usine à gaz (sens figuré) (2025)

How can I translate in English 'usine à gaz'?
Une "usine à gaz" est une expression récente qui désigne un ensemble de systèmes compliqués qui fait tout et n'importe quoi.

According to wikipedia : En français, l'expression "usine à gaz " est un terme péjoratif, désignant quelque chose de très grand, de très compliqué, voire de très coûteux et dont on a beaucoup parlé, mais ne servant pas ou ne produisant pas grand chose en réalité.

Originally, an "usine à gaz" is the place containing the huge tanks in which gas is stored for distribution to the consumers. Consequently, it is not an "usine" at all, just a storage installation. Hence the use of the expression to speak about something big, looking complicated, costly, but not doing much (in the 50s, it was the name given to the computers of the time, which covered 500m2 and weighed 30 tonnes). SO, if the English text was talking about the

"usine à gaz", the translation would be "gas storage plant". Now, in the new interpretation, I would suggest "White elephant".

Recently I've seen several references to "usine à gaz" where it clearly does not mean a gasworks.

An example to hand: a newspaper headline "Les pharmaciens craignent l'usine à gaz" about opposition to the proposed "franchise" on medecines and which contains this text from the journalist quoting a pharmacist:

"...Mais ceux qui ont des maladies graves...(qui) sont trop pauvres pour pouvoir se soigner normalement..>> Sans compter assure-t-il, qu'il << craint l'usine à gaz!>> Et de se demander sur quel prorata des 9/12 on va calcular le forfait pour une femme enceinte, ..etc"

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There's nothing else in the article which helps.

I can barely make a guess: the whole system blowing up?

Yes, they are very well known under this name.

You are correct. Rube Goldberg was a famous US political cartoonist who drew many of these imiginary machines as a way to criticize bureaucracies, etc.

It seems that a similar concept is expressed locally in different ways around the world, according to Wikipedia
--all seemingly inspired by cartoonists.

A black box figuratively describes a process that is complex but unclear at this time.

It may need the complexity, however, so calling something a black box simply means it is so far unexplainable. It does not usually carry the criticism usine à gaz carries. I think the other suggestions above are better.

See this discussion of black box: the green economy is a black box

Good morning the translation world.

I have looked at the other threads on this subject, but have not found what I'm looking for.

This is the heading of a chapter in a book on climatic change.

After the heading the author goes on to explain that that humanity is facing a threat due to the fact that the climatic change does not affect all the regions or countries in the same manner. So as I see it this "usine à gaz" is referring to a complicated situation not an actual factory. But I have no idea how to translate this as "the Heath Robinson/Rube Goldberg machine" as a heading seems a bit strange.
The 2 degrees is referring to the affect a 2 degree drop in global warming could have on the planet.

I'm totally lost and any help would be more than appreciated.
TIA
Linda

How about: The complexities of a two-degree global temperature increase (?)

Or: The complex effects...

Hi,

Samba05 said:

So as I see it this "usine à gaz" is referring to a complicated situation not an actual factory

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I don't have the text, but, usually, it's not a complicated situation. Usine à gaz is an unnecessarily complicated solution.

So, the text may be about a very complicated solution, made this way because you can't get everyone to act cleverly. As for instance finding companies to give millions to fund the reforestation of poor areas, while the people living there keep cutting trees. This is a "Heath Robinson device" idea, it is more simple to provide energy to the people so that they stop cutting trees. (This is just to explain the idea, not to begin a debate about that )

It's all the more difficult because, as I see it, "l'usine à gaz des deux degrés" is clumsy in French too. I mean: the solutions they imagine to face the two-degree increase may be seen as an "usine à gaz", as in Michelvar's very clear explanation, but not the two degrees as such. I would never write such a heading.

So feel free to take some liberty with the French...

At first sight, I think it would be an acceptable solution.

Anyway, you have to make a choice: either you focus on the complexity of the 2 degrees problem, or on the complexity of effects, solutions,... and then you leave off the 2 degrees.

How about a boondoggle?

Merriam-Webster: “a wasteful or impractical project or activity often involving graft//The project is a complete boondoggle—over budget, behind schedule, and unnecessary.”

I suppose it has the added notion of “graft” (magouilles in French) which the expression “usine à gaz” does not necessarily convey. But in some circumstances it might work.

Jaykew said:

How about a boondoggle?

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That describes a project or activity that is not worth its cost -- there is not anything mysterious about a boondoggle, except that it is a waste of time and/or money.

A boondoggle is often used to describe a useless or frivolous trip that is paid for by the employer -- see this previous discussion:
boondoggle (travel)