In this video, I explain clearly and concisely (in 2 minutes) the expression "il n'y a pas photo." These bite-sized expressions are a quick and effective way to learn French.
Video Transcript
Hi everyone, let me know in the comments how you're doing.
I hope you're ready for a new video in this short format where we look at an expression.
The expression we're going to look at today is: "il n'y a pas photo" (there's no photo).
First, I'll explain what this expression means, give you some examples, and tell you where it comes from. What is the origin of the expression "il n'y a pas photo"?
When you say "il n'y a pas photo," you mean there's no debate about it.
It's very clear. You have a choice to make, and the answer is obvious. "Il n'y a pas photo." You know what to do or what you prefer. It's crystal clear. There's no hesitation. It's similar to the English "it's a no-brainer" or "there's no contest." Here are two examples to help you understand better and be able to use the expression yourself.
For example, if I'm deciding between two dresses, I might ask a friend: do you prefer the blue dress or the red dress?
She could answer: "Il n'y a pas photo" - the red one looks much better on you. There's no hesitation.
Here's a second example. I could say: between working for a multinational corporation or working at a small startup, "il n'y a pas photo" for me. I prefer working in a small, family-like team.
There's no hesitation - it's very clear.
I don't know if you've noticed, but in spoken French, instead of saying "il n'y a pas," people often say "y a pas."
It's a kind of contraction in everyday speech.
You drop the first part, "il n'y," and just keep "y a pas photo."
Of course, to speak properly in the most correct French, you should say "il n'y a pas photo." But most people in everyday speech will say "y a pas photo."
But where does this expression come from? It actually comes from horse racing.
To prevent bettors from getting upset because they thought their horse should have won, race organizers would hire photographers to clearly show which horse crossed the finish line first.
Sometimes there was absolutely no debate - the horses were far apart. So they would say "il n'y a pas photo" - no photo finish needed. That's where the expression comes from.
That's it for today. I hope you enjoyed this video, and if so, don't forget to give it a thumbs up.
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