talonner

Taloner is a French verb with several related meanings centered on pressing closely or pursuing. Etymologically, it derives from talon, meaning “heel,” reflecting the original idea of urging someone or something along by the heel. The primary senses are both literal and figurative.

In a literal sense, taloner often describes following another vehicle or person at a very short distance, i.e., tailgating. For example, a driver may talonner the car in front, maintaining a dangerous or aggressive following distance. The term is common in road traffic reportage and everyday speech.

In competitive and pacing contexts, taloner means to chase closely or to keep within striking distance of a leader. A sports team can talonner the leader, or a competitor can talonner the field, indicating a close pursuit and the effort to bridge a gap.

Figuratively, taloner is used to express pressing someone to act or to accelerate a process. It can describe urging a project to proceed on schedule or pushing decision-makers to move more quickly. In this use, the emphasis is on sustained pressure to maintain momentum rather than a single prompt.

The verb is widely understood in everyday French and is common in sports commentary, journalism, and business discourse. It conveys a sense of persistent proximity—whether in pursuit, pressure, or pace—rather than a one-off action.