic faces, or "grimaces" -- pronounce GREE-MASS with a guttural French "r" -- and gives precise instructions on how to make them.

At the top of the list of the French "grimaces" is the French shrug -- meant "to deny knowledge, agreement or responsibility," according to C'est so Paris.

Here are the instructions: "1. Stick out your lower lip. 2. Raise your eyebrows and shoulders simultaneously."

The Gallic shrug may be accompanied with a vocal "Bof," says the Web site.

Another classic French gesture is "les boules" (literally "the balls"), a "vulgar way" to express anger or frustration, according to C'est so Paris.

Here are the instructions: "1. Hold in your hands an imaginary pair of tennis balls," and "2. Put your hands in front of your neck."

Last but not least is the French expression for "fed up" -- the "ras le bol." To do it, "Hold your hand on top of your head."