The creole language is full of surprising expressions. With the aim of giving you the full Mauritian experience, Expat.com will bring you a new expression every month. This week, we are teaching you the meaning of “bat bis” in Mauritian creole.
“Bat bis” is an expression you will often hear in colloquial Mauritian Creole. Literally translated to English, it means “to beat the bus”. But this literal translation gives no indication of what the phrase really means. Rather, it means taking advantage of someone, taking ownership of their resources. Most often you will hear this expression in the context of sharing food or drinks.
Some sentences in which the expression "Bat bis" can be used:
“Eski mo kapav bat bis to diriz?” - Can I steal some rice from you?
“Li pe bat bis wifi!” - He / She is using the wifi for free.
