phrase General Slang

Beton

/letɔ betɔ̃/ · phrase · slang

In 'laisse beton', verlan for 'laisse tomber' (drop it / forget it).

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Definitions

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In the set phrase 'laisse beton', 'beton' is verlan for 'tomber' (to drop/fall), reshaped from tom-ber to be-ton. The whole phrase means 'drop it' or 'forget it'.

“Laisse beton, c'est pas grave. = Forget it, it's no big deal.”
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By coincidence 'beton' is also the ordinary French word for concrete, which fuels wordplay, but in this phrase it is purely the verlan of 'tomber'.

“Laisse beton ce projet. = Drop that project.”
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Used to tell someone to let a matter go or stop pursuing something.

“Il voulait insister mais je lui ai dit de laisser beton. = He wanted to push it but I told him to drop it.”
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Beton In A Sentence

Laisse beton, on en reparlera demain.
Quand il s'enerve, mieux vaut laisser beton.
T'inquiete, laisse beton.

Origin & Usage

Verlan from 'tomber', made famous nationwide by Renaud's 1977 hit song 'Laisse beton'. The song is one of the earliest pop-culture moments to put verlan in front of a mass French audience, well before the 1990s rap wave.

Variants laisse beton
Tags #verlan#french#argot#slang-terms#phrases

People Also Ask

What does 'laisse beton' mean?

It means 'drop it' or 'forget it'; 'beton' is verlan for 'tomber' (to drop).

Isn't beton just the word for concrete?

Yes, that's a coincidence — in this phrase 'beton' is the verlan of 'tomber', though the double meaning is often played with.

Where did 'laisse beton' come from?

From verlan, popularised by Renaud's 1977 song 'Laisse beton', an early mainstream airing of the slang.

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