aux cheveux poils de carotte

Sydney B.B2Kwiziq Q&A regular contributor

aux cheveux poils de carotte

What is the need for having two words for hair in this expression?

Asked 2 years ago
CécileKwiziq team memberCorrect answer

Hi Sydney,

Maarten beat me to it, I did spot this yesterday and asked for it to be corrected before answering you.

The colour poil-de-carotte ( invariable) is used to avoid saying 

roux

or

rouquin 

it means red-haired/ ginger.

 

Bonne Continuation !

 

Maarten K.C1 Kwiziq Q&A super contributor

This is 'poil de carotte' as an adjective (expression) for 'ginger/red' -  qualifying the noun cheveux.  According to wordreference and Larousse though it is invariable, does not take agreement, and should not be 'poils de carotte'. 

https://www.larousse.fr/dictionnaires/francais-anglais/poil_de_carotte/663125

https://www.wordreference.com/fren/carotte

JOHNNY F.A0Kwiziq community member

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aux cheveux poils de carotte

What is the need for having two words for hair in this expression?

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