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Regarde(z)-moi ça !

"Regarder" is one of the most commonly used verbs with this idiosyncratic construction, there being more to the function of "moi" than meets the eye.

I wonder what other verbs can be used? I don't suppose practically anything will do, will it? What do you think about:

Visez-moi ça.

Mangez-moi ça.

Incidentally, I'm not talking about examples like the following where the use of "moi" is required and makes perfect sense.

Expliquez-moi ça.

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I guess the list would be quite long.

  • Sentez-moi ça
  • Goûtez-moi ça
  • Écoutez-moi ça
  • Buvez-moi ça
  • Rangez-moi ça
  • Jetez-moi ça
  • Changez-moi ça
    ...

Moi is here an ethical dative, similar to the ones discussed in that question.

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  • I wonder if there is a rule that determines what verbs can be used and what verbs cannot.
    – Con-gras-tue-les-chiens
    Nov 14, 2017 at 12:03
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    Probably any verb that can be used to suggest or order someone to do something with something (ça). Oubliez-moi ça !
    – jlliagre
    Nov 14, 2017 at 12:14
  • Indeed, it should necessarily be followed by a direct object (be it a pronoun, a noun or a phrase): *Pars-moi or *Rentre-moi chez toi are incorrect, but Fiche-moi le camp , range-moi ce désordre or regarde-moi ce bel enfant ! are correct.
    – Greg
    Nov 16, 2017 at 10:07
  • Another note: you can also use it with other verbal forms than the imperative, as long as there is an idea of a suggestion or order: Tu vas me goûter ça, Il faut que tu me goûtes ça, si tu m'écoutais, tu me gôuterais ça,demain, tu me goûteras ça, and even with other persons than moi/nous: d'accord, je vais te goûter ça
    – Greg
    Nov 16, 2017 at 10:56
  • @Greg Je vais te me lui faire goûter ça ! ;-)
    – jlliagre
    Nov 16, 2017 at 13:52
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"moi" dans cette expression est là pour renforcer l'injonction. on pourrait dire "pour moi", ou "c'est moi qui te le demande". like starting the sentence with "I'm asking you (...)".

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