Irritable waiters huffing in cafes. A gallic shrug in a heated debate. Street protests at every new government initiative. Many may already see France as a nation of grumblers, but a new survey shows the French agree.
The poll commissioned by insurance company Maaf found that 93 percent of French people think their compatriots grumble often, although only 37 percent admit they tend to complain.
The older you are the more likely that you will be grouchy, with politicians being the biggest bugbear for sexagenarians.
"You have to grumble in life, otherwise you get trampled on," was the main reason given by almost one in six people in the land of liberty, equality and fraternity.
Just under one third said grousing was in the French temperament.
Men were the grumpier of the two sexes, said 43 percent of respondents, with around one in five men saying they moaned to get what they wanted compared with 16 percent of women.
One in four said carping was a way of relaxing.
The survey, entitled "Are the French moaners?" polled more than 1,000 people over 18 across France and was carried out by market research firm Opinionway (www.opinion-way.com).
The French also see themselves as the world champions of moaning. More than 70 percent believe they outgripe the rest of the world compared with 15 percent of Italians, 4 percent of Americans and 3 percent of Britons.
Banks, insurance firms and other administrative centres were the main target of gripes among those polled.
And the biggest cause of grumbles? Thirty-one percent of women said their partners gave them the most grief -- ahead of their children, colleagues and bosses.
huff: to say something or make a noise in a way that shows you are offended or annoyed 生气地说；怒气冲冲
gallic shurg: a gesture that has a number of meanings: It's not my fault; I don't know; I doubt it can be done; I don't really agree...（法式耸肩；表示“不是我的错”、“我不知道”、“我怀疑”和“不同意”等含义）
grumbler: 爱抱怨的人
grouchy: bad-tempered and often complaining 脾气不好并常发牢骚的；好抱怨的
bugbear: a thing that annoys people and that they worry about 使人烦恼担忧的事；牵挂
sexagenarian: someone whose age is in the sixties 六十至六十九岁的人
fraternity: a feeling of friendship and support that exists between the members of a group （团体内的）情谊，兄弟般友谊，博爱
grouse: to complain about somebody/something in a way that other people find annoying 抱怨；发牢骚
grumpy: bad-tempered 脾气坏的；性情暴躁的
carp: to keep complaining about somebody/something in an annoying way 不停地抱怨；唠叨
