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171 months ago

Barbara Cochran (a guest user) asked this question:

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171 months ago

   wrote:

flying squad

My comment:

Subst. fém., fam. Brigade de police mobile; personnel de la Régie, des douanes se déplaçant continuellement pour effectuer les contrôles dont il est chargé. Le patron de la volante était passé ce soir chez lui [au Cimeterre d'Or] (...) Dans toutes les taules, tous les endroits drivés par des malfrats, ça serait du quès [pareil] (LE BRETON, Rififi, 1953, p. 79).

My references:

Tresor de la langue francaise

171 months ago

Noelle Ward   wrote:

he works in the fast post (airmail) department

171 months ago

Noelle Ward   wrote:

he works in the post-office flying (mobile) team

171 months ago

Noelle Ward   wrote:

He's working as a temp

My comment:

is the most usual here.

171 months ago

Noelle Ward   wrote:

Working as a temporary replacement

171 months ago

Geoff Bing   wrote:

he was a replacement clerk

My comment:

he moves from one post office to the other replacing people off on sick leave or maternity leave, etc.

Comments by other colleagues on this answer:

171 months ago

   wrote:

I agree in view of the context (floating staff). The Harrap's translation "Flying Squad/Sweeney" below is the slang term for the expression "la volante" :-)

171 months ago

Geoff Bing   wrote:

Flying Squad/Sweeney also has police connotations, at least in the UK, since a namesake TV programme that ran for what seems like centuries ;)

171 months ago

Geoff Bing   wrote:

http://oxforddictionaries.com/definition/Sweeney?q=sweeney

171 months ago

Geoff Bing   wrote:

I agree with your translation Geoff in view of the context. Hence, my support for your translation after sending mine. I know that my translation means the police and, therefore, is not correct in this context :-)

171 months ago

Geoff Bing   wrote:

the flying squad/the sweeney

My comment:

Harrap's

Comments by other colleagues on this answer:

171 months ago

Geoff Bing   wrote:

Hi Barbara, I noticed on line that in Quebec they use the expression 'flying squad' without capital letters for 'floating staff' (équipe volante). Link below :-) http://www.oqlf.gouv.qc.ca/ressources/bibliotheque/dictionnaires/terminologie_relations_professionnelles/equipe_volante.html

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