Auto-tamponneuses: dodging a fairground phrase

During a recent fairground (fête foraine) visit, I overheard a child repeatedly hassling his increasingly impatient grandfather (papi) if he could have another go on the ‘auto-tamponneuses’.

Unaware of what he could be referring to, I scoured the various rides (manèges), bouncy castles (châteaux gonflables), candyfloss (barbe à papa) stands, and other fête foraine staples, in search of what I presumed was a stall or stand featuring something to dab at or stamp  - I knew what the verb tamponner meant (see below).

It couldn’t be the pêche aux canards (duck fishing), but perhaps it was the air hockey (same word as in English)? No on both counts, but then I saw the boy point to the dodgem cars. 

So this was what auto-tamponneuses were, with the source of my confusion becoming clear. The French prefer to describe the act of hitting other cars instead of the British description of avoiding them (dodge them). 

As it dawned on me, I chuckled as I imagined the French-driving psyche contributing to the amusement park adoption of this ‘hit-not-avoid’ description. [Yes, I later realised in a further moment of clarity that some English speakers call them bumper cars – but to me, they have always been the dodgems].

Read also: Costume, music, floats: where to see France’s vibrant carnival parades

What does tamponner mean?

In French a tampon is used to refer to a stopper, plug, wad, swab, and tampon (menstrual product). 

You will also hear it used to describe a passport being stamped at border control: ‘Donner un coup de tampon sur un passeport’ (to stamp a passport).

It is also a term to describe a very hard or dominant tackle in rugby.