another odd one...

[Clare H]

I've got the phrase '(elles0 remerciait Dieu a tout bout de champ.' Does anyone know if this phrase always comes together, or is it made up of 2 separate bits (remercier Dieu & a tout bout de champ). Any ideas for translating tout bout de champ? Merci!

[Erwan]

Infact, I think that the right phrase is "Elles ont remercié Dieu à tout bout de champ".

remercier Dieu and à tout bout de champ could be seen separately.

à tout bout de champ meens without stopping, doing something continuously. I think that the expression in English is at every turn.

You can find the history of this expression here (in French)

[Clare H]

Thank you for another helpful reply! But is there areason not to use the imperfect (remerciait)? It was a quote taken from the writer Orsenna. DOes the imperfect seem really odd there?

[Erwan]

You can say "Elles ont remercié" or "Elles remerciaient".  In your first text, there was a typo :). You have written "elleso". That's why I've corrected it in "elles ont..."  But the use of imperfect is quite good too.

[Clare H]

Thanks - sorry for poor typing!