Provençal expression

Si faire vèire

Character

Literal translation

to get oneself seen

Meaning

to see a doctor

Explanation

This expression means to see a doctor, and differs sharply from its French familiar equivalent se faire voir, which carries a hostile, dismissive sense. In Provençal, the phrase remains on the contrary neutral and well-meaning: it simply invites someone to show a symptom, a pain, or a health worry to a professional so that they may examine it and give an opinion. The verb vèire carries the senses of to see, to perceive, but also, through an old play on the written form, that of glass or container, though this second sense plays no role here. Si faire vèire is commonly used in sentences of encouragement or recommendation, as in the example given, tu tousses beaucoup, tu devrais aller te faire voir, a phrase which, in this Provençal context, carries no hint of aggression or rejection. The register is familiar and everyday, used both among close ones and in ordinary conversation about health. This difference in connotation from standard French deserves to be noted, to avoid any misunderstanding by someone who only knows the phrase's use in mainland French.

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Other expressions on the same theme

Si leva de davansto clear off, disappear Sian poulit !we're in a real mess Tant que viro fai de touras long as he's at it, he does nothing else Testard coumo un aias stubborn as a mule Tourna-virato do nothing, to dither Trepa sus d'óussinto be in a situation calling for great caution