Learn French: Sans aucune prise, le pêcheur rentre bredouille. - Without any catch, the fisherman returns empty-handed.

Sans aucune prise, le pêcheur rentre bredouille.

Without any catch, the fisherman returns empty-handed.

Breakdown of Sans aucune prise, le pêcheur rentre bredouille.

sans

without

rentrer

to go home / to return

him, it (masculine direct object pronoun)

aucun

no, not any (not a single)

Questions & Answers about Sans aucune prise, le pêcheur rentre bredouille.

Why is there no ne used with aucune in this sentence?

The preposition sans (without) already acts as a negative word. In French, when you use aucun or aucune (any / none) right after sans, the negative particle ne is dropped. Together, sans aucune strongly emphasizes the idea of "without any".

What does bredouille mean, and does it change depending on the subject?

Bredouille means "empty-handed" and is famously used for hunting, fishing, or searching when there are no results. It is an adjective, meaning it must agree with the subject in number. If there were multiple fishermen, they would return bredouilles.

How does the word prise translate to "catch"?

The feminine noun une prise comes directly from the verb prendre (to take or to catch). It literally refers to "something that has been taken." Depending on the context, it means a fisherman's catch, a physical grip on something, or even an electrical outlet!

Why does the sentence use rentre instead of retourne for "returns"?

The verb rentrer specifically implies returning home or to your home base. Because the fisherman is finishing his activity for the day and heading home, rentrer is the most precise word. Retourner simply means to go back to a location, not necessarily your home.