Au Fur et àMesure French Expression Explained

The French expression  Au fur et à   mesure [o fu ray a m(eu) zur] literally translates to  at the rate and in measure.  It is used to mean  as, while, or gradually and has a normal  register. Translation and Explanation The expression is a perfect, if extreme, example of why you cant translate word for word from one language to another. In this case, English speakers need but a single word to express something for which the French commonly use five. Fur is an old word meaning rate, and mesure means measure or measurement. It must be said, however, that as is less precise than au fur et à   mesure, which indicates not only a shared time-frame for two events  but also a consistency of speed: a gradual progression. A subtle nuance, certainly, but one that helps to explain why the French expression is so much longer. It also means that au fur et à   mesure is less flexible: you can only use it for active, progressive actions such as washing dishes or spending money. Examples Je fais la vaisselle au fur et à   mesure quil dà ©barrasse la table.I do the dishes as he clears the table.Au fur et à   mesure que la fà ªte se rapproche, ma sÅ“ur sinquià ¨te.As the party draws nearer, my sister is getting (more and more) impatient.Le suspense ma tenu en haleine au fur et à   mesure de la lecture du livre.The suspense kept me spellbound throughout the book.Passe-moi les verres au fur et à   mesure.Pass me the glasses as you go (around the table picking them up). Note that you cant use au fur et à   mesure with passive actions such as watching TV, listening to the radio, or taking a bath. To talk about a passive action that occurs at the same time as another action, use tandis que.