Literal Translation
To be poorly barred
Actual Meaning
To be off to a bad start
Etymology
Usually used as “c’est mal barré!”, this expression comes from the world of sailing and maritime activities.
In Latin, barra means ‘end’, and the word barre refers to the piece of wood or metal used to steer the rudder. The rudder is what allows you to steer and control the direction of a ship. But also any craft that moves on or in the water (such as a submarine).
‘Barrer un navire’ means to steer a boat by holding the helm. Therefore, anyone who does not know how to steer a ship cannot reach their destination safely. They are therefore in a bad position. At the time, sailors also used this expression to describe a captain who was unable to stay on course because the ship was not properly oriented.
This often happened during storms when the wind and waves made navigation very difficult. This put the captain and his crew at risk of taking the wrong direction or even sinking. It is from this explanation that the expression originated in the early 20th century, in a figurative sense.