The historical origin of the expression “Compter pour des prunes”

So, what does "compter pour des prunes" mean? Well, it’s an expression used to say that something has no importance or value. For example, if you make an effort but no one notices or it yields no results, you might say, "ça compte pour des prunes." The idea is that what you did was useless or didn’t have the desired effect.

Let’s take an example: you spent the whole evening organizing a beautiful birthday party, but in the end, no one came. You could say, "J’ai fait tout ça pour rien, ça compte pour des prunes." Or imagine you worked hard on a project at work, but your boss doesn’t even acknowledge it. Again, you might think, "Tout ce travail compte pour des prunes."

The expression "compter pour des prunes" has its roots in the 12th century, during the time of the Crusades. The Crusades were military expeditions launched by European Christians to reclaim Jerusalem and the Holy Lands from Muslim control, which at the time was under the Seljuk Empire. One of the most notable crusades was the Second Crusade (1147–1149), launched in response to the fall of the Christian County of Edessa in the East. Under the banner of Christendom, thousands of European knights and soldiers left their lands to fight the Saracens (a term used in medieval Europe to refer to Muslims) and attempt to reconquer the Holy Land.

The Crusaders, primarily French, English, German, and other European knights, crossed hostile and perilous territories to reach the Middle East. Their ultimate goal: to recapture Jerusalem and assert Christian domination over these sacred territories. However, despite their faith and courage, this crusade, like others, ended in military failure. The Muslim forces, led by formidable military leaders such as Saladin, resisted and defeated these armies from afar.

Thus, instead of returning victorious with treasures, lands, or sacred objects, these Crusaders came back… with plum trees. Yes, fruit trees! They had discovered these plum trees during their passage through Syria, a region where the fruit was appreciated. Fascinated by this unfamiliar tree, they decided to bring saplings back to Europe, specifically to the south of France, where these trees thrived, particularly in the Agen region. It’s thanks to this that the town of Agen is now famous for its prunes d’Agen.

But at the time, this "reward" seemed trivial. Imagine the disappointment of European populations and sovereigns who awaited the return of their heroes with fabulous treasures, only to see the Crusaders return simply with fruit trees. Compared to their initial expectations, this loot seemed worthless. Thus, the Crusaders returned "empty-handed": they had neither lands nor riches, only… plums. Hence the expression "compter pour des prunes", meaning something has no importance or is without value.

Today, this expression is still used to describe a situation where something or someone doesn’t carry weight or isn’t taken into account. For example: if you put in a lot of effort at work, but no one notices or mentions it, you might say: "Tout ce que j’ai fait compte pour des prunes."

Understanding the historical origin of this idiomatic expression not only helps you remember it better but also grasp the nuances behind common phrases in the French language. It’s fascinating to see how events as distant as the Crusades can still resonate in our daily lives through linguistic expressions!

Today, the expression "compter pour des prunes" is still widely used in France, often with a hint of disappointment or irony. It’s used to convey that something is worthless or that efforts made have gone unrecognized.