Barbouillé (en. Smeared)

baʁ.bu.je

Meaning & Definition

EnglishFrench
adjective
Covered in smudges or a thick substance.
The wall was smudged with blue paint.
Le mur était barbouillé de peinture bleue.
Refers to a person with a dirty or stained face.
After playing in the mud, he is all messy.
Après avoir joué dans la boue, il est tout barbouillé.
Refers to something that is poorly drawn or badly made.
His drawing was messy and hard to understand.
Son dessin était barbouillé et difficile à comprendre.

Etymology

From the verb barbouiller, seemingly derived from the Old French 'barboulier', which meant to cover or stain.

Common Phrases and Expressions

barbouillé like a child
To be dirty, especially after playing or eating carelessly.
barbouillé comme un enfant
to mess up the painting
To make a messy or careless drawing.
barbouiller le tableau
to slather oneself in paint
To cover oneself in paint recklessly.
se barbouiller de peinture

Related Words

barbouillage
Action of smudging, state of something covered in a messy way.
barbouillage
barbouilleur
A person who smudges, often a careless artist.
barbouilleur

Slang Meanings

To be in a messy or dirty state.
He is too messy to go out tonight.
Il est trop barbouillé pour sortir ce soir.
To have a face full of makeup, but poorly applied.
She is so messy that she looks like a clown.
Elle est tellement barbouillée qu'on dirait un clown.