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WORKU BY THE SAME AUTHOR
JULES SANDEAU. La Roche aux
MouETTES (Extracts). [Nutt's Short
French Readers ^ 6^.]
THEOPHILE GAUTIER. Voyage en
Italie. {^Cambridge University Press,
EMILE SOUVESTRE. Le Philosophe
sous les toits (Extracts). [Blackie's
Little French Classics, ^. ]
PIERRE CCEUR. L'Ame de Beetho-
ven. [^Siepmann's French Series.
Macmillan. 2J.]
FRENCH IDIOMS AND PROVERBS
*' Omne epigranwia sit instar apis ; sit aculeus Hit,
Sint sua mella, sit et corporis exigui^
Martial.
[Thus Englished by Archbishop Trench :
" Three things must epigrams^ like bees, have all ;
Its stingy its honey, and its body small.'^'\
[And thus by my friend, Mr. F. Storr :
** An epigram's a bee : 'tis small, has wings
Of wit ^ a heavy bag of humour, and it stings. ^^^
** Celebre dictum, scita quapiam novitate insigne."
Erasmus.
'* T'he genius, wit, and spirit of a nation are discovered in its
proverbs" — Bacon.
** The people's voice the voice of God we call ;
And what are proverbs but the people's voice 1 "
James Howell.
** What oft was thought, but ne^er so well expressed.''
Pope, Essay on Criticism.
" The wit of one man, the wisdom of many."" — Lord John Russell
{Quarterly Review^ Sept. 1850).
FRENCH IDIOMS
AND PROVERBS
A COMPANION TO DESHUMBERT's
"DICTIONARY OF DIFFICULTIES"
SE Vf PAYEN-PAYNE
PRINCIPAL OF KENSINGTON COACHING COLLEGE
ASSISTANT EXAMINER TO THE UNIVERSITY OF LONDON
FOURTH REV'SED AND ENLARGED EDITION
[Fifth Thousand]
LONDON ^' C\\ V
DAVID NUTT, 57-59 LONG ACRE
1905
" Tant aytne on chien qu^on le noiirrist,
Tant court chanson qtCelle est aprise^
Tant garde on fruit quHl se pourrisi,
Tant bat on place qu^elle est prise.
Tant tarde on quefaut entreprise,
Tant se haste on que mal advient,
Tant embrasse on que chet la prise,
Tant crie Von Noel qu'il vient''
Villon, Ballade des Proverbes.
PREFACE
In this edition I have endeavoured to keep down additions
as much as possible, so as not to overload the book; but
I have not been sparing in adding cross-references (especi-
ally in the Index) and quotations from standard authors..
These quotations seldom give the first occasion on which
a proverb has been used, as in most cases it is impossible
to find it.
I have placed an asterisk before all recognised pro-
verbs ; these will serve as a first course for those students
who do not wish to read through the whole book at once.
In a few cases I have added explanations of English pro-
verbs ; during the eleven years I have been using the book
I have frequently found that pupils were, for instance, as
ignorant of "to bell the cat" as they were of "attacher le
grelot."
I must add a warning to students who use the book
when translating into French, They must not use ex-
pressions marked "familiar" or "popular" except when
writing in a familiar or low-class style. I have included
these forms, because they are often heard in conversa-
tion, but they are seldom met with in serious French
literature. A few blank pages have been added at the
end for additions. Accents have been placed on capitals
vii h
Vlll PREFACE
to aid the student; they are usually omitted in French
printing.
In conclusion, I have to thank Mr. W. G. Lipscomb,
M.A., Headmaster of Bolton Grammar School, Mr. E.
Latham, and especially M. Georges Jamin of the 6cole
Lavoisier, Paris, for valuable suggestions ; while M. Marius
Deshumbert, and Professor Walter Rippmann, in reading
through the proof sheets, have made many corrections and
additions of the greatest value, for which I owe them my
sincere gratitude.
DE V. PAYEN-PAYNE.
AUTHORITIES CONSULTED
Belcher, H., and Dupuis, A., " Manuel aux examens."
London, 1885.
Belcour, G., "English Proverbs." London, 1888.
BoHN, H. G., " Handbook of Proverbs." London, 1855.
Cats, Jacob, and Fairlie, R., " Moral Emblems." Lon-
don, 1 86c.
DuPLESSis, M. Gratet, " La fleur des Proverbes fran^ais."
Paris, 1 85 1.
FuRETikRE, A., "Dictionnaire universel." La Haye, 1727.
Genin, F., "Recreations philologiques," Paris, 1856.
Howell, James, "Lexicon Tetraglotton." London, 1660.
Karcher, T., " Questionnaire frangais." Seventh Edition.
London, 1886.
Lacurne de Ste. Palaye, " Dictionnaire historique de
I'ancien langage frangois." Paris, 1875-82.
Larchey, Loredan, "Nos vieux Proverbes." Paris, 1886.
Larousse, p., "Grand Dictionnaire universel du xix^ siecle."
1865-76.
Le Roux de Lincy, a. J., " Livre des Proverbes fran-
gais." 2^ edition. Paris, 1859.
Littre, E,, "Dictionnaire de la langue frangaise." Paris,
1863-72.
X AUTHORITIES CONSULTED
LouBENS, D., " Proverbes de la langue frangaise." Paris,
1889.
Martin, Eman, "Le Courrier de Vaugelas." Paris, 1868.
QuiTARD, P. M., " Dictionnaire etymologique des Pro-
verbes." Paris, 1842.
QuiTARD, P. M., "Etudes sur les Proverbes fran9ais."
Paris, i860.
RiGAUD, LuciEN, "Argot moderne." Paris, 1881.
Tarver, J. C, "Phraseological Dictionary." London,
1854.
Trench, R. C, "Proverbs and their Lessons." Sixth
Edition. London, 1869.
Quarterly Review. July 1 868.
Notes and Queries. Passim.
FRENCH
IDIOMS AND PROVERBS
Expressions to which an Asterisk is prefixed are Proverbs.
Abandon
- Abattre
// ne sait ni A ni B = He does not know B
from a bull's foot; He cannot read; He
is a perfect ignoramus.
Atre marque a VA = To stand high in the
estimation of others.
[This expression is supposed to have originated in the
custom of stamping French coin with different letters of
the alphabet. The mark of the Paris Mint was an "A,"
and its coins were supposed to be of a better quality
than those stamped at provincial towns. But as this
custom only began in 1418 by command of the Dauphin,
son oi Charles VI., and as the saying was known long
previous, it is more probable that its origin is to be
sought in the pre-eminence that A has always held in
all Aryan languages, and that the French have bor-
rowed it from the Romans. Compare Martial, ii, 57,
and our A i, at Lloyd's.]
Tout est a V abandon = Everything is at sixes
and sevens, in utter neglect, in confusion.
[Also : Toui va a la derive.]
^Petite pluie abat grand vent = A little rain
lays much dust; Often quite a trifle calms
a torrent of wrath.
[Compare :
" Hi motus animorum atque haec certamina tanta
Pulveris exigui jactu compressa quiescunt."
Vergil, Georgics, iv. 86-7.]
A
FRENCH IDIOMS AND PROVERBS
Abattre . Abattre de Vouvrage = To get through a great
{continued) deal of work.
Aboi . . ^tre aux abois = To be reduced to the last
extremity ; To be at bay.
[Compare Boileau : " Des que j'y veux rever, ma
veine est aux abois."]
AhondB.nCG* A bondance de biens ne nuit pas = Store is no
sore; One cannot have too much of a
good thing.
^' Parler avec abondance = To speak fluently.
Parler d^abondance = To speak extempore.
Abonder . // abonde dans mon sens=Yie is entirely of
the same opinion as I am ; He has come
round to my opinion.
Abord , , II a Vabord rude, inais it s^adoucit bientdt=
He receives you roughly at first, but that
soon passes off.
, A (or, De) prime abord = At first sight ; At
the first blush.
Aboutir . Les pourparlers nont pas abouti=ThQ pre-
liminary negotiations led to nothing.
Absent . "^^^ Les absents ont toujours tort" = When
absent, one is never in the right.
" When a man's away,
Abuse him you may."
[N^ricault-Destouches, L' obstacle impr&vu, i, 6.]
f Absurde . , Ehommeabsurde est celui qui ne change jamais
= The wise man changes his opinion — the
fool never.
[Barth^lemy, Palinode. 1832.]
Accommodement // est avec k del des accommodeme?its
— One can arrange things with heaven.
[Compare Moli^re, Tartufe, iv. 5 :
'• Le ciel defend, de vrai, certains contentements,
Mais on trouve avec lui des accommodeinents."
The scene in which Orgon, hidden beneath the table,
learns Tartufe's hypocrisy.]
FRENCH IDIOMS AND PROVERBS
Accommodement Un mechant accommodement est mieux
{continued) que k meilleur proces = A bad arrangement
is better than the best lawsuit.
Accommoder Je Vaccoitwioderai comme il faut = I will
give him a good hiding.
^ // s' acco77Wiode de tout = He is satisfied with
everything ; He is easy to please.
Accord . Haccord = Granted.
Accorder . Accordez mieux vos fltites, sivous voulez reussir
= You must agree better among your-
selves if you wish to succeed.
[Generally in bad sense. " Mettez, pour me jouer,
vos flutes mieux d'accord." — Moli^re, L'Etourdi, i. 4.]
S' accorder comme chien et chat = To live a cat
and dog life.
ACCOU turner Chose accoutumee n' est pas fort prisee = Fa-
miliarity breeds contempt.
[The Latin version of a sentence in Plutarch-'s
Morals runs : " Nimia familiaritas contemptum parit."
Fais feste au chien, il te gastera ton habit.
" Jamais trop compagnon a nul ne te feras
Car bien que moins de joye moins d'ennuy tu auras. "]
^ Accrocher Un homme qui se noie s'accroche a tout = A
drowning man catches at a straw.
// a accroche sa montre (pop.) = He has
"popped " his watch.
[Other popular synonyms are the following : —
// a mis sa montre au clou (pop.) = His watch is up
the spout,
J'ai porti ma montre chez ma tante (pop, ) = My
watch is at my uncle's.]
y Acheter . Acheter a vil prix = To buy dirt cheap, for a
mere song.
Acheter chat en poche = To buy a pig in a
poke.
Acheter par francs et vendre par ecus = To
buy in the cheapest market and sell in
the dearest ; To sell at a high profit.
Achever . Cest un voleur acheve = He is an arrant
thief.
FRENCH IDIOMS AND PROVERBS
Achoppement La pierre d* achoppement = The stumbling-
block.
yAcqu^rir . *Le bien vial acquis ne profite jamais = Ill-
gotten gains benefit no one : Cheats never
prosper ; 111 got, ill spent.
AcQUit . . Faire quelque chose par maniere d^ acquit = To
do something for form's sake, perfunc-
torily.
[This is a shortened form oi faire quelque chose pour
r acquit de sa conscience = to do something to satisfy
one's conscience.]
Donner V acquit = To break (at billiards).
Pour acquit = Received (on bills).
Acte . . Faire acte de prisence = To put in an appear-
ance.
Adieu . . Sans adieu = I shall not say good-bye; I
shall see you again soon.
< ["Adieu" is shortened from " Je vous recommande
41a grace de Dieu." Comp. "Sans adieu, chevalier,
je crois que nous nous reverrons bientot," — Lesage.]
Adresse . Le trait est arrive a son adresse = The shaft
{pr^ arrow) hit the mark ; He took the
hint.
Adresser . Vous vous adressez mal ; Vous vous adressez
bien (ironic.) = You have come to the
wrong person ; You have mistaken your
man.
Advenir . '''Advienne que pourra = Happen what may.
Affaire . Cela /era parfaitement r affaire = That will
do capitally ; That will suit down to the
ground.
C^est son affaire =-- That is his business, his
look-out.
Ca, c'est mon affaire = That is my business ;
It is no business of yours.
// est stir de son affaire = He will pay for it ;
He will catch it.
FRENCH IDIOMS AND PROVERBS 5
Affaire . . , Je ne dis pas mes affaires aux auires = I do
[continued) ^ not tell Others my plans {or business) ; I
keep my concerns to myself.
J^e7ttends voire affaire = I see what is to be
done for you.
lis parlent affaires = They are talking
business.
lis parlent boutique = T\it,-^ are talking shop.
C'est une triste affaire = It is a sad business.
Sattirer une tnauvaise affaire = To get into
a mess, scrape.
Quand on a de V esprit^ on se tire d'' affaire =
When one has brains, one gets out of any
difficulty.
[Distinguish between se tirer and s'attirer.']
Si quelque affaire fimporte^ ne la fais pas par
procureur = If you want a thing done, do
it yourself.
U affaire a ete chaude = It was warm work
(referring to a fight).
Une affaire d'honneur = A duel.
Oil sont mes affaires 1 = Where are my
things ?
Les affaires ne vont pas {ne marchent pas) =
Trade is dull, slack.
Je suio dans les affaires = I am in business.
[" Les affaires? C'est bien simple, c'est I'argent des
autres." — Alex. Dumas fils, La Question d' Argent,
ii. 7.]
Melez-vous de vos affaires — Mind your own
business.
Avoir affaire = To be occupied.
Avoir affaire a quelqu^un — To have to speak
to (to deal with) a person.
[Sometimes as a threat :
// avra affaire d nioi = He will have to deal with
me.]
Avoir affaire de quelqu'un = To need a per-
son.
[" J'ai affaire de vous, ne vous ^loignez pas."]
6 FRENCH IDIOMS AND PROVERBS
Affaire. . Avoir son affaire = To have what suits one.
[continued) J^ai mon affaire = I have found what I
want, /"ai voire affaire = I have got the
very thing for you. J I aura son affaire
(ironic.) = He will catch it.
,Oest toute une affaire = It is a serious
matter; It means a lot of bother (<?r,
trouble).
C^est une affaire faite = It is as good as
done.
Son affaire est faite = He is a dead man (of
one dying); He is done for; He is a
ruined man.
Faire son affaire = (of oneself) To succeed.
// fait tout doucefnent son affaire = He is
getting on slowly but surely.
(Of others) To punish. S^il le rencontre^
il lui fera son affaire = If he meets him
he will give it to him, will " do " for him.
// a fait ses affaires dans les vins = He made
his money in the wine trade.
J^en fats mon affaire = I will take the re-
sponsibility of the matter; I will see to
it ; I will take it in hand.
Vous avez fait la une belle affaire (ironic.) =
You have made a pretty mess of it.
Une affaire de rien = A mere nothing, a
trifle.
^ // est hors d' affaire — He is out of danger.
Etre au dessous de ses affaires^ etre au dessus
de ses affaires (ironic.) = To be unable to
meet one's liabilities, to be unsuccessful.
Quelle affaire I En voila une affaire I (ironic.)
= What a to-do ! What a row about no-
thing !
La belle affaire I = Is that all? (i.e. it is not
so difficult or important as you seem to
think).
// n'y a point de petites affaires = Every trifle
is of importance.
FRENCH IDIOMS AND PROVERBS
Affaire. . Ceux qui n'ont point d'affaires s'en font =
[continued) Those who have no troubles invent them ;
Idle people make business for themselves.
Les affaires sont les affaires = Business is
business ; One must be serious at work.
Ce scandale sera V affaire de huit jours = That
scandal will be a nine days' wonder.
Dieu nous garde d'un honime qui n'a qu'une
affaire = God save us from the man of
one idea.
[Because he is always talking of it, and tires every
one. Compare ' ' Beware of the man of one book. "]
Chacun sait ses affaires = Every one knows
his own business best.
*^ demain les affaires serieuses = I will not be
bothered with business to-day; Time
enough for business to-morrow.
[The saying of Archias, governor of Thebes, on re-
ceiving a letter from Athens warning him of the con-
spiracy of Pelopidas ; he would not even open the
letter. Soon after, the conspirators rushed in and
murdered him and his friends as they were feasting.]
// vaut mieux avoir affaire a Dieu qu'a ses
saints = It is better to deal with superiors
than subordinates.
[Two quotations from La Fontaine are proverbial : —
" On ne s'attendait guere
A voir Ulysse en cette affaire."
La Tortue et les deux Canards.
' ' Le moindre grain de mil
Serait bien mieux mon affaire."
Le Coq et la Perle. ]
Affamer . * Ventre affatne n'a point d''oreilles = A hungry
man will not listen to reason.
[La Fontaine, Fables, ix. i8.]
Afficher . Defense d'afficher = Stick no bills.
Cest un homine qui s'affiche = He is a man
who tries to get talked about (generally in
a disparaging sense).
[Etre afficM is also said of a man who has been
" posted" at his club.]
8 FRENCH IDIOMS AND PROVERBS
Affront . Faire affront a quelqu'un = To shame some
one in public.
Le fits fait affront a safamiUe = The son is
a disgrace to his family.
Boire {essuyer or avaler) un affront = To
pocket an insult.
Affut . . Atre a Paffut = To be watching for a favour-
able opportunity ; To be on the look-out.
(See Aguets.)
Age . . . II est entre deux ages = He is middle-aged.
// est prisident d'dge = He is chairman by
seniority.
Le bas age = Infancy.
Ze bel age = Childhood ; youth.
[Some idea is generally understood after le bel age.
Thus " childhood" is not always the right translation.
For an author le bel age would be after thirty, for a
politician later still, and so on. Chicaneau, in Racine's
Plaideurs, calls sixty le bel age pour plaider (i. 7).]
Lafleur de Vdge = The prime of life.
Ze moyen age = The Middle Ages.
Agir . . // s'agit de. , . = The question is ... ; The
point is . . .
// Skagit de votre vie = Your life is at stake.
// ne Skagit pas de cela = That is not the point.
II s'agit bien de cela (ironic.) = That is quite
a secondary consideration.
Agiter . . Qui s^agite s'enrichit = If you wish to get
rich, you must work (hustle) ; No pains,
no gains.
Agonie . Meme a travers ragonie la passiofi dominante
se fait voir ^ The. ruling passion is strong
in death.
[" EUe a port6 ses sentiments jusqu'a I'agonie." —
BOSSUET.
" And you, brave Cobham ! to the latest breath
Shall feel your ruling passion strong in death."
Pope, Moral Essays, i. 262.]
Aguets . // est aux aguets = He is on the watch ; He
is in ambush. (See Affiit.)
FRENCH IDIOMS AND PROVERBS
Aide
Aider
Aiguille
Aiguillon
Aile, .
"^Un peu d^ aide fait grand Men = Many hands
make light work.
Bon droit a besoin d^aide = Even a good
cause needs support.
"^Aide-toi, le del faidera = God helps those
who help themselves.
[La Fontaine, Fables, vi. i8, Le Chartier em-
bourb^, copying Rl^GNlER, Sat. xiii. :
" Aydez vous seulement et Dieu vous aydera."
Lat. : Dii facientes adjuvant.
^SCHYLUS, Persae, 742 : "ZireibovTi cavn^ x^ ^*os
Sophocles, Camicii, frag. 633, in Dindorfs edition:
OHk e<TTL Tois ixj] dpQai aviifiaxos T^'^XV-
Another Greek saying was : ^vv, Adrjvq. koI xeipa
Klvei = With Minerva on your side, yet use your own
hand.
Cromwell is reported to have said at the battle of
Dunbar : " Trust in God, but keep your powder dry."
The Basques say : " Quoique Dieu soit bon ouvrier,
il veut qu'on I'aide."]
Defil en aiguille = Bit by bit ; One thing
■ leading to another.
[" De propos en propos et de fil en eguille." — R^G-
NIER, Sat. xiii.]
Raconter de fil en aiguille = To tell the whole
matter from the beginning.
Dispu^er sur la pointe d^une aiguille = To
raise a discussion on a subject of no
importance ; To split hairs.
'''Chercher une aiguille dans une botte defoin =
To look for a needle in a bundle (bottle)
of hay.
A dur dne dur aiguillon = In dealing with
obstinate natures one must use severe
measures.
11 en a dans Vaile = He is winged (hurt).
Le minis tere a du plomb dans Vaile = The
ministry is nearing its end, is winged.
// ne bat plus que d^une aile = He is almost
ruined ; He is on his last legs.
lO
FRENCH IDIOMS AND PROVERBS
Aile. .
{continued)
Aimer
Voler de ses propres ailes
for oneself.
J^en tirerai pied on aile
thing out of it.
To act {or, shift)
I will get some-
to get a leg or
Air
[Idiom derived from carving a bird
a wing oflfit.]
Cest la plus belle plume de son aile (or, le
plus beau fleuron de sa couronne) = It is
the finest gem of his crown.
*Qui aime bien chatie bien = Spare the rod
and spoil the child.
[Proverbs xiii. 24.]
Aimer quelquun comme la prunelle de ses yeux
= To love somebody like the apple of
one's eye.
^ Quand oji rHa pas ce que Von aime il faut
aimer ce que Von ^ = If you cannot get
crumb you had best eat crust.
[This sentence is found in a letter from Bussy Rabutin
to Madame de S^vign^, May 23, 1667.
" Quoniam non potest id fieri quod vis, id velis quod
possit." — Terence, ^«flfrm, ii, i, 6. " When things
will not suit our will, it is well to suit our will to
things." — Arab proverb.
" Let not what I cannot have
My peace of mind destroy."
CoLLEY CiBBER, The Blind Boy.]
*Qui aime Bertrand^ aime son chien = Love
me, love my dog.
["Qui me amat, amat et canem meum." — S. Ber-
nard, In Fest. S. Mich. Serm., i. sec. 3.]
*Qui aime bien, tard oublie = True love dies
hard.
Qui m'aime me suive = Peril proves who
dearly loves.
[Words attributed to Philippe VI. when at a Council
during his war with Flanders, the Conn^table de Ch&-
tillon alone stood by him, saying all times were suitable
to the brave.]
£n plein air ; Au grand air = In the open
air.
FRENCH IDIOMS AND PROVERBS
Air . .
[continued)
To be in a
draught.
To be always
Algebre
AUemand
J^tre entre deux airs )
Eire dans un courant d'air ]
Avoir toujours le pied en Pair
on the go.
^l parle en Pair = He talks without think-
ing of what he is saying, at random, not
seriously.
Je vais prendre Pair dii bureau = I am just
going to look in at the office.
Prendre un air de feu = To go near the fire
for a few minutes to warm oneself.
A voire air on ne vous donnerait pas vingt-cinq
afis = From your looks I should take you
for less than five-and-twenty.
Vivre de Pair du temps = To live upon
nothing {i.e. to eat very little).
Elle a quelque chose de voire air — She takes
after you; She looks somewhat like
you.
// a un faux air d^avocai = He looks some-
thing Hke a barrister.
Ce/a en a ioui Pair = It looks uncommonly
like it.
II a un air {or, Pair) commeilfaui = He has
a very gentlemanly manner.
C^esi^ de Palgebre pour lui = It is Greek to
him.
[' ' C'est de I'hdbreu pour moi. " — Moliere, L'^tourdi,
iii. 3.]
Chercher une querelle d^ AUemand = To pick
a quarrel about nothing, without rhyme
or reason.
[This saying has been accounted for as follows : —
During the thirteenth century there lived in Dauphin^
a very pow^erful family of the name of AUeman. They
were bound together by close ties of relationship ; and
if any one attacked one member of the clan, he had the
whole to reckon with. From the vigour with which
they resented any wrong, no matter how slight, arose
the expression Une querelle d' AUeman. See M. Jules
Quicherat's article on La famille des AUeman in the
Revue historiqxte de la noblesse. Part vi.]
12 FRENCH IDIOMS AND PROVERBS
Aller . . '^'Tant va la cruche a Peau qu'a la fin elle se
casse = The pitcher that often goes to the
well gets broken at last.
[This has been travestied : Taiit va la cruche a Veau
qua la Jin elle s'emplit. The Germans have an equi-
valent : Der Kriig geht so lange zum Brunnen, bis
er bricht.']
* Doucenient va bien loin = Fair and softly goes
far ; Slow and sure wins the race.
[The Italian equivalent is : Chi va piano va sano e va
lontano.
' ' Qui trop se h^te en cheminant
En beau chehiin se fourvoye souvent."
"On en va mieux quand on va doux." — La Fon-
taine, Les Cordeliers de Catalogne.'\
II y allait du bonheur de ma famille = The
happiness of my family was at stake.
Ce jeune homme ira loin = That young man
will make his way in the world, has a
future before him.
Au pis aller = Should the worst come to the
worst.
Un pis aller = A makeshift.
Aller son petit bonhofnme de chemin = To jog
along quietly.
^ Cela va tout seul = There is no difficulty in
the way.
^Cela va sans dire = That is a matter of
course ; It stands to reason.
- Cela va de soi = That follows naturally.
7/ ne reviendra pas^ allez I = Depend upon
it, he will not return !
Va pour mille francs I = Done ! I'll take
£40.
Aller cahin-caha ) (lit.) To limp along.
Aller dopiri-clopant ] (fig.) To rub along
quietly, neither very well nor very ill.
Elle le fait aller = She makes him do what
she likes.
FRENCH IDIOMS AND PROVERBS
13
AUer . . Le rouge va Men aux brunes = Red suits dark
{continued) women well.
Allans ! = Come, now !
Allans done I = You are joking.
AUumer
Alors
Ambre
Amener
Ami
"// n'esl bois si vert qui ne s'allume" (Cle-
ment Marot) = There is nothing so
difficult that cannot be done in time.
Alors comme alors = Wait till that happens,
and then we will see what is to be
done.
Fin comme T ambre = As sharp as a needle.
[This is said to have originated in the scent of am-
bergris, which is of a subtle, penetrating nature.]
Celle preuve est amenee de bien loin = That
proof is very far-fetched.
*Qui prete a Vami perd au double = " For loan
oft loses both itself and friend."
[Ham/et, i. 3.]
"^O/i connatt les amis au besoin = A friend in
need is a friend indeed.
[Also : Cest dans le malheur qiion connatt ses amis.
" Chacun se dit ami, maisfou qui sy repose
Rien nest phis commun que le nom
Rien nest plus rare que la chose."
La Fontaine, Fables, iv. 17.
" Amicus certus in re incerta cernitur." — Ennius.
"Nihil homini amico est opportuno amicius." —
Plautus,
" Vulgare amici nomen, sed rara est fides." — Phae-
DRUS, ii'i. 9.
' ' Les amis sont comme les parapluies, on ne les a
jamais sous la main quand il pleut." — THEODORE DE
Banville.
Un veritable ami est un bienfait des dieux.
Prosperity gains friends, adversity tries them.
Friends and mules fail us at hard passes.
In times of prosperity friends will be plenty,
In times of adversity not one in twenty.]
H
FRENCH IDIOMS AND PROVERBS
Ami .
(continued)
Amitid .
Amour
Alieux vaut ami en vote que denier en courroie
= A friend at court is better than
money.
11 ne faut prendre de son ami tout ce qu'on
peut = Friends are like fiddle-strings, they
must not be screwed too tight.
*^Zes amis de F heure presente
Ont la nature du 7nelon,
II en faut essayer cinquante
Avant^u'on rencontre un hon!'
Claude Mermet (1550- 1605).
= Trust not a new friend nor an old
enemy; Acquaintances are many, but
friends are few.
Faites 7?ies amities a voire frere = Remember
me kindly to your brother.
Faites-le pour V amour de moi — Do it for my
sake.
L'Amo2ir force ioutes les serrures = Love
laughs at locksmiths.
• Vivre d' amour et d^eaufraiche (or, claire) = «To
live on bread and cheese and kisses.
*0n revient toujours a ses premieres amours —
One always returns to one's first love ;
Who loves well, forgets ill.
[C. G. Etienne, Joconde, iii. i.]
, Jamais Pa^nour ne se paye que par V amour =
Love can neither be bought nor sold, its
only price is love.
[" Amour au coeur me poind
Qiiand bien-aim^ je suis,
Mais aimer je ne puis
Quand on ne m'aime point.
Chacun soit adverti
De faire comme moi,
Car d'aimer sans party
C'est un trop grand esmoy."
Clement Marot.
Liebohne Gegenlieb ist wie eine Frage ohne Antwort.]
FRENCH IDIOMS AND PROVERBS
15
Amour. . On dirait quHl le fait pour V amour du bon
{continued) Dieu = He does it with such bad grace
that one would say he did it for con-
science' sake.
[" Qui que tu sois, voici ton maitre,
II Test, le fut, ou le doit Stre."
Voltaire, Inscription pour une statue de [Amour
dans les Jardins de Maisons.
"A I'Amour on rdsiste en vain ;
Qui n'aima jamais aimera demain."
De Benserade, L Amour, ed. 1690, p. 234.]
. Amuser le tapis = To talk a great deal with-
out coming to the point; To talk time
away.
Ne vous amusez pas en route = Do not lose
an instant on the way.
y<? m'en moque comme de Pan quarante
don't care a straw for it.
I
[There was a superstitioh that the world would
come to an . end in 1040 ; after it had passed, this
saying arose. The French also say ' ' Je m'en moque
comme de Colin-tampon." Colin-tampon is the name
given to the Swiss roll of the drum ; and as the other
soldiers in the French army paid no attention to it
out of jealousy and esprit de corps, this saying arose.
Another variant is " Je m'en soucie autant qu'un
poisson d'une pomme."]
Bon an, *mal an = One year with another;
On an average.
Ressembler a Vane de Buridan = Not to know
what to do.
[Jean Buridan was a dialectician of the fourteenth cen-
tury, and Rector of the University of Paris. One of his
most famous dilemmas was that of the donkey equally
hungry and thirsty, which was placed halfway between
a pail of water and a load of hay. If the animal
had no free-will, it would remain motionless between
two equal attractions, and so die of hunger and thirst.]
Contes de Peau d-Ane = Nursery tales.
[A name derived from a tale of Perrault, in which
the heroine is so called.]
i6
FRENCH IDIOMS AND PROVERBS
Ane . , Pour un point (or, Faute (Tun point) Martini
{continued) perdit son dne = For want of a nail the
shoe was lost {or, the miller lost his
mare) ; Be careful of trifles.
[This is said of a person who loses something
valuable through a trifle. The Abbey of Asello (Latin
asellus=\i\\.\e. ass) was taken from the Abbot Martin
on account of his punctuation of a sentence over the
gateway. \x\%it2k.do{: Porta patens esto,nulliclajidaris
honesto (Gate be open, and be closed to no honest
man), he punctuated : Porta patens esto niilli, claudaris
honesto (Gate, be open to none, be closed to an honest
man). His successor corrected the mistake, and
added : Uno pro puncto caruit Martinus Asello.]
II fait r dne pour avoir du son = He simulates
stupidity to gain some material advantage.
Brider un dne par la queue - To do any-
thing in exactly the wrong manner ; To
get hold of the wrong end of the stick.
// ny a point d'dne plus mal bate que celui du
commun = What is everybody's business
is nobody's business.
[Walton, Compleat Angler, Part i. chap, ii.]
Ange . . &tre aux' anges = To be delighted, in rap-
tures, in the seventh heaven.
Un ange bouffi = A chubby child.
r Anguille . Echapper comme une anguille = To be as
slippery as an eel.
^ Quand on veut trap serrer tanguille, elle
s'echappe = " Much would have more ani '
lost all"; He who is too greedy los(
everything. (See Embrasser.)
Vouloir rofnpre r anguille au genou = T
attempt an impossibility.
// est comme Vanguille de Melun (more cor
rectly, Languille de Melun\ il crie avan,
qii'on Vecorche = He is like the eel of
Melun, he cries out before he is hurt.
[An actor, called Languille, was once acting the par^
of St, Bartholomew at Melun, when he was so fright
ened at the entry of the executioner to flay him alive
that he rushed off the stage yelling.]
FRENCH IDIOMS AND PROVERBS
17
Ang^uille ,
(continued)
Anonyme
Anse
*/l y a quelque anguille sous roche — There is
a snake in the grass ; I can smell a rat.
[Lat. Latet unguis in /terba.'\
Societe anonyme = Limited Liability Company
(because the names of the shareholders
are unknown to the public).
Mitre danser Panse (or, le manche) du panier
= To make dishonest profits on market-
ing (of servants); To gain a market-penny.
Faire le pot (or, panier) a deux arises = To
put one's arms akimbo,
[Often said of a gentleman who has a lady on each
Antan
" Olc sont les 7ieiges d antan ? "
snows of yester-year ?
Where are the
[Antan is an old French word derived from ante and
annus. The quotation is the refrain of Fran9ois
Villon's famous " Ballade des Dames du temps jadis."]
Apache . Cest un apache (pop.) = He is a hooHgan.
Apothicaire Cest un apothicaire sans sucre = He is un-
provided with the necessities of his pro-
fession.
[Druggists in France formerly sold sugar which they
used almost in every preparation. Hence one who
had no sugar was badly stocked.]
Apotre . Fair^. le bon apotre = To put on a saintly
look ; To pretend to be holy.
[" Tout Picard que j'^tais, j'^tais un bon apotre
Et je faisais claquer mon fouet tout comma un
autre."
Racine, Plaideurs, i. i.]
. Apparence Pour sauver les apparences = For the sake of
appearances.
Selon toute apparence = In all probability.
Appartenir A tous ceux quHl appartiendra (legal) = To
all whom it may concern.
Appat . . *C'est un trop vieux poisson pour mordre a
Vappdt = He is too old a bird to be
caught with chaff.
i8
FRENCH IDIOMS AND PROVERBS
Appel . . Faire Fappel = To call the roll.
i Manquer a T appel = To be missing, absent.
Battre Vappel = To call to arms.
Appeler . // appelle les choses par leur now. = He calls a
spade a spade.
[" J'appelle un chat un chat, et Rolet un fripon." —
BoiLEAU, Satires, i. 52.]
Votla ce que f appelle pleuvoir = This is what
I call raining with a vengeance.
Appdtit . Bon appetit = Good appetite ; I hope you
will enjoy your meal.
^Lappetit vient en viangeant = One leg of
mutton helps down another; The more
one has the more one wants ; Begin to
eat, you'll soon be hungry.
["As if increase of appetite had grown
By what it fed on."
Hamlet, i. 2.
" L'app^tit vient en mangeant, disait Angeston, mais
la soif s'en va en buvant." — Rabelais, Gargantua, i.]
*// n^est chere que d'appetit = Hunger is the
best sauce.
[""H iindvfjLla rov (tLtov bxj/ov.''
Xenophon, Cyrop. i. 5, 12.]
*Pain derobe reveille appetit =^io\Qn joys are
sweet.
Apprendre Les malheurs s'apprennent Men vite = 111 news
flies fast (or, apace).
Vous apprejidrez avec plaisir , . . .*= You will
be glad to hear ....
* Ce fUest pas a un vieux singe qu^on apprend a
faire des gri?naces (fam.) = One does not
teach one's grandmother to suck eggs.
(See Remontrer.)
[The Greek equivalent was, " To teach an eagle to
fly," or "to teach a dolphin to swim."— Zenob. ii. 49.
The Romans said, ' ' Sus Minervam docet. " Cf.
Cicero, De Oratore, ii. 57,]
FRENCH IDIOMS AND PROVERBS
19
^ Apprenti . "^Apprenti n^est pas maitre = One must not
expect from a beginner the talent of an
old hand ; You must spoil before you spin.
Appui . . Mur a hauteur d'appui = A wall breast high
(so that one may lean against it).
Faites la proposition^ firai a Pappui de la
boule = You make the proposal, and I
will support it.
[This idiom comes from the game of bowls, when by
hitting your partner's ball you may drive it nearer the
goal, though unable to approach yourself.]
Appuyer . Votis vous appuyez sur un roseau = You are
trusting to a broken reed.
Apr^S . . *Apres lui il faut tirer I'echelle = One cannot
do better than he has ; No one can come
up to him in that ; That takes the cake.
[Com p. MOLIERE, MMecin tnalgrdlui, ii. i.]
'^Jeter le manche apres la cognee = To throw
the helve after the hatchet; To give up
in despair.
* Apres nous le deluge = A short life and a
merry one; We need not bother about
what will happen after we are gone.
[These words were attributed to Madame de Pompa-
dour (1721-1764) in reply to those who remonstrated
with her for her extravagance — "When I am gone,
the. deluge may come for all I care." (See Desprez,
Essai sur la Marquise de Pompadour^ a preface to his
Mimoirs de Madame du Hausset.) The same idea
occurs in the Greek proverb quoted by Cicero {De
Finibus, iii. 19), '"EywoO davdvros yaia /j.ixB'^riTco TrvpL"
Milton suggests Tiberius as saying, ' ' When I die, let
the earth be rolled in flames." — Reason of Church
Government, i. 5.]
Araign^e . Avoir une araignee dans le (or, au) plafond =
To have a bee in one's bonnet.
Arbre . . "^ Entre V arbre et r ecorce il ne faut pas mettre le
doigt = One must not interfere in other
people's quarrels.
[This proverb has been travestied by Moliere, who
makes Sganarelle say: "Apprenez que Cicdron dit
qu'entre I'arbre et le doigt il ne faut pas mettre
r^corce," — Le Mddecin malgrd lui, i. 2.]
20
FRENCH IDIOMS AND PROVERBS
Arbre . . Varbre ne tombe pas au premier coup = Every-
{continued) thing requires time and exertion ; Rome
was not built in a day.
Quand F arbre est tofnbe tout le monde court
aux bra?iches = When the tree falls every
one goeth to it with his hatchet.
// s'est toujours tenu au gros de V arbre = He
has always sided with the stronger side.
Arc . . . D'ebander Pare ne guerit pas la plate = To
cease doing mischief does not undo the
harm one has done.
Ar^on. . JStre ferme sur les arsons = (lit.) To have a
firm seat in the saddle; (fig.) Not to
waver in one's principles.
// a vide les arsons = He was unhorsed.
Argent . L^ argent est un ban passe-partout = Gold goes
in at any gate, except heaven.
[" Amour fait moult
Mais argent fait tout."]
Jktre cousu d'argefit = To be made of money ;
To be rolling in riches.
// est charge d'argent conune un crapaud de
plumes = He is penniless.
Y alter bonjeu bon argent = To set about a
thing in earnest.
* Point d^ argent, point de Suisse = No money,
no Swiss ; No pay, no piper.
[In the Middle Ages the Swiss were the chief mer-
cenaries of Europe, and occasionally had to resort to
severe measures to obtain their pay. Compare Racine,
Plaideurs, i, i. One day when the Swiss were asking
for their pay from the king the French Prime Minister
said : ' ' The money we have given these Swiss would
pave a road from Paris to Basle." To which the Swiss
commander replied : " And the blood we have shed for
France would fill a river from Basle to Paris ! "]
Payer argent comptant= To pay ready money;
To pay in hard cash.
[Synonyms are : En beaux deniers comptants or,
en esptces sonnantes et tribuchantes.^
FRENCH IDIOMS AND PROVERBS
21
Argent . Prendre quelqiie chose pour argent comptant =
{continued) To take something for gospel.
/e suis a court d' argent (fam. a sec) = I am
short of money (/am. hard up, broke).
*Qui n^a pas argent en bourse^ ait 7niel en
bouche^ He who has not silver in his
purse should have honey on his tongue.
^ * Argent emprunie porte tristesse = He who
goes a-borrowing goes a-sorrowing.
Arme . . Representer les amies de Bourges = To look
stupid.
[The arms of Bourges are an ass sitting in an arm-
chair.]
Les amies sont journalilres = Victory is fickle.
Arracher . On se farrache = (of persons) He is the rage ;
(of things) There is a regular scramble
for it.
Arracheur Mentir comme un arracheur de dents = To lie
unblushingly; To lie like an epitaph.
Arranger Comme vous voila arrange I = What a sight
you look !
y^ /'ai arrange de la bonne mantere = I gave
him what he richly deserved.
Arringez-vous = That is your business ; Settle
it among yourselves.
Arret . . Mettre un officier aux arrets = To put an
officer under arrest.
Gar der les arrets = ^o keep to one's quarters.
Lever les arrets = To release from arrest.
Arriver . C^est un homme qui arrivera = He is sure to
get on in the world.
■'^ U71 malheur n^ arrive Jamais seul = Misfor-
tunes never come singly; It never rains
but it pours.
"^Cela arrive conwie maree en car^me = That
comes just in the nick of time (lit* as sea-
fish in Lent). See Carhne.
22
FRENCH IDIOMS AND PROVERBS
Article . ^tre d, V article de la mort (or, a Vagonie) =
To be at death's door.
[Lat. In articulo moriis.]
Assembler *Qut se ressemdle, s' assemble = Birds of a feather
flock together ; Like will to like.
Assiette . // n! est pas dans son assiette = He is not in
his normal state of mind; He is out of
sorts; He is not up to the mark.
Son assiette dine pour lui = He pays for his
dinner whether he is present or not.
C'est un casseur d^assiettes — He is a swag-
gerer (a Mohock, in eighteenth century
parlance).
C'est un pique-assiette = He is a parasite, a
sponge.
Vassiette des impots = The assessment of
taxes.
Attache . Le pauvre homme est toujours {conwie un
chien) a P attache = The poor man is a
very slave, is compelled to work hard
and constantly.
Attacher . * Attacker le grelot = To bell the cat.
[La Fontaine, Conseil tenu par les rats. For
an explanation of the phrase see Grelot.']
Attaquer . *Attaquer le taureau par les comes = To seize
the bull by the horns.
Atteinte . Porter atteinte {a Phonneur de) = To sully
(the fair name of).
Porter atteinte {aux droits de) = To infringe
(the rights of).
Atteler . Cest une charrette mal aitelee = They are a
badly-matched pair.
Attendre . Une question n'attendait pas F autre = Ques-
tion quickly followed after question.
Je m'y attendais = That is just what I ex-
^ pected.
FRENCH IDIOMS AND PROVERBS
23
Attendre . Attendez-vous-y = You may depend upon it ;
{continued) (or, ironic.) Don't* you wish you may
get it !
^ Tout vient a point h qui sait atte?idre = Every-
thing comes to the man who waits;
Time and patience change the mulberry
leaf into a silk gown.
^ On pent s' attendre a tout, surtout a Vinattendu
= One may expect anything, especially
the unexpected.
Attraper . Attrape qui peut! = Scramble for it !
Attrapel = i. Catch! 2. Take that! 3. It
serves you right.
Audience. Audience a huis clos = A case heard in
camera.
Aune . . Les homines ne se mesurent pas ci Vaune =
Men are not to be judged by their size.
[M. Thiers, who was very short, used to say: " Les
liqueurs prdcieuses se conservent dans de petits flacons "
= Rich wares in small parcels.]
Savoir ce qu'en vaut Vaune = To know a thing
to one's cost.
Mesurer les autres a son aune = To measure
other people's peck by one's own bushel.
Tout le long de Vaune = By the yard ; Plenty
of it.
Aurore . *7ravail d'aurore a?nene Vor = Early to bed
and early to rise, makes a man healthy,
wealthy, and wise.
[The late H. Stacy Marks, R.A., parodied this:
' ' Early to bed and early to rise, No use — unless you
advertise."
The German equivalent is , " Morgenstund hat Gold
im Mund " — The morning hour has gold in its mouth.
This is also found in ItaUan : " Le ore del mattino
hanno I'oro in bocca."]
Aussitot . Aussitot dit, aussitot fait = No sooner said
than done.
Autant . Cela estfini ou autant vaut = It is as good as
finished.
24
FRENCH IDIOMS AND PROVERBS
Autant . "^Autant de tetes, autant d'avis = So many men,
(continued) SO many minds.
["Quot homines, tot sententias."— Terence, Phor-
mio, ii. 4. Also : " Autant de gens, autant de sens."]
Autant lui en pend au nez (or, a roreille) —
He will get just the same (in bad sense),
Autant vaut etre 7nordu d^un chien que d^une
chienne = One evil is as bad as the other.
Autant dire mille francs = We may as well
say ^40. (See Alter.)
Autant vaut celui qui tient que celui qui
ecorche = The receiver is as bad as the
thief.
[A hexameter of Phocyhdes says :
dfKpbTepoL kXuyjres, Kal 6 de^d/xevos Kal 6 KXexj/as.]
Cest toujours autant degagne= That's always
so much to the good. (See Prendre.)
Alltel . . "^Qui sert a Vautel doit vivre de Vautel= Every
man must live by his profession.
// en prendrait sur Vautel = He would rob a
church.
Autour . Tourner autour du pot = To beat about the
bush.
[German : " Wie die Katze um den Brei laufen."]
11 nefaut pas confondre autour avec alentour
= One must not mix up two things en-
tirely different.
[The gamin of Paris adds to this saying : " ni intelli-
gence avec gendarme."]
Autre . . Comme dit r autre = As the saying is.
[Or : Comme on dit]
Nous par/ions de choses et d^autres = \^t were
speaking of different things.
Cest tout un ou tout autre == It is either one
thing or the other.
L'un vaut V autre = One is as bad as the
other.
FRENCH IDIOMS AND PROVERBS
25
Autre . . II en salt bien (T autres =YiQ. knows more
(continued) than one trick.
Cest une autre paire de manc/ies = Thsit is
quite another thing; That is a horse of
another colour.
// 7i' en fait pas d'autres = That is always the
way with him ; He is at it again.
A//ez conter cela a d^autres = Tell that to the
marines.
[Often shortened to " ^ (Tautres.'''^
Nous autres Anglais sommes trh reserves = We
English are very reserved.
[" Nous autres ignorants estions perdus si ce livre ne
nous eust relevd du bourbier." Montaigne, Essais,
ii. 4, speaking of Amyot's translation of Plutarch.]
* Autres temps, autres mceurs = Manners change
with the times.
J' en ai vu bien d^ autres = I have outlived
worse things than that.
Avaler . Faire avaler des couleuvres a quelqu^un = To
say very humiliating things to a man
who, on account of his inferior position,
is obliged to put up with them ; To make
any one swallow a bitter pill.
Avancer . Votre montre avance de dix minutes = Y omx
watch is ten minutes fast.
[Compare : " Votre montre retarde de dix minutes "
=Your watch is ten minutes slow.]
Cela m^avance bien ! (ironic.) = What good is
that to me ?
Vous voila bien avance I (ironic.) = Here you
are in a pretty mess ! What good have
you gained by that ?
Je n^en suis pas plus avance = I am none the
wiser (or, nearer).
Avant . . Vous allez trap avant = You are going too
far.
lis sont arrives bien avant dans la nuit =
They arrived very late at night.
26
Avare
Avec
Averti
Aveu
Aveugle
Avis
Aviser .
FRENCH IDIOMS AND PROVERBS
*A pere avare, enfant prodigue = A miserly
father has a spendthrift son.
[" A femme avare, galant escroc."
La Fontaine, Contes, ii.]
Avec fa ! (colloquial) = Nonsense !
■* Un bon averti (or, prevenu) en vaut deux =
A man well warned is twice a man ;
Forewarned, forearmed.
Oest un homme sans aveu = He is a vaga-
bond.
[In feudal times a vassal had to make an avowal to
his lord of the lands he held, placing them under his
lord's protection. A man who had no property could
not do so.]
*y?/m ne soulage comme un aveu sincere = Open
confession is good for the soul.
Crier comme un aveugle {qui a perdu son
baton or, son chien) = To yell with all
one's might.
[A variant is : Crier cotnme un sourd, although deaf
people generally speak very quietly.]
// est toujours du bon avis = His opinion is
always good.
II y a jour d^avis = There is no hurry ; There
is plenty of time for consideration.
*Avis au lecteur = A note to the reader ; A
word to the wise ; Verb. sap.
{II) m^est avis qu^il cherche a vous tromper =
Somehow I think he wants to deceive you.
*jDeux avis valent mieux qu'un = Two heads
are better than one.
[The Greeks said: eh a.vqp, ovheU av-qp^One man,
no man.]
Saufavis contraire = Unless I hear {or, write)
to the contrary.
Cest un avisi compere — He is a cunning
fellow.
On y avisera = We will see to it.
FRENCH IDIOMS AND PROVERBS
27
Aviser . . II ne s'avise jamais de rien = He never thinks
{continued) of anything ; He has no initiative.
On ne s'avise jamais de tout = One never
thinks of everything.
Ne vous en avisez pas = You had better
not.
Un fou avise Men un sage = Good advice
often comes whence we do not expect it.
Un verre de vin avise Men un homme = A
glass of wine puts wit into a man.
Avoir . [The French use avoir frequently where we use to he,
as in — Avoir faim, soif, chaud, froid, raison, tort,
pitit^, honte, peur, soin, besoin, wa/=:To be hungry,
thirsty, hot, cold, right, wrong, sorry, ashamed, afraid,
careful, in want, ill.]
J^aurai raison de son entetemetit = I will
master his obstinacy.
J^en ai Men envie = I should like it very
much.
Elk n'a pour tout Men que sa beaute = She
has nothing but her beauty in her favour ;
Her face is her fortune.
y'<?« ai pour deux heures = I shall be two
hours over it.
J^en ai pour six mois a m^ennuyer = I am
looking forward to {pr^ in for) six months'
boredom.
Vous avez la parole = It is your turn to
speak.
Vous avez la main = It's your turn to play
(at cards).
Vous avez le de = It's your turn to play (at
dice).
// ne fera cela qu'autant que vous Vaurez pour
agreable = He will never think of doing
it if you object to it.
Avoir de quoi (pop.) = To be in easy circum-
stances.
pat de quoi payer = I have enough money to
pay.
28 FRENCH IDIOMS AND PROVERBS
Avoir . . II y a de quoi = (lit.) There is good reason ;
{continued) (ironic.) Tliere is no reason.
Je vous de7nande pardon. — // n^y a pas de
quoi — I beg your pardon. — Pray do not
mention it.
J^ai beau dire, il en fera a sa tete = It is
of no use my talking, he will do as he
likes.
Oest un hofnme que fai dans la main = He
is a man I hold in the hollow of my
hand, i.e. I can make him do what I like.
Qu'avez vous 1 fai que je m^ennuie = What
is the matter with you? The matter is
that I am bored to death.
Vous en aurez = You will catch it.
Contre qui en avez-vous ? = Against whom
have you a grudge ?
// n'est rien de tel que d'en avoir = Inhere is
nothing like money to make one re-
spected.
Quand il n^y en a plus ^ il y en a encore = The
thing is inexhaustible; It is easy to get
more.
// n^y a qu^a pleuvoir = It may happen to
rain ; What if it rains ?
Je vais lui dire cela. — Non^ il n'aurait qu'a se
facher = I will tell him that. — No, don't,
he might get angry.
^ Cest un homme comme il n^y en a point = He
is a man who has not his match ; There
is no equal to him.
Avril . . En avril
Ne te decouvre pas d''unfil
= Change not a clout
Till May be out.
[En mai
Fais ce qu'il te plait.]
FRENCH IDIOMS AND PROVERBS
29
B . . .
Bacler . .
Badiner .
Bagage
Bagatelle
Bague . .
Baguette
Baiser .
Baisser
B.
Aire marque au b = To be either hump-
backed, one-eyed, lame, or a stutterer.
[i.e. bossu, borgne, boiteux, 021 beguej\
Bacler son ouvrage = To do one's work
quickly and badly; To "poHsh off" {or,
scamp) one's work.
[Also : travailler a ddpeche-compagnon.'\
*'• On ne badine pas avec V amour ^' = Tove is
not to be trifled with.
[This is the title of one of Alfred de Musset's
Proverbes. See Porte. '\
Quel est le bagage de cet auteurl = What
works has that author written ? What is
that author's output ?
Flier bagage = To pack up and be off.
Bagatelles que tout cela — That is all stuff
and nonsense.
Vive la bagatelle ! = Away with care !
Cette place est une bague au doigt = That posi-
tion is a sinecure.
[C'est une bague au doigt is said of any advantageous
possession of which one can dispose easily. Quitard
derives it from the custom of the seller of land giving
to the purchaser as his title a ring on which both had
sworn. J
Mener les gens a la baguette = To rule men
with a rod of iron ; To be a martinet.
II y a toujours Pun qui baise et V autre qui tend
lajoue = Love is never exactly reciprocal.
[Shakespeare, Troilus and Cressida, iv. 5.]
Baisser Voreille = To look confused (or,
sheepish.)
[From the action of dogs when expecting a beating.]
30
FRENCH IDIOMS AND PROVERBS
Baisser . Ma vue baisse = I am getting short-sighted ;
{^continued) My sight is failing.
[In this sense baisser means to weaken, and is also
used of moral and intellectual qualities, as : le sens
moral a baissi, ma mdmoire baisse."]
II a donne tete baissee dans le pi^ge {panneau)
= He ran headlong into the trap.
/e lui ai fait baisser les yeux = I stared him
out of countenance.
// n'a qu'a se baisser pour eti prendre = He
has only to stoop and pick it up ; He has
merely to ask for it to get it.
Balai . . *// n'est rien de tel que balai neuf ^ A new
broom sweeps clean.
On lui a donne du balai = They gave him the
sack {i.e. dismissed him).
Donner un coup de balai = To make a clean
sweep.
Balance . Faire pencher la balance = To turn the scale.
Balancer // n'y a pas a balancer = We must not hesi-
tate, but act.
Balle . . Une balle perdue = A wasted shot ; A useless
effort.
Une balle morte = A spent ball.
A vous la balle = It is now your turn to act.
Renvoyer la balle = To return the compli-
ment.
Prendre la balle au bond = Not to miss an
opportunity; To take time by the fore-
lock ; To make hay while the sun shines.
[Also : Prendre Voccasion aux cheveux.
Compare :
" Rem tibi quam nosces, aptam dimittere noli ;
Fronte capillata post est Occasio calva. "
Cato, Distichs, ii. 26.
" Her lockes, that loathly were and hoarie grey,
Grew all afore, and loosely hong unrold,
But all behind was bald, and worne away
That none thereof could ever taken hold."
Spenser, Faerie Queene, ii. 4, 4.
FRENCH IDIOMS AND PROVERBS
31
Balle .
{continued)
I Ballon
Ban
Bande . .
Banquette
Barbe . .
Barre .
" Occasion turneth a bald noddle after she hath
presented her locks in front and no hold taken."
Bacon, Essays, xxi.
" Remember the old adage and make use o't,
Occasion's bald behind."
Massinger, Guardian, iv. i.]
lis' en acquittera bien^ dest un enfant de la balle
= He will do it well, he is his father's son.
[Originally this was applied to children of tennis-
players, but now to all who follow the profession of
their fathers.]
// lanfa un ballon d^essai ava?tt de produire
son grand ouvrage = He sent out a feeler
before publishing his great work.
Le rot convoqua le ban et V arriere-ban = The
king assembled all his dependants.
[Le ban were the king's direct vassals, such as earls,
barons, and knights ; Varrih-e-ban were the king's in-
direct vassals, or the vassals of vassals. "A procla-
mation whereby all (except some privileged officers and
^ citizens) that hold their lands of the Crowne, are sum-
moned to meet at a certaine place, there to attend the
King whithersoever and against whomsoever he goes."
— COTGRAVE.]
Faire bande a part = Not to mix with other
people.
[In Parliamentary parlance, "to form a cave" (of
AduUam).]
Jouer ,Jevant les ba?iquettes = (of actors) To
play to empty benches.
Sa faire la barbe = To shave.
Rire dans sa barbe = To laugh in one's sleeve.
[See Cape. This is used always of men, whereas
rire sous cape is used chiefly of women.]
Je le lui dirai a sa barbe = I will say it to his
face.
Je lui ferai la barbe quand il voudra = I will
show him who is master whenever he
likes.
Vous arrivez trop tard, la barre est tiree =
You are too late, the line is drawn, the
list is closed.
32
FRENCH IDIOMS AND PROVERBS
Barre .
[continued)
Bas
Bkt .
Bataillon
Bataille
Je ne fats que toucher barres = I am off again
immediately.
J^ai barres sur lui = I have an advantage
over him ; I have the whip-hand (the
pull) over him.
[Expressions taken from the game of barres, or
prisoner's base.]
■^^ porte basse, passant courbe = One must
bow to circumstances.
// se retira Voreille basse = He went away
with his tail between his legs.
Les vainqueurs firent main basse sur les biens
des habitants = The victors pillaged the
town.
Rester chapeau bas = To stand hat in hand.
// m'a traits de haut en bas = He treated me
contemptuously.
Vous ne savez pas oil le bat le blesse = You
do not know where the shoe pinches
him.
[" Je S9ay mieux ou le bas me blesse." Maistre
Pierre Paihelin, 1. 1357. Bat = pack-saddle. Com-
pare the German : Jeder weiss am besten wo ihn der
Schuh driickt.
The phrase first appears in Plutarch's Life 0/
Aimilius Paullus. A certain Roman having forsaken
his wife, her friends fell out with him and asked what
fault he found in her ; was she not faithful and fair,
and had she not borne him many beautiful children ?
He replied by putting forth his foot and saying: " Is
not this a goodly shoe? Is it not finely made, and is
it not new? And yet I dare say there is not one of
you can tell where it pinches me."]
Inconnu au bataillon (fam.) =
him ; No one knows him.
I don't know
Cetait une bataille rangee = It was a pitched
battle.
Cet argument est son cheval de bataille = That
argument is his stronghold ; That is his
great argument.
FRENCH IDIOMS AND PROVERBS 33
Bateau . Arriver en trots bateaux = To come with
great fuss, in great state, with unnecessary
ceremony.
[This expression is usually used sarcastically; it
originates from great personages or rich merchant-
men being accompanied by ships of war. Compare
Rabelais, i. 16, and La Fontaine, Fables, ix, 3.
Le Uopard et le singe qui gagnent de Vargent a la
foire.l
Baton . . // travaille a batons rompus = He works by
fits and starts.
Conversation a batons rompus = Desultory
talk.
// cherchait d nous mettre des batons dans les
roues = He tried to put a spoke in our
wheel.
Ze tour du baton = Perquisites, illicit
profits.
Ce sera mon baton de vieillesse = He will be
my support (consolation) in my old age.
Battre . . // lui a battu froid = He gave him the cold
shoulder.
[Comp. " Majorum ne quis amicus frigore te feriat."
—Horace, Sat, ii. i.]
Battre la campagne = i. (lit.) To scour the
country. 2. (fig.) To talk nonsense. 3.
(ot invalids) To wander. 4. To beat
about the bush.
Battre la breloque {berloque) = To talk non-
sense.
Battre le pave = i. To loaf about. 2. To
wander about in search for work.
Tout battant neuf = All brand new.
Battre le chien devant le loup = To pretend to
be angry with one person to deceive
another.
Avoir les yeux battus = To look tired about
the eyes.
La fete battait son plein = The entertsiinment
was at its height.
c
34
FRENCH IDIOMS AND PROVERBS
Battre . . Battre quelqu^un a plate couture = To beat
(continued) some One hollow.
[Literally, to beat some one so hard and thoroughly,
as to flatten the seams [toutures) of his coat.]
*Les battus payent V amende = The weakest go
to the wall ; Those who lose pay.
Z'un bat les buissons et Vautre pretid les
oiseaux = One does the work and the
other reaps the advantage; One man
starts the game and another kills it.
*Autant vaut bien battu que mal battu = As
well be hanged for a sheep as a lamb;
In for a penny, in for a pound. (See
Chien.)
Baume . Je rHai pas foi dans son baume = I have no
faith in his plan.
Bavette . Quand les femmes sont ensemble^ elks taillent
des bavettes a n^en plus finir = When
women get together they indulge in end-
less gossip.
Beau . . Gaucher a la belle itoile = To sleep out of
doors.
Dechirer quelqu^un a belles dents = To criticise
some one mercilessly ; To tear a person's
reputation to shreds.
Ilfera beau quand je retournerai chez lui = It
will be a very fine day when I go to his
house again {i.e. I shall never go).
Voir tout en beau = To see everything through
rose-coloured spectacles. (See A^oir.)
Faire le beau = (of dogs) To beg.
II y a beau temps que je ?ie vous at (pas) vu^l
have not seen you for many a day.
J^en entends de belles sur votre compte = I hear
nice goings-on of you.
// en a fait de belles = He played nice tricks
{ironic.\
11 vous e?i conte de belles = ¥Lq is telling you
fine tales ; He is taking you in finely.
FRENCH IDIOMS AND PROVERBS
35
Beau . . Vous me la donnez (or, baillez) belle (ironic.) =
[continued] A pretty tale you are telling me ; Aren't
you stuffing me up nicely ?
Ce que vous proposez est bel et bon, mats je
n'en ferai rien = What you propose is
all very fine, but I shall do no such
thing.
Aire dans de beaux draps = To be in a pretty
pickle {ironic).
Vous Vavez echappe belle = Yo\i have had a
narrow escape {or^ shave).
// a beau parler, il ne me convaincra pas = It
is of no use for him to speak, he will not
convince me ; Let him say what he will,
he will not convince me.
[The origin of this use of beau is obscure. Larousse
suggests the origin may be in the idea of having a
fine field for operations, which will be of no value,
as our : " it is all very fine for me to speak. "]
// reconmien^a de plus belle = He began again
worse than ever.
Vous avez beau jeu = i. (lit.) You have
good cards. 2. (fig.) You have the
advantage.
■*Z« belle plume fait le bel oiseau = Fine feathers
make fine birds.
Se mettre au beau = (of the weather) To
clear up.
Jouer la.belle = To play the rubber (or third
game, to see which of the players is the
conqueror).
Beaucoup "^Beaucoup de bruit pour rien = Much ado
about nothing.
Beauts . La beaute ne se mange pas en salade = Beauty
does not fill the larder ; Prettiness makes
no pottage.
Bee , , . // m'a tenu le bee dans I'eau^ He kept me in
suspense.
36
FRENCH IDIOMS AND PROVERBS
Bee . . Cest un homme qui ne se laisse pas passer la
{continued) plume par le bec= He is a man not easily
taken in.
[Clerks bet a newcomer that he cannot write with a
pen in his mouth. On his endeavouring to do so, they
pull the pen sharply through his lips, thus inking his
face. " Qu'on me fasse passer la plume par lebec."
MoLifeRE, Les Femmes Savantes, iii. 6.]
Cest un blanc bec^lA.^ is a beardless boy,
greenhorn.
" Souffrez que je lui montre son bee jaune " =
Allow me to show him he is a silly goose.
[MOLIERE, LeMalade Imaginaire, iii. 17. Bee jaune
or bijaune is an allusion to young birds whose beaks are
generally yellow.]
// a bee et ongles=lle knows how to defend
himself.
Avoir bon bee (fam.) = To be a chatterbox;
To speak well; To be able to answer
back.
["II n'est bon bee que de Paris" is the refrain of
Villon's " Ballade des Femmes de Paris."]
B^casse . Oest une beeasse = She is a goose.
B^cher . Beeher quelquun (fam.) = To pick a person to
pieces.
B^ndfice . Sous {ox, par) benefiee (Vinventaire=i. (ht. in
a legal sense) Without prejudice. 2. (fig.)
Only to a certain point, conditionally, for
what it is worth, with a pinch of salt.
[e.g. II faut croire ce conte sous bdn^fice d'inventaire.
The origin of the legal phrase arose from the fact that
an inheritor is liable for the debts of the deceased
only in proportion to his inheritance, which is verified
by the inventory. Thus, if the debts are more than
the inheritance, a sole heir would decline to inherit at all.
Compare :
" Un paien, qui sentait quelque peu le fagot
Et qui croyait en Dieu, pour user de ce mot,
Par b^n^fice d'inventaire."
La Fontaine, Fables, iv. 19.]
// faut prendre le benefiee avee les eharges =
One must take the rough with the smooth.
FRENCH IDIOMS AND PROVERBS
37
Bercer
Berger
Berlue .
Besogne
Besoin
Bete .
J^ai ete berce de cela = I have heard that from
my cradle.
Bon berger tond mats n^ecorche pas = We may
use but not abuse our subordinates.
Avoir la berlue (fam.) - To see things which
do not exist; To have a wrong idea of
anything.
Aimer la besogne faite = To hate work ; To
Hke to get work over.
Abattre de la besogne = To get through a great
deal of work.
"^On connait les ajfiis aic besoin = K friend in
need is a fPiend indeed. (See Ami.)
*0n a souvent besoin d^un plus petit que soi =
A mouse may be of service to a lion.
[La Fontaine, Fables, ii. ii,]
''^ Morte la bete^ mort le venin = Dead dogs can-
not bite ; Dead men tell no tales.
Cethofnme est ma bete noire {inon cauchemar) =
That man is my pet aversion ; I hate the
very sight of that man.
Fas si bete = Not so green, foolish.
// est bete a manger du foin = He is a perfect
idiot.
[Also : bete comme {un) chou, une oie, un pot, une
cruche.\
*Qui se fait bete, le loup le mange = \{ one is
too confiding, one is imposed upon. (See
Brebis.)
Oest une bonne bete (or, la bete du bon Dieu)
= He is a good-natured fellow (not over-
clever).
Une bete a bon Dieu (or, bete a Dieu) = A
ladybird.
Plus Jin que lui n'est pas bete=\t would take
a smart man to deceive him.
38 FRENCH IDIOMS AND PROVERBS
Beurre . On ne pent manier le beurre qu'ofi ne se graisse
les doigts = One cannot touch pitch with-
out soiling one's fingers ; If you have to
do with money, some will stick.
[" But I think they that touch pitch will be defiled."
Much Ado about Nothing, iii. 3.]
II faut faire son beurre = One must make a
profit ; One must feather one's nest.
pz entre conune dans du beurre = (fig.) It
is as easy as anything.
Bien . . *Ze mieux est fennemi du bien=^Q2iVQ well
alone.
Grand bien vous fasse = Much good may it
do you. •
Le navire a peri corps et biens = The ship
went down with all hands on board.
// a du bien au soleil = He has landed
property.
I/s sent stpares de corps et de biens = They
have had a judicial separation {a ?nensa et
thoro).
Tout va bien = It is all right.
Cest bien fait = It serves you (him, her)
right.
Cest bien /w/ = That's he all over.
On y est trh bien = The accommodation there
is very good.
Je suis tres bien ici=l am quite comfortable
here.
*Qui est bien qu'il s^y tienne = Rest content
where thou art; Better dry bread at home
than roast meat abroad.
Get ho/rune est tres bien=^ He is a gentleman.
Mener une entreprise a bien = To bring an
affair to a successful issue.
// est sur son bien-dire = He is on his best
behaviour ; He minds his p's and q's.
Nous voila bien (ironic.) = Here is a nice state
of things.
FRENCH IDIOMS AND PROVERBS
39
Bien . . II ne faut attendre son bien que de soi-meme =
(continued) Always rely on yourself.
Le bien lui vient en dormant = He becomes '
rich without any trouble.
Tant bien que mal- So-so ; Neither well nor
ill ; After a fashion. (See Tant.)
Bientot . Ce/a est bientot dit=Th.2X is easier said than
done.
Bile . . Ne pas sefaire de bile (fam.) = To take things
easily.
Billet . . Un billet de faire part = A letter by which a
birth, marriage, or death is made known
to friends.
[Cards are used in England for marriages and deaths.]
Un billet doux = A love letter.
"^Ah I le bon billet qu'a La Chaire = Promises
are like pie-crust, made to be broken.
[The Marquis de la Ch^tre was the lover of the
celebrated Ninon de I'Enclos {1616-1706). When he
was obliged to go off to the wars, he made her write
him a letter promising to remain faithful to him. On
taking another lover, she remembered the letter she had
written, and uttered these words, which have become
proverbial for any worthless promise.]
Blanc . . J^ai passe une nuit blanche = I have not slept
a wink all night.
Dire tantot blanc^ tantot noir = To say first
one thing and then another.
Se manger le blanc des yeux = To have a
furious quarrel.
*J^ouge le soir et blanc le matin ^
C^est lajournee du pelerin =■■
Red at night is the shepherd's delight,
Red in the morning, the shepherd's warn-
ing.
Evening red and morning gray
Are two sure signs of a fine day.
Bl^ . . . Manger son ble en herbe = To anticipate one's
revenue.
40 FRENCH IDIOMS AND PROVERBS
Bleu . . fen suis tout bleu (fam.) = Well ! I atfi sur-
prised.
Bloc . . En bloc = In the mass, in the lump.
Boire . . Plus il boit, plus il a soif = Ever drunk, ever
dry.
*Qin' a bu tHa point de secrets = When wine
sinks, words swim ; In vino Veritas ;
Drink washes off the daub, and discovers
the man ; What the sober man has in his
heart, the drunkard has on his lips.
[" La v^ritd sort mieux d'un lonneau qued'un puits."
AUGIER, VAventurihre, ii. 4.]
*Le vin est tire^ il faut le boire = You have
gone too far now to draw back; In for
a penny, in for a pound.
[At the siege of Douai in 1667, Louis XIV. found
himself unexpectedly under a heavy cannonade from
the besieged city. In compliance with the entreaties of
those around him, who urged him not to risk so im-
portant a life, he was about to retire in a somewhat
unsoldierly and unkingly fashion, when M. de Charost
rode up and whispered this proverb in his ear. The
king remained exposed to the fire of the enemy for
a suitable time, and held in higher honour the coun-
sellor who had saved him from an unseemly retreat.
— Trench. " Le vin est tir6, Monsieur, il faut le
boire " is a line in Regnard's Joueur, iii. 2.]
Ce n^est pas la mer h boire = That is no very
difficult matter.
// boit du lait (fam.) = He is satisfied, happy.
'''Qui a bu boira = Habit is second nature; If
you take to the habit of drinking you
cannot get rid of it.
[" Et quiconque a jou6, toujours joue et jouera."
Regnard, Le Joueur, iv, i.]
Boire comme un trou {une eponge) = To drink
like a fish.
Boire un bouillon (lit.) = To swallow water
(when swimming); To swallow a bitter
pill ; To lose a lot of money.
Boire sec = To drink hard ; To drink wine
neat (without adding water).
FRENCH IDIOMS AND PROVERBS 4 1
Boire . . Boire le calice jusqu'd la lie = To drink the
{continued) cup to the dregs.
// boirait la mer et ses poissons = Nothing
can assuage his thirst.
Croyez cela et buvez de Veau (fam.) = Do not
believe that, I know it is not true ; Surely
you are not simple enough to believe that !
''' Qui fait la f ante la boit= As you have brewed,
so you must drink; As you have sown,
so you must reap; As you make your
bed, so you must lie on it.
Boire a tire-larigot = To drink excessively.
[The origin of this expression is obscure. Larousse
gives the following explanation, adding that it was
probably invented to explain the saying, as it can
be found in no ancient author. " Odo Rigaud was
formerly Archbishop of Rouen, and in celebration
of his appointment he had a huge bell cast for his
cathedral in 1282. This bell was called after him la
Rigaud. After ringing this bell, the bellringers required
much wine to refresh them ; hence boire d tire larigot,
or la Rigaud, meant to drink like one who has been
ringing a heavy bell." Littrd favours the derivation
from larigot, or arigot, a little flute, and then the ex-
pression would be analogous \.o fl liter, a popular word
for boire. But probably the correct explanation is that
of Sainte-Palaye, who sayjs that a later meaning of
arigot was the tap of a cask, so that this being pulled
out, one could drink more without any delay.]
Bois . . On Terra de quel bois je me chauffe = They
will see what stuff I am made of.
Fairefleche de tout bois = To use every means
to accomplish an end ; To leave no stone
unturned.
// ne s avail plus de quel bois faire fl}che= He
did not know which way to turn. (See
Saint and Pied.)
II est du bois dont on fait les flutes = H e is
of an easy, pliable disposition {i.e. like
the flexible reeds of which flutes were
originally made).
Nous avojis trouve visage de bois = We found
nobody at home ; " We found the oak
sported."
42 FRENCH IDIOMS AND PROVERBS
Bois . . Le bois tortu fait le feu droU= The end justi-
(continued) fies the means.
Boiteux . // ne faut pas docker devant les boiteux =
One must not remind people of their
infirmities. (See Corde.)
Bombarder // vienf d''etre bombarde membre de ce club —
He has just been pitchforked into that
club (over the heads of more deserving
people).
Bon . . II la fait courte et bonne — He is having a
short life and a merry one.
■^yi quelque chose malheur est bon = It is an ill
wind that blows nobody any good.
Dites-moi une bonne fois pourquoi vous etes
mkontent = Tell me once and for all why
you are dissatisfied.
A quoi bon lui dire cela ? = What is the good
of telling him that ?
A la bonne heuret= i. Well done ! 2. That
is something like ! 3. At last ! 4.
Capital!
// n^est pas bon a jeter aux chiens = He is
good for nothing.
// a bon pied, bon ceil = He is sound, wind
and limb ; He is hale and hearty.
Faire bonne mine a mauvais jeu — To put a
good face on misfortune ; To make the
best of a bad job.
[Also : Faire contre fortune bon cceur.]
*A bon Jour, bonne ceuvre — The better the
day, tlie better the deed.
Tout lui est bon = All is fish that comes to
his net.
Si bon vous semble=l( you think fit.
"^Les bons comptes font les bons amis = Short
reckonings make long friends.
*A bon vin point d^enseigne = Good wine needs
no bush. (See Vin.)
FRENCH IDIOMS AND PROVERBS
43
Bon. . . Une bonne futte vaut mieux qu!une mauvaise
{^continued) attente = Discretion is the better part of
valour.
En voila une bonne I (i.e. plaisanterte) ; Elle
est bonne ^ celle-la I — Oh ! what a good
joke ! " What a cram ! " That's rather a
tall story.
Est-ce quHl est parti pour tout de bon ^ = Has
he gone for good ?
Bond . . Faire faux bond= i. To deceive. 2. To fail
to keep an appointment.
// ne va que par sauts et par bonds = Yie only
works by fits and starts.
Tant de bond que de volee = By hook or by
crook.
Bonheur . Au petit bonheur / = I will chance it !
Par bonheur = As luck would have it.
Bonhomme Petit bonhomme vit encore = There's life in
the old dog yet.
[An expression derived from a game which consisted
in lighting a large roll of paper and passing it round a
circle of people, each one repeating these words. The
roll would often appear to be out, when a vigorous
swirl would fan it again into a flame.]
Boniment Faiseur de bonifnent (pop.) = A cheap-jack,
clpp-trap speaker.
\Bonir = to talk like clowns at a fair,]
Bonjour . C'est simple comme bonjour = It is as easy as
kiss your hand.
Bonnet . '''Cest bonnet blanc et blanc bonnet = It is six
of one and half-a-dozen of the other.
Oest un des gros bonnets (or, legumes) de
Vendroit = He is one of the bigwigs of
the place.
// a la tete pres du bonnet = He is quick-
tempered, easily ruffled.
// a mis son bonnet de tr avers = He is in a
bad temper ; He got out of bed the wrong
side.
[Also : // s'est levd du mauvais coU (or, pied).']
44
FRENCH IDIOMS AND PROVERBS
Bonnet
(continued)
Borgne
Borne .
Borner
Bossu .
Botte .
Bouc
Jeter son bonnet par dessus les moulins (of
women) = To throw off all restraint ; Not
to care a straw for what people may think
of your bad conduct.
Ce sont deux tetes dans un bonnet = They are
hand and glove together.
^tre triste (gai, ironic.) comme un bonnet de
nuit = To be as dull as ditch water; To be
in the dumps.
[Also : Gai comme une porte de prison. ']
J I a pris cela sous son bonnet = i. He in-
vented it. 2. He took it upon himself.
Ses colllgues opinent du bonnet = His colleagues
agree with what he says (without speaking).
(See Opiner.)
**■" Dans le royaume des aveugles les borgnes
sont ;'<?/>" = Among the blind, the one-
eyed is king.
[The quotation comes from J. J, Rousseau's Con-
fessions, Part i., Bk. v.]
// est plante la comme une borne - He stands
there like a post.
II faut savoir se borner = One must place
limits on one's desires.
[" Qui ne sait se borner ne sut jamais dcrire."
BoiLEAU, Art PoUique, i.]
Rire comme un bossu = To split one's sides
with laughter.
// a mis du foin dans ses bottes = He has
feathered his nest ; He has taken care of
number one.
// est haut comme ma botte = He is a mere
sixpennyworth of halfpence; He is very
short.
A propos de bottes = With reference to nothing
in particular.
Cest le bouc emissaire = He is the scapegoat.
FRENCH IDIOMS AND PROVERBS
45
Bouche . Faire la bouche en cceur = To try and look
amiable; To put on a captivating look;
To purse up one's lips.
Cet argumenf me ferma la boucke = Thsit argu-
ment was a poser for me; I could not
reply to that.
II y en avail a bouche que veux-tu = There was
a plentiful supply of it.
Je garde cela pour la bonne bouche = I am
keeping that for the last.
\_Une bonne bouche = A X\i-h\\..]
II prend sur sa bouche pour aider ces gens =
He stints himself to help those people.
Faire la petite bouche = To be dainty ; To have
a small appetite ; To be hard .to please.
Bouche close {cousue) ! = Not a word, mind !
"Mum's the word."
La bouche fendue jusqu aux oreilles = A mouth
stretching from ear to ear.
Eire sur sa bouche = To be an epicure.
Bouchde . Mettre les bouchees doubles = To eat quickly ;
To hurry.
Perdre la boule (pop.) = To lose one's head;
Not to know what one is doing. (See
Tramontane. )
Bourgeois Les officiers etaient en bourgeois (or, en civil) =
The officers were in plain clothes, in mufti.
Elk fait une bomie cuisi?ie bourgeoise = She is
a good plain cook.
Je pre fids ?nes repas dans une pension bour-
geoise = I board at a private boarding-
house.
*Selon ta bourse gouverne ta bouche =C\i\. your
coat according to your cloth.
[" Fond pride of dress is sure a very curse ;
Ere fancy you consult, consult your purse."
Benjamin Franklin.]
Faire bon marche de sa bourse = To say a
thing has cost less than it has.
• Boule
: Bourse
46 FRENCH IDIOMS AND PROVERBS
Bourse . Obtenir une bourse au lycee = To gain an
(continued) exhibition (or, scholarship) at a public
school.
Avoir toujours la bourse a la fnain = To have
always one's hand in one's pocket.
Loger le diable dans sa bourse = To be penni-
less.
[Coins generally had a cross on them, which was a
protection against the devil, {^q Diable.) Compare
Goldsmith, Vicar of Wakefield, xxi.— " We have not
seen the cross of her money. "]
Amijusqu^h la bourse = A lukewarm friend.
Sans bourse df<?//Vr= Without any expense.
Bout . . ////>« ^ /^^w//^r/a;2/= He fired point-blank.
'''Au bout de Vaune faut (or, manque) le drap =
• There is an end to everything ; The last
straw breaks the camel's back.
// est econome de bouts de chandelle^Yie is
penny wise and pound foolish.
[Or, II fait des Economies de bouts de chandelle.']
II a ri du bout des Ih'res = He laughed in a
forced manner.
// est pohe jusqu'au bout des ongles = He is a
poet to his finger-tips.
y> sttis a bout de force = I am exhausted, done
up.
Cest le bout du monde = That is the utmost.
Atre au bout de son rouleau, de sott latin, de
sa ga?nme = To be at one's wits' end; Not
to know what to do.
// repete la 7neme chose a tout bout de champ
= He repeats the same thing every in-
stant, every time he has the chance.
Eh bien I au bout du compte vous avez tort =
Well ! you are wrong, after all.
Ma patience est a bout =M.y patience is ex-
hausted.
// m^a pousse a bout=He provoked me be-
yond endurance.
FRENCH IDIOMS AND PROVERBS
47
Bout . . Laisser voir le bout de Poreille = To show
{continued) One's ignorance {or, true character); To
show what one is driving at; To show
the cloven hoof.
[A reference to the fable of the ass in the lion's skin.]
Tenir le haut bout = To have the whip
hand.
\ Boute-en-train Cest un vrai boute-en-train — He is the
I very life and soul of the party.
Bouteille . // n^a rien vu que par le trou (fufie boiiteille =
He has seen nothing of the world.
Cest la bouteille a Vencre que cette affaire =
This is a very obscure matter; That affair
is as clear as mud.
Boutique. Toute la boutique (pop.) = The whole show
{i.e. a thing and everything connected
t with it) ; The whole boiling ; The whole
•\ bag of tricks.
'ti, [Also: tout le tremblement, and, le diable et son
*' train.'\
t^ Braise. . "^Tomber de la poele dans la braise = To fall
^ out of the frying-pan into the fire.
Passer sur une chose comjtie un chat stir la
braise = To pass lightly over a subject.
Branche . £tre comme roiseau sur la branche = To be
very unsettled.
[This generally refers to a man's position in life,
whether he will stay where he is or be made to leave.]
Branler . "^Tout ce qui branle ne tontbe pas = A creaking
gate hangs long.
Bras . . Bras dessus bras dessous = Arm in arm.
J'ai les bras rojupus = My arms are tired.
Cette perte nous coupe bras et jambes = This
loss cripples us entirely.
Les bras me tombent de surprise (or, fu^en tom-
bent) = I am struck dumb with surprise.
// a le bras long= He has great influence.
48
FRENCH IDIOMS AND PROVERBS
Bras .
(continued)
Brebis .
*Si vous hi en donnez long comme le doigt, il
en prendra long comme le bras = Give him
an inch, he will take an ell.
[" Laissez leur prendre un pied chez vous
lis en auront bientot pris quatre."
La Fontaine, Fables, ii. 7.
German : Wer sich auf den Achseln sitzen lasst, dem
sitzt man nachher auf dem Kopfe= Who lets one sit on
his shoulders shall have him presently sit on his head.
Italian : Si ti lasci metter in spalla il vitello, quindi a
poco ti metter an la vacca=If thou suffer a calf to be
laid on thee, within a little they'll clap on the cow.]
Je rai saisi a bras le corps = I seized him
round the waist (in a struggle).
/e rai baitu a tour de bras (or, a bras
raccourci) = I beat him with all my might.
Pourquoi restez-vous la les bras croises? =
Why are you waiting there doing nothing?
fai ses enfants sur les bras=l have his chil-
dren on my hands.
*A brebis tondue Dieu mesure le vent = God
tempers the wind to the shorn lamb.
[Also: Dieu donne le froid selon le drap.. This is
said to occur first in a collection of proverbs made by
Henri Estienne (Stephanus), 1594. The earliest men-
tion in English is, I believe, in Sterne's Sentimental
Journey. 1
* Qui se fait brebis^ leloup le mange = He who
is too confiding is imposed upon ; Daub
yourself with honey and you'll be covered
with flies.
^Brebis comptees le loup les mange = Counting
one's chickens will not keep the fox off;
If you count your chickens, harm will
happen to them.
[Compare Vergil, EcL, vii. 52. This somewhat
difficult expression can also be translated : "A bold
thief is not frightened at things being counted." It no
doubt refers to the old superstition that counting one's
possessions was followed by misfortune, as in 2 Samuel
xxiv.]
* Brebis qui bele perd sa goulee = It is the silent
sow that sucks the wash.
FRENCH IDIOMS AND PROVERBS
49
Brebis . . La brebis galeuse = The black sheep.
{continued) // ne faut qu'une brebis galeuse pour infecter
tout le troupeau = One scabby sheep will
taint the whole flock ; One ill weed mars
a whole pot of pottage.
[Also : Pomme pourrie gate sa compagnie = One
rotten apple spoils the whole basket. ]
Bredouille Revenir bredouille = (of sportsmen) To return
with an empty bag; To have made an
unsuccessful attempt; To return disap-
pointed.
Se coucher bredouille = To go to bed supper-
less.
Bride . . *^ cheval donne on ne regarde pas a la bride =
One does not look a gift-horse in the
mouth.
// courait a toute bride (or, a bride abattue) =
He was running at full speed.
Je lui at mis la bride sur le cou — I gave him
full liberty.
Vous lui te?iez la bride trop haute = You keep
him too much under restraint.
Briller . . *Tout ce qui brille (or, reluit) n' est pas or = All
is not gold that glitters.
Brin . . Nous, n'avons pas un brin de feu = We have
not got a bit of fire.
Oest un beau brin de fille = She is a fine slip
of a girl.
Bris^e . . // court sur mes brisees = (lit.) He pursues the
same game as I do ; (fig.) He poaches on
my preserves.
[Bristles = small branches broken from trees and
dropped on the ground to mark the lair or path of a
beast.]
Briser . . Brisons la I = Let us have no more of that ;
That will do.
Brochette £tre a la brochette = i. To be brought up
by hand (of a bird). 2. To be brought
up tenderly, with too much care.
D
50
FRENCH IDIOMS AND PROVERBS
Broder . Je crois que vous brodez = (fig.) I think you
are exaggerating, romancing.
// brode bie7i = He is good at drawing the
long bow.
Brouillard ^tablir une rente sur les brouillards de la Seine
= To have an income in the clouds {i.e.
nothing).
Brouiller . Est-ce que vous vous etes brouillis 1 = Are you
no longer friends ?
// a eu le malheur de se brouiller avec la justice
= He was unfortunate enough to fall out
with justice {i.e. to be punished by im-
prisonment, fine, etc.).
Brouter . *Oii la chlvre est attachee il faut qu'elle broute
= One must bow to circumstances ; One
must put up with the inconveniences of
one's position if one can get nothing
better; One must not expect more from
life than life can give; We must take
things as we find them.
[" L^ ou la chlvre est lide il faut bien qu'elle y
broute." — MoLifeRE, Le M^decin malgrd lui, iii. 3.]
L'herbe sera bien courte s'il ?ie trouve a brouter
= He would live on nothing ; It will go
hard if he does not pick up a living.
Bruit . . Faire plus de bruit que de besogne - To be
more fussy than industrious.
'''Grand bruit, petite besogne = The more hurry,
the less speed ; Great cry, little wool.
*Qui a bruit de se lever 7natin peut dormir
jusqu'au soir = A good reputation covers
many sins.
Les tonneaux vides sont cet/x qui font le plus
de bruit = The worst wheel makes the
most noise.
BHiler . . lis' est bride la cervelle = He blew his brains out.
lis tirerent sur lui a brule-pourpoint = They
fired at him point-blank (so as to burn
his doublet).
FRENCH IDIOMS AND PROVERBS
51
Bruler . . // ^iia pose cette question a brule-pourpoint =
[continued) He asked me that question quite unex-
pectedly.
Brfiler uue station {une etape) = To run
through a station {or^ a halting-place)
without stopping.
Brfder le pave = To dash along at full speed,
to "scorch."
Bruler a petit feu = To wait impatiently, to
be on thorns.
Cherchez bien^ vous brulez = Search well, you
are getting warm.
[Said to children who are looking for a hidden object,
and are getting near it.]
Nous avons bride nos vaisseaux = There is no
going back now; We mean to fight to
the last.
[Agathocles, tyrant of Syracuse, on landing in Africa
317 B.C., burnt his vessels in order to force his soldiers
to conquer or to die. William of Normandy (1066)
and Cortez (1518) did the same.]
l/n acteur qui brfde les planches = An actor
who plays with spirit, "go."
Bruler la politesse = To behave rudely by
leaving a person abruptly.
■^// n^y a si petit buisson qui ne porte ombre =
There is no man, however humble, who
cannot aid (or, injure) his superior.
Trouver buissoti creux = To find the birds
flown.
* On ne saurait /aire d^une buse un epervier —
One cannot make a silk purse out of a
sow's ear.
[' ' Que I'en ne puet fere espervier
En nule guise d'ung busart. "
GuiLLAUME DE LoRRis, Roman de la Rose, 3839.
Also: D'un goujat on ne pent pas f aire un gentil-
hontme=l\. takes three generations to make a gentle-
man ; and D'un sac a charbon il ne saurait sortir
blanche fari7ie. ]
But . . . De but en bla7ic = Point-blank ; Abruptly.
Buisson
Buse
52
FRENCH IDIOMS AND PROVERBS
ga
Cabinet
Cachet
Cadet .
Cadran
Cage .
Caisse .
Cale
Campagne
Ca a sa petite volonte (fam.) = It has a will
of its own (in speaking of children, etc.).
C'est toujours fa = That is something, at any
rate.
Fas plus que ca ? ; Rieti que fa? = Is that all ?
[This is generally used ironically : e.^. Le cocher
m'a demand^ vingt francs pour aller de la Place de la
Concorde k Longchamp ! — Rien que 9a?]
Cet avocat a un bon cabifiet = That barrister
has a good practice.
Courir le cachet =^0 go from house to house
giving private lessons.
[This expression comes from the custom of the
master giving to the pupil a number of tickets (called
cachets) at the first lesson, for which the pupil pays,
and gives one back at the end of each lesson. J
Cest le cadet de mes soucis = That is the least
of my cares; That is the last thing I
worry about.
11 a fait le tour du cadran = 1. He has slept
the clock round. 2. He has worked for
twelve hours at a stretch.
''La belle cage ne nourrit pas Voiseau = Fine
clothes do not fill the stomach.
// tie7it la caisse = (lit.) He keeps the cash
account ; (fig.) He holds the purse-strings.
11 fait la caisse = He is making up his cash
account.
Quel est Vetat de voire caisse ? = How much
cash have you in hand ?
Eire a fond de cale (fam.) = To be hard up,
at the end of one's resources.
[Also more pop. : battre la dtche. See Sec and
ArgentJl
En rase (or, pleine) campagne = In the open
country.
FRENCH IDIOMS AND PROVERBS
53
Campagne
{continued)
Camus
Canard
Cane
Capable
Cape
Battre la campagne. (See Battre.)
Se mettre en campagne = (lit, of a general)
To take the field; (fig.) To canvass or
look out for a post ; To start working.
Rendre un ho7nme camus = To stop a man's
mouth ; To make a man look small.
// demeura tout camus = He had not a word
to say for himself; He was " stumped."
Cette nouvelle n^est qu^un canard — That story
is all humbug.
[Canard is an absurd tale mocking the credulity of
listeners. Littr6 derives the word from the phrase
vendre a quelqtiun un canard a moitU — to half sell a
duck to any one, i.e. not to sell it at all, and so, to
cheat. A moitid was suppressed and un canard came
to mean a cheat, a sell. Many other explanations are
given of this word.]
Faire la cane = To run away ; To show the
white feather.
[This expression literally means to bob down, like
a duck, to escape being shot. The verb caner (=to
funk) is more often used now, or the less familiar
caponner. "To show the white feather" arises from
the fact that white feathers in game-cocks show im-
purity of breed.]
// prend un air capable = He puts on a
bumptious look.
Cest un homme capable de tout= He is a man
that would stick at nothing.
Rtre sous cape (or, sous sa coiffe) = To laugh
in one's sleeve (generally of women. See
Barbe.)
JSPavoir que la cape et Vepee = To be titled
but penniless (generally used of young
officers who have nothing but their
pay).
Roman de cape et d^epee = A romantic, melo-
dramatic tale {e.g. Dumas, Les Trots
Mousquetaires).
54
FRENCH IDIOMS AND PROVERBS
Caract^re
Carat
Car^me
Caque . . "^Z^ caque sent toujours le hareng = What is
bred in the bone will never come out of
the flesh.
["You may break, you may shatter the vase, if you
will.
But the scent of the roses will hang round it still. "
Moore, Farewell.']
II a le caractere Hen fait = He is always good-
tempered.
// a le caractlre mal fait = He cannot take a
joke.
Oest un sot a vingt-quatre carats = He is an
out-and-out fool, an A i fool.
[" Enfin quoique ignorante k vingt et trois carats."
La Fontaine, Fables, vii. 15.]
*6V/a arrive comnie mars en careine = That
comes regularly, like clockwork.
*Cela arrive comme maree en careme = That
comes very seasonably, just at the right
time.
Uneface de careme - A sad, pale, woe-begone
face (like that of one who has fasted all
Lent).
Precher sept ans pour un careme — To do a
great deal for little good.
Carpe . . Muet comme une carpe = As dumb as an
oyster.
Battler comme une carpe = To yawn one's
head off.
Elk fait la carpe pamee (fam.) = She turns up
the whites of her eyes ; She pretends to
be ill ; She looks like a dying duck in a
thunderstorm.
[Also : Faire des yeux de merlan frit!\
Carrd . . £/>^d/^^r/^> ^r^rr/^ = A party composed of two
ladies and two gentlemen.
Oest une tete carree = He is an obstinate fellow.
Carreau . C'est un valet de carreau = He is a con-
temptible fellow, a snob.
FRENCH IDIOMS AND PROVERBS
55
Carreau . Coucher sur le carreau = To sleep on the floor.
[continued) II Pa laisse sur le carreau — He killed him
{pr^ left him for dead on the ground).
// est reste sur le carreau = He was killed on
the spot, left for dead on the ground.
[Formerly the floors of rooms were paved with square
tiles or bricks called carreaux. Kitchens are still so
paved in France, and often ground-floor rooms in the
country.]
Carte . . Battre les cartes = To shuffle the cards.
Bonner les cartes = To deal the cards.
Brouiller les cartes = (fig.) To sow discord.
Elk lui a tire les cartes = She told his for-
tune (by cards).
// a vii le dessous des cartes = He has been
behind the scenes; he is in the secret,
"in the know."
Jouer cartes sur table = To play openly ; To
act frankly.
Donner carte blanche = To give full permis-
sion ; To grant a person full liberty to act
according to his judgment.
Je connais la carte du pays = I know the
country well.
Oest un homme qui ne perd pas la carte = He
is a man who keeps his wits about him,
who has an eye to the main chance.
Oest un chateau de cartes que cette maison =
This is a jerry-built house.
Carton . . Rester dans les cartons = To be pigeon-holed.
Des objets de carton = (fig.) Gimcrack things.
Cas . . . C'est bien le cas de le dire = One may indeed
say so.
// n'est pas dans le cas de vous nuire = He is
not in a position to harm you.
Le cas echeant = In such a case ; If such
should be the case.
Cest le cas ou jamais = It is now or never.
Nous enfaisons grand cas = We value it very
highly.
56
FRENCH IDIOMS AND PROVERBS
Cas . . . Tout mauvais cas est niable = A man may be
(continued) expected to deny a deed that he knows to
be wrong.
Uft en-cas =-. Something prepared in case of
need.
[Formerly this was said of a slight meal placed in a
bedroom in case one should wake in the night and need
food. Now it rather refers to anything that can be
used in case guests arrive unexpectedly. Also of a
parasol that can be used as an umbrella in case it
rains. The latter is more usually called un en-tout-cas.]
Casser . l^ne noce a tout casser (pop.) = A rare old
jollification.
Vous me cassez la iete avec voire bruit ■= You
split my head with your noise.
Je ne me casse pas la tete avec (or, pour)
de telles bagatelles = I don't worry my
head {or, rack my brains) over such
trifles.
// nous cassait Vencensoir sur le nez = He was
smothering us with flatteries.
[To ' incense ' any one would be to honour or praise
him, but to break the censer against his nose would be
overdoing it.]
Zes fatigues out casse cet homme = Hardships
have broken that man down.
J^ai casse une croute — I just had a snack.
Cet homme casse les vitres = That man speaks
out boldly, to bring matters to a crisis ;
That man does not pick and choose his
words.
On ne fait pas d' omelettes sans casser des oeufs
= Nothing is done without trouble and
sacrifice.
[A saying attributed to Napoleon I. in defence of the
great mortality caused by his wars.]
Payer les pots cassSs = To stand the racket.
Se casser le nez = i. To fall on one's face.
2. To knock up against an obstacle. 3.
To fail in an enterprise.
FRENCH IDIOMS AND PROVERBS
57
Cataplasme C'est comme un cataplasme sur une jambe de
bois = A nod is as good as a wink to a
blind horse.
Catholique Cet individu na pas Pair catholique = That
man does not look very trustworthy.
Vofre vin est trop catholique = Y our wine is
too weak, {i.e. baptised with water).
Cause . . II park en connaissance de cause = He knows
what he is talking about.
J^e ne veux pas y aller et pour cause = I do not
want to go there, and for a very good reason.
J^ai toujours pris fait et cause pour vous = I
have always stood up for you, taken up
the cudgels in your defence.
// a eu gain de cause = He gained the day.
Un avocat sans cause = A briefless barrister.
Vous etes hors de cause = You are not con-
cerned in the matter; This has nothing
to do with you.
Caution . // est sujet a caution = He is not to be relied
upon.
[Cauiion, meaning "bail," implies that he cannot be
trusted except on bail.]
Ce . . . A ce que je vois = As far as I can judge.
Ce que je sais^ c^est que c'est un voleur = All
I know is that he is a thief.
Sur ce il s'en alia = After that he went away.
Ce que dest que de nous ! = What poor mortals
we are !
Ceinture . * Bonne renommee vaut mieux que ceinture doree
= A good name is better than riches ;
He who has lost his reputation is a dead
man among the living.
\Ceinture here refers to the purse which was in, or
attached to, the girdle. Compare Proverbs xxii. i,
"A good name is rather to be chosen than great
riches," and
"The purest treasure mortal times afford
Is spotless reputation ; that away,
Men are but gilded loam or painted clay."
Shakespeare, Richard II. i. i.]
58 FRENCH IDIOMS AND PROVERBS
Cela . . C^est parler ce/a=-Tha.t is what I call talking.
C'es^ cect, dest cela = It is sometimes one
thing, sometimes another.
J^our faj non I = Not a bit of it ; Certainly
not.
// est comme cela = I'hat is his way.
CUst bien co7nme cela I = That is just it ! !
C'est cela meme ! = That's the very thing
Four cela 7neme = For that very reason.
N^est-ce que cela ? = Is that all ?
Cent . . En un mot comme en cent = Once and
for all.
Je voiis le donne en cent = I bet you loo to i
you will not guess it.
*Cent ans banniere^ cent ans civiere = Up to-day,
down to-morrow ; Every dog has his day.
[Banni^re is here used as the mark of nobility.
Also: Aujourd'/iuic/ievalier, demain vacher. German:
Heute miry morgen dir. Latin : Hodie mihi, eras tibi.']
Cent ans de chagrin ne patent pas un sou de
dettes = Worrying will not pay your debts.
Cervelle . Ze scelerat se brula la cervelle = The scoundrel
blew his brains out.
[Also, more pop., " se faire sauter le caisson."]
Chacun . *Alacourduroichacunpoursoi=Y.y^xyvs\zx\
for himself and the devil take the hind-^
most. (See Sauver.)
Chacun cherche son semblable = Like will t(
like. (See Pot and Tel)
[" Entre gens de m^me nature
L'amiti^ se fait et dure
Mais entre gens de contraire nature
Ni amour ni amiti6 dure."]
Chair . . Cela fait venir la chair de poule — That makes
one's flesh creep.
Je Vai vu en chair et en os = I saw him in
flesh and blood.
Ni chair ni poisson = Neither fish, flesh, nor
fowl.
FRENCH IDIOMS AND PROVERBS
59
Chaise . Etre assis entre deux chaises = To fall between
two stools. (See Chasser.)
Chambre . II y a Men des chambres a louer dans sa tete =
He is an empty-headed fellow.
Chameau Rejeter le moucheron et avaler le chameau =
To strain at a gnat and swallow a camel.
Champ . II est fou a courir les champs = H& is as mad
as a March hare.
Nous prendrons la clef des champs = ^^0. shall
take the key of the street {i.e., run
away).
Un rien le met aux champs = A trifle throws
him into a passion, bewilders him.
£tre aux champs = To be put out, bewildered,
angry.
Prendre du champ — To take a run (before
leap) ; To have room before one (for an
effort).
[" lis prirent du champ et coururent I'un sur I'autre
avec furie." — Chateaubriand, Dernier des Aben-
cdrages, 185.]
Chance . Chance vaut mieux que Men jouer = Luck is
better than wit or brains.
// n^est chance qui ne retourne = The luck
muot change.
Chandelle *A chaque saint sa chandelle = Honour to whom
honour is due ; Every lawyer must have
his fee.
// vous doit une belle chandelle = He ought to
be very grateful to you.
[An allusion to the custom of burning candles before
the altars of Saints, as a mark of gratitude, considered
due to them.]
Voir des chandelles (or, milk chandelles) =
"To see stars." (See Etoile.)
Donner une chandelle a Dieu et une au
diable = To try and keep in with both
parties.
6o
FRENCH IDIOMS AND PROVERBS
Chandelle "^Lejeu ne vaut pas la chandelle = The game is
{continued) not worth the candle; It is not worth
while.
\i.e., when the stakes are not sufficient to pay for
the candle burnt during the game.]
*C^est une economie de bouts de chandelle =
That is penny-wise and pound-foolish ;
That is spoiling the ship for a ha'porth
(halfpennyworth) of tar ; That is a cheese-
paring policy.
Bniler la cha?idelle par les deux bouts = To
burn the candle at both ends.
Change . Donner le change = To put off the scent, to
mislead.
Vous ne ?ne ferez pas prendre le change = You
will not impose upon me, put me on the
wrong scent.
[Expressions taken from hunting, where the dogs
leave the track of the game they have raised, to run on
another scent.]
Je lui ai rendu le change = I paid him back
in his own coin. (See Monnaie.)
Changer . Changer son cheval borgne contre un aveugle
= To lose in an exchange.
Chanson . II en a Pair et la chanson = He looks it
every inch ; He has both the appearance .
and the actuality.
C^est Pair qui fait la chanson = Words de-
pend much on the tone in which theyj
are spoken ; It is not so much what you
say as the way in which you say it.
Chanter . *// chante toujours la meme chanson = He is
always harping on the same string.
[" Cantilenam eandem canere,"
Terence, Phormio, iii. 2, 10.
" Chorda qui semper oberrat eadem."
Horace, Ars Poet, 356.]
* Tel chante qui ne rit pas = The heart may be
sad though the face be gay.
FRENCH IDIOMS AND PROVERBS
6i
Chanter . Oest conwie si je chantais = It is like talking
{continued) to the air, preaching in the desert.
Je lui ai chante sa gamme ^- I lectured him
severely.
Une porte nial graissee chante = One must pay
well to keep persons quiet.
-£■//<? chante a /aire pitie = She sings most
wretchedly.
Chanter juste = To sing in tune.
Si fa vous chante (fam.) == If you are in the
mood for it.
Chapeau . Void la reine^ chapeau bas ! = Here is the
Queen, hats off.
Chapelet . Le chapelet commence a se defiler = The asso-
ciation is beginning to break up.
Difiler (or, dire) son chapelet = To say all
one has to say.
// n^a pas gagne cela en disant son chapelet =
He did not get that for nothing.
Chapon . *Qui chapon mange, chapon lui vient = He
that has plenty shall have more.
Charbonnier*Cy^^r/^^//«/Vr est maitre chez lui (or, chez
soi) = Every one is master in his own
house; An Englishman's house is his
castle.
[In the Commentaires de Blaise de Monluc, Mardchal
de France (ed. Alphonse de Ruble, pour la SociM de
V Histoire de France, tome iii. p. 482, Paris, 1867), in a
remonstrance to the king he says : ' ' car chacun est
roy en sa maison, comme respondit le charbonnier k
votre ayeul." M. de Ruble appends this note : " Fran-
9ois P'", k la suite d'une chasse qui I'avait s6par^ de sa
suite, se perdit dans une forSt et chercha un asile dans
la cabane d'un charbonnier. L'homme dtait absent ;
le roi ne trouva que la charbonniere , s'empara du
meilleur siege et demanda k souper. La femme voulut
attendre I'arrivde de son mari. A son retour, celui-ci
reprit brusquement son si^ge et offrit un simple esca-
beau au roi : ' Je prendz cette chaise,' dit-il, ' parce
qu'elle est k moi :
Or, par droit et par raison,
Chacun est maitre en sa maison.'
62
FRENCH IDIOMS AND PROVERBS
{continued)
Charge
Charbonnier ^^ ^°^' cfaarm^ de n'etre point reconnu, oWit a son hote.
On soupa d'un quartier de chevreuil tu6 en cachette,
on m^dit du roi, des tailles qu'il venait d'ordonner et
surtout de sa s6vdrit6 pour la chasse. Le lendemain,
Francois se fit connaitre. Le charbonnier se crut perdu,
mais le roi le rassura, et, pour prix de son hospitality,
lui accorda de grandes faveurs, entre autres le droit de
chasser. A son retour a la cour, il rapporta le r^cit de
son aventure et surtout le proverbe qu'il venait d'ap-
prendre." Also in La Belle Arsene, comMie-ft'erie de
C. S. Favart, acted before the king in 1773, we find
this proverb (Act iv. Sc. 2).]
Cela est a ma charge = I have to pay for it ;
That falls on me.
Ce/a m'est a charge = That is a burden to me.
CUst entendu^ a la charge d'autant (or, de
revanche) = I will do the same for you ;
One good turn deserves another.
Charity . *Charite Men ordonnie commence par soi-meme
= Charity begins at home.
[" Proximus sum egomet mihi." = I myself am nearest
to myself. —Terence.]
La charite, sHl vous plait ! = Please give me
a penny !
Charlemagne Faire Charlemagne = To leave off a winner,
without giving one's adversaries a chance
of revenge.
Charrette
[G^nin explains this as a shortened form of faire
comme Charletnagne, who died without losing any of
the conquests he had made.]
Mettre la charrette (or, charrue) devant les
bceufs = To put the cart before the
horse.
[Lucian says : i) cLfia^a rbv ^ovv '^Xkci ■-
drags the ox,]
: The waggon
Chasser
Mieux vaut etre cheval que charrette = Better
lead than be led.
Faire tin chasse-croisc --= To go to and fro in
all directions ; to exchange places ; to
play at "puss in the corner."
FRENCH IDIOMS AND PROVERBS 63
Chasser . "^^^ Chassez le naturelj il revient au galop" =
(continued) What is bred in the bone will never come
out of the flesh. .
[Destouches, Le Glorieux, iii. 5. Comp. Horace,
Ep. I., X. 24: " naturam expellas furca, tamen usque
recurret," and La Fontaine, Fables, ii. 18 :
" Tant le naturel a de force !
II se inoque de tout . . ,
Qu'on lui ferme la porta au nez
II reviendra par les fen^tres."
Frederick the Great wrote to Voltaire (19th March
1771) : " Chassez les pr^jug^s par la porte, ils revien-
dront par la fendtre."
Also : Qui naquit chat court apres les souris.]
*Qu{ deux choses chasse^ ni Pune ni V autre ne
prend = Between two stools one falls to
the ground.
Ne chassez pas deux lievres ct lafois = Do not
have too many irons in the fire.
// chasse de race = He is a chip of the old
block.
[/n clou chasse V autre — One idea drives away
another.
Chat . . "^^ hon chat bon rat = A Roland for an Oliver ;
Tit for tat ; Diamond cut diamond.
*Chat echaude cramt Veau froide = A burnt
child dreads the fire; Once bit, twice
shy.
[The Jewish Rabbis said : " One bitten by a serpent
is afraid of a rope's end."
Hesiod says : " Even a fool after suffering gets him
knowledge"; the Italians: "Can scotato da I'acqua
calda ha paura poi della fredda " = A dog burnt by hot
water afterwards fears cold.]
fappelle un chat un chat = I call a spade a
spade. (See Appeler.)
Avoir U7i chat dans la gorge = To have
phlegm {or^ frog) in the throat; To be
hoarse.
*Nous avons d'atitres chats (or, chiens) a
fouetter = We have other fish to fry.
64
FRENCH IDIOMS AND PROVERBS
Chat . . // n'y a pas la de q%ioi fouetter un chat = It is
{continued) not worth getting angry about.
*JVe revetV/ons pas k chat qui dori = Let sleep-
ing dogs lie.
*Le chat parti les souris dansent = When the
cat's away the mice will play.
*La nuit tons les chats sont gris = At night one
may easily be mistaken ; At night beauty
is of no account ; When candles are away,
all cats are grey.
*Chat botte rCattrape pas de souris = A muffled
cat catches no mice.
Comine chat sur braise = Like a cat on hot
bricks.
// n'y a pas un chat = There is not a
soul.
Alter comvie un chat maigre = To run like a
lamplighter. (See Verrier.)
Chateau . Faire des chateaux en Espagne = To build
castles in the air.
[This expression is found from the thirteenth century.
The explanation that would ascribe it to the followers
of the Due d'Anjou when he became Philippe V.
of Spain must therefore be incorrect. The phrases
"Chateaux en Asie, en Albanie " were also used, so
that it comes to mean ' ' to build castles in foreign
countries, where one is not," and hence " to indulge in
illusions." — LiTTRit, s.v.
"Chatiaus en Espagne." — Guillaume de Lorris,
Roman de la Rose, 1. 2530.
' ' De quoi sert-il de bastir des chasteaux en Espagne
puisqu'il faut habiter en France?" St. Francois de
Sales, lettre 856.]
Chaud . . Pleurer d chaudes larmes = To cry bitterly.
*Tomber de fievre en chaud mal = To fall out
of the frying-pan into the fire.
Cela ne me fait ?ii froid ni chaud — That is
indifferent to me.
// a les pieds bien chauds = He is in very easy
circumstances.
Chaudron ^Petit chaudron^ grandes
pitchers have long ears.
oreilles = Little
FRENCH IDIOMS AND PROVERBS
65
Chauffer . Cest un bain qui chauffe = There is a shower
coming on.
[When it feels close, or when the sun is seen for a
few minutes through the clouds, it is looked upon as a
sign of rain.]
Ce finest pas pour vous que le four chauffe =
All these preparations are not for you.
Chausser I^es cordonniers sent les plus mal chausses =
The shoemaker's wife goes the worst
shod.
Chauve . Chauve coitime mon genou (fam.) = As bald
as a coot, as a billiard ball.
Chef . . Elle a une grande fortune de son chef = She
has a large fortune in her own right.
Faire une chose de son chef — To do a thing
on one's own responsibility.
Chemin . Che?nin faisant = On the way.
Le chemin de velours = The primrose path.
En tout pays it y a une lieue de mauvais chemin
= (fig.) In every enterprise difficulties
have to be encountered.
// ne faut pas y aller par quatre chemins =
You must not beat about the bush ; You
must go straight to the point ; You must
not mince matters; It's no good shilly-
shallying.
"^Qui trap se hate reste en chemin = The more
haste, the less speed ; Slow and sure wins
the race. (See Hate.)
*Le che??ttn le plus long est souvent le plus court
= The longest way round often proves to
be the shortest; A short cut may be a'
very long way home.
Prendre le che7?tin de Vecole (or, des ecoliers) =
To take the longest way (a roundabout
way).
■^^ chemin battu il ne croit pas d'herbe = (fig.)
There is no profit in an affair in which
many are engaged.
66
FRENCH IDIOMS AND PROVERBS
Chemin . Sefrayer un chemin avec les coiides = To elbow
{continued) one's way through a crowd.
Chetninde // faut /aire une croix a la cheminee = *' We
must chalk it up " (of an event that seldom
happens.)
Sous le manteau de la cheminee = Secretly, sub
rosa.
Chevalj . *^ cheval donne on ne regarde pas a la bride
(or, a la dent) = One does not look a
gift-horse in the mouth.
[Late Latin: "Si quis det mannos, ne quaere in
dentibus annos. "]
On loge a pied et a cheval = Good entertain-
ment (accommodation) for man and
beast.
Boeil du mattre engraisse le cheval = Matters
prosper under the master's eye.
["II n'est pour voir que I'oeil du maitre."
La Fontaine, Fables, iv. 21.]
// est aise dialler a pied quand on tient son
cheval par la bride = It is easy to stoop
from state when that state can be resumed
at will.
// n^est si bon cheval qui ne bronche = I'he
best horse may stumble; Accidents will
happen.
[Also : // n^esi si don charretier qui ne verse."]
II a change son cheval borgne contre un aveugle
= He has changed for the worse; He
has made a bad bargain.
Monter sur ses grands chevaux = To ride the
high horse.
[A reference to the big war horses used by knights in
battle.]
J^e lui ai ecrit une lettre a cheval =-- I wrote
him a severe letter.
// est toujours a cheval sur V etiquette — He is
a stickler for etiquette.
FRENCH IDIOMS AND PROVERBS
67
Cheval . // est bon cheval de trompette = He is not
[continued] easily dismayed.
Un cheval a deux fi?is = A horse for riding
or driving.
f ai une fievre de cheval = I am in a high fever.
Chevalier Un chevalier d^industrie = A swindler, a man
who lives by his wits.
Cheveux . Cette comparaison est tiree par les cheveiix =
That comparison is somewhat far-fetched.
O71 7ie peut pre7idre aux cheveux un homrne
r«5(? = One cannot get blood from a stone.
(See Huile.)
En cheveux (of a woman) = Bareheaded.
[Of a man : tcte nue.]
Les cheveux en brosse = Hair cut short (stand-
ing up like the bristles of a brush).
Prendre V occasion aux cheveux = To take time
by the forelock. (See Balk.)
Avoir mal aux cheveux (fam ) = To have a
head {ie. a head-ache in the morning
after a drinking bout.)
Cheville . Vous ne lui allez pas a la cheville = You are
a pigmy compared with him ; You are no
match for him at all.
La cheville ouvriere = The mainspring, pivot.
Chevre . ^Menager la chevre et le chou = To run with
the hare and hunt with the hounds.
[The French refers to the tale of the man in charge
of a wolf, a goat, and a cabbage. He came to a river
which lie had to cross ; but the ferry-boat was so small
that he could only take one of his charges with him.
His difficulty was to get them across, for if he left the
wolf and goat together, the wolf would eat the goat ;
and if he left the goat with the cabbage the goat would
eat it.]
* Oil la chevre est attachee ilfaut qu^elle broute —
One must put up with the inconveniences
of one's position if one can get nothing
better; We must not expect more from
life than life can give us.
68 FRENCH IDIOMS AND PROVERBS
Chez . . *// rHy a pas de petit chez soi = There is no
place like home; Home is home, be it
ever so humble ; East, west, home is
best.
[Also : Un petit chez soi vaut mieux qu'u?i grand
chez les autres.
" My house, my house, though thou art small,
Thou art to me the Escuriall. "
George Herbert, Jacula Prudentium.'\
Chien . . Oest le chien de Jean de Nivelle^ it s^enfuit
quand on Vappelle = The more you call
him, the more he runs away, like John de
Nivelle's dog.
[Jean de Nivelle was the eldest son of Jean II., Due
de Montmorency, and was born about 1423. Having
been summoned to appear before the Judges at Paris
for having espoused the cause of the Duke of Burgundy
against the wishes of the king, Louis XI., and of his
father, who disinherited him, he fled to Flanders, where
his wife had property. He therefore became an object
of scorn to the people for refusing to answer the sum-
mons of his king, and they called him chien : the saying
ought to run : C'est CE chieti de Jean de Nivelle. La
Fontaine evidently thought the phrase referred to a real
dog when he wrote : —
' ' Una traitresse voix bien souvent vous appelle,
Ne vous pressez done nullement,
Ce n'^tait pas un sot, non, non et croyez m'en,
Que le chien de Jean de Nivelle."
Compare the Italian : —
Far come il can d'Arlotto que chiamoto se la batte.]
* Qui veut noyer son chien V accuse de la rage —
Give your dog a bad name and hang
him.
[Quos Jupiter vuit perdere prius dementat.]
Jt jette ma langue aux chiens = I give it up
(of riddles, etc.).
[Also : fe donne ma langue aux chats.^
Nous sommes sortis entre chien et loup = We
went out at dusk, between the lights.
\i.e. when you could easily mistake a wolf for a dog ;
or, as others say, between the time when the watch-dog
is let loose and the time when the wolf comes out of
the wood.]
FRENCH IDIOMS AND PROVERBS 69
Chien . . Un chien regarde bien un eveque = A cat may
{continued) look at a king.
II fait U7i chien de tet?ips (or, un te?}ips de chien)
(fam.) = It is wretched weather.
Cest saint Roch et son chien que ces deux
personnes-la = The?>e, two persons are in-
separable.
'^'^on chien chasse de race = Like sire, like son ;
Cat after kind.
Cest le chien du jardinier qui ne mange pas de
choux et n'en laisse pas manger aux autres
= He is a dog in the manger.
Ecorcher son chien pour en avoir la peau =
To sacrifice something important for a
small return.
Chien qui aboie ne niord pas = His bark is
worse than his bite.
[Also: Tel fieri qui ne tue pas, and Chat miauleur ne
fut jamais bon chasseur, nonplus qu'homtne sage caque-
teur.]
Mutant vaut etre mordu d^un chieti que dune
chienne = As well be hanged for a sheep
as a lamb ; What is the use of choosing
between two evils ?
On Va regu comme un chien dans un jeu de
quilles = He was as welcome as a dog at
a wedding.
*// nefautpas se nioquer des chiens (or, du loup)
avant qu'on ne soit hors du bois = Do not
holloa before you are out of the wood.
// n' attache pas ses chiens avec des saucisses ~
He is a regular miser.
Chien hargneux a toujours Poreille dechiree =
Quarrelsome folk are always in the wars.
Jamais bon chien n'a ronge bon os = A good
dog rarely gets a good bone ; Men rarely
get their deserts.
Se regarder en chiens de faience = To look at
one another without talking (like stuck
pigs).
70 FRENCH IDIOMS AND PROVERBS
Chiffon . Nous causions chiffons (of women) = We were
chattering about dress.
Chiffonner EUe a une petite mine chiffonnee='ShQ has
irregular features, but her expression is
pleasing.
Chbmer . "^C homer les fetes avant qu^elles ne soient venues
= To count one's chickens before they are
hatched. •
[" Laissons venir la fete avant que la chomer."
MOLIERE, Le Ddpit Amoureux, i. i.]
Cest un saint qu'on ne chome point = He is in
no great repute.
[" L'honneur est un vieux saint que Ton ne chome
plus." Rii;gnier, Satires, xiii.]
Chose . . Dites bien des choses de ma part a votre frere =
Remember me kindly to your brother.
Rester tout chose = To be confused.
// etait tout chose = He was out of sorts ; out
of spirits ; cast down.
Monsieur Chose (or, Alachin) - " Mr. What's-
his-name."
Chou . . On V envoy a planter ses choux = He was dis-
missed.
Alter planter ses choux (or, garder les dindons)
= To retire into the country.
Chou pour chou — Taking one. thing with
another.
[The whole expression is : Chou pour chou, Auber-
viiliers vaut bien /'(2rij = Aubervilliers is as good as
Paris, if it come to counting cabbages, i.e., each thing
has its particular merits. Aubervilliers is a suburb of
Paris, noted for its market gardens.]
BUe comme {un) chou {un pot, ntie cruche, une
oie) = As stupid as an owl.
Mon petit chou = yiy little darling.
[This has nothing to do with a cabbage, but with a
kind of puff pastry filled with cream, in the shape of a
cabbage.]
Faire ses choux gras d'une chose = To enjoy a
thing that others despise.
FRENCH IDIOMS AND PROVERBS
71
Ciel . . Remuer del et ferre = To move heaven and
earth ; To leave no stone unturned.
Circular . Circulez, Messieurs ! = Move on, please ! (cry
of policemen). '
Clair . . Farkr clair et net=To s^Q2i\i^\2im\y.
Je rHy vols pas clair=\ cannot see, it is too
dark.
Clair comme le Jour (or, comme le soleil en plein
midi) = As plain as a pikestaff; As clear
as noonday.
Classe . , A la rentree des classes = When school re-
opens.
Clef ... Mettre la clef sous la porte = To run away
from one's creditors ; "To bolt."
La clef dont on se serf est toufottrs claire ^ One
does not get rusty in what one does every
day.
Clerc . , Un pas de clerc = A blunder ; A false step.
// ne faut pas parler latin devant les clercs = Do
not correct a specialist on his subject.
[" Les plus grands clercs ne sont pas les plus fins."
Rl^GNlER, Satires, iii.]
Cliche . . Ses plaisanteries ne sont que des clichis = His
jokes are stereotyped.
Clin , , , En un din d^cnil^ In a twinkling.
Cloche . * Qui n^ entend qu' une cloche n^entend qu'un son =
One should hear both sides of a question.
// est temps de fondre la cloche = The time for
action has arrived.
Demenager a la cloche de bois (fam.) = To
shoot the moon ; To leave a house with-
out paying one's rent or one's creditors.
Clocher . II n* a Jamais perdu son clocher de vue = He
(subst.) has never been out of his parish.
II faut placer le clocher au milieu du village =
What is meant for the benefit of all should
be within reach of all.
\e.^. a lamp in the middle of the table.]
72
FRENCH IDIOMS AND PROVERBS
Clocher . Avoir la maladie du docker =To be homesick.
[continued) [Also more often : Avoir It tnal du pays."]
Clocher . Ce n^est pas mal, mais il y a encore quelque
(verb) chose qui cloche = It is not bad, but there is
still something wrong.
* Toute comparaison cloche [or, peche\ = Com-
parisons are odious.
Clou . . Cela ne vaut pas un clou a soufflet='V\i2X is
not worth a straw (lit. a tin-tack).
Je lui ai rive son clou (pop.)^I shut his
mouth ; That was a poser for him.
["Vous avez fort bien fait de lui river son clou."
Regnard, Le Distrait, iv. 7.]
Un clou chasse P autre — One idea drives away
another.
Le clou de V Exposition = The chief attraction
of the Exhibition.
Cocagne . Cest un pays de cocagne = It is a land flow-
ing with milk and honey.
[' ' Paris est pour le riche un pays de cocagne ;
Sans sortir de la ville il trouve la campagne."
BoiLEAU, Satires, vi.]
Le mat de cocagne = The greasy pole.
Coche . . Cest la mouche du coche = He is a regular
busybody.
[La Fontaine, Fables, vii. 9, imitated from ^sop.]
Cochon . N'ous navons pas garde les cochons ensemble
(pop.) = We have not been dragged up
together.
[The reply to a man who presumes upon acquaint-
ance, and needs putting down.]
Coeur . . A contre cceur= ReluctSLntly.
A coeur joie^'Yo one's heart's content.
De gaiete de cceur= Out of sheer wanton-
ness.
// ra fait de boti coeur = He did it wil-
lingly.
FRENCH IDIOMS AND PROVERBS 73
Cceur . . Diner par casur= To go without a dinner;
{contimied) To dine with Duke Humphrey.
[Humphrey, Duke of Gloucester, son of Henry IV.,
was renowned for his hospitality. At his death it was re-
ported that he would have a monument in S. Paul's, but
he was buried at S. Alban's Abbey. S. Paul's was at
that time the common lounge of the town, and when
the promenaders left for dinner, those who had no
dinner to go to, used to say they would stay behind
and look for the monument of the Good Duke. A
similar saying was, " To sup with Sir Thomas
Gresham," the Exchange, built by him, being a place
of resort.]
Vous Vavez blesse au coeur = You have wounded
his feelings.
C'esf un creve coeur = It is a heart-rending
thing.
"^Loin des yeux, loin du coeur — Out of sight,
out of mind.
// a cela a coeur = i. He is striving hard to
do it. 2. He takes a lively interest
in it.
Cela me tient au coeur =1 have set my heart
upon it.
// a mal au coeur = He is feeling sick.
// a une maladie de coeur = He has heart
disease.
E lie fait la bouche en coeur ='^\\q puts on a
captivating look ; She purses up her lips.
Elk a le cosur gros == She is ready to cry; She
is heavy-hearted.
Si le coeur vous en dit= If you feel like it ; If
you have a mind to.
Je veux en avoir le coeur net = I must clear
that up.
// a le cceur sur les levres= i. He always says
what he thinks (and this is always some-
thing good and kind); He is open-hearted.
2. He feels sick.
Atre plein de coeur = To be full of generosity;
To be noble-minded; To have a high
sense of one's duties towards others.
74
FRENCH IDIOMS AND PROVERBS
Coeur . . Avoir le caur sur la main = To be open-
(continued) hearted, frank.
Un serrement de cceur =^ A sinking at the
heart; A feeling of oppression and sad-
ness.
Coiffer. . Voila Phomme dont elk est coiffee ^l^h^xe. is
the man with whom she is smitten.
Atre ne coiffe = To be born with a silver
spoon in one's mouth (literally, with a
caul).
Coiffer sainte Catherine = To remain an old
maid.
Coin . . Cet homme mourra au coin dhin bois (or, d'une
haie) = That man will die in a ditch.
Collier . // est franc du collier = (of a horse) He pulls
freely; (of a man) He never shirks his
work.
Reprendre le collier de misere = To return to
drudgery, to the old routine.
Comble . Le feu detruisit le batiment defond en comble =
The fire completely gutted the building.
£lle est au comble de ses desirs = She is at the
very height of her wishes.
Pour comble de malheur^ il tomba malade =
To crown his misfortune, he fell ill.
Comit^ . Venez demain, nous serons en petit comite =
Come to-morrow, there will be only a few
intimate friends.
Comme . Comme ci, comme ^a = So-so ; indifferently.
Je ne Pai pas dit, mais cest tout comme = I
did not say so, but it is just as if I did.
Oest tout coffime = It comes to the same
thing.
Commencer *iV'a pas fait qui commence = The beginning
is not everything.
[" Qui commence le mieux ne fait rien s'il n'acheve."
CORNEILLE.l
}
FRENCH IDIOMS AND PROVERBS 75
Commencer *A moitie fait qui commence bien = Well begun
[continued) is half done ; A good beginning is half
the battle.
[" Uties vespres bien sontit'es sont a demy dictes."
Rabelais, Gargantua, cxl.
Also : Matines bien sonnies sont a moitid dites.
Barbe bien savonnde est a moitid rasde.]
*Qui comjjience vial finit mal = A bad day
never has a good night.
Commode Le patron n^ est pas commode (fam.)=The
master (boss) knows all our tricks, is not
easily taken in, is very strict, is not an
easy customer to deal with.
Compagnie // ma fausse compag?iie=YlQ. gave me the
slip; He did not keep his appointment.
Vous me traitez cojume si fetais compagnie =
You treat me as if I were somebody.
// n^y a si bonne compagnie qui ne se quitte =
The best of friends must part.
Compagnon Traiter quelqu'ufi de pair a compagnoji = To
treat any one as an equal ; To be " hail-
fellow-well-met " (cheek by jowl) with any
one.
"^ Qui a compag7ion a maitre = One is often
obliged to give way to the wishes of those
wifh whom one is associated.
Compas . Avoir le compas dans Pceil (fam.) = To have a
good eye for distances.
Compere . Cest un ruse compare = He is a sly dog, a
cunning old fox. (See Fin and Mouche^
[Other equivalents are: unfin (or, fiitd) matois (vide
MOLIERE, George Dandin, i. 2, ad Jin.), une fine
mouche.']
Compliment Sans compli7nent= Really ; sincerely ; I mean
really what I say.
Compte . Void voire argent^ voyez si vous avez votre
co7fipte = Here is your money, see if it is
right.
Frreur n' est pas compte = Errors excepted.
76
FRENCH IDIOMS AND PROVERBS
Compte . Je renonce a ce commerce, car je n'y trouve pas
{continued) tnofi coiiipte=\ am giving up this business,
for I make nothing by it.
Ne roffensez pas, car vous n^y trouverez pas
voire co?npte = Do not offend him, for you
would get more than you cared for.
Nous nous amusons a bon compte = We amuse
ourselves at a small cost.
Vous etes loin du compte = You are out in your
reckoning.
On peut toujour s a bon co?npte revenir = There
is no harm in examining an account
twice.
Je mets cela en ligne de compte = I take that
into account.
Faisons un compte rond= Let us make it even
money.
Pour se rendre compte de la chose = To get a
clear idea of the matter.
Nous sommes de compte a demi dans Pentreprise
= We are partners on equal terms in the
venture; We are going halves in the
venture.
A chacun son compte — To give every one his
due.
All boutdu compte = Upon the whole; After all.
En fin de coinpte = i^W..) When the addition is
made ; (fig.) When all is told ; When all
is said and done.
// a son compte (or, Son compte est regie) = i .
(lit.) He has his due. 2. (pop.) He is
done for. (See Affaire^
Compter . // lui compte les morceaux = He grudges him
the very food he eats.
* Qui compte sans son hole compte deux fots =
He who reckons without his host must
reckon again ; Don't count your chickens
before they are hatched. (See Chomer
and Feau.)
Comptez dessus = Depend upon it.
FRENCH IDIOMS AND PROVERBS
77
Concurrence Vous pouvez /aire des conimandes en nion
nom jusqua concurrence de ^,000 francs —
You can order goods in my name to the
amount of ;£^2oo.
Conduire . // conduit Men sa barque = (fig.) He plays his
cards well.
Conduite . Tous ses camarades lui firent la conduite = All
his companions saw him off.
Confesser Cest le diabh a confesser = It is terribly
hard to do.
Confession On lui donnerait le bon Dieu sans confession =
They would trust him to any extent
(because of his saintly appearance).
Connaissance Bn connaissance de ^«?^i'^ = Knowingly.
Je suis en pays de connaissance = I am among
people I know, among old friends.
Connaitre // est connu comme le loup blanc = He is
known to everybody.
// gagne a etre connu = He improves upon
acquaintance.
Je ne le connais ni d'Eve ni d^Adam = I do
not know' him from Adam.
Je ne le connais ni de pres ni de loin = I do
not know him at all.
En chi,ffres connus = In plain figures.
Vous y connais sez-vous en vins ? = Are you a
judge of wine ?
Je m'y connais = I understand all about it ; I
am an authority on it.
Connu I (fam.) = That is an old tale.
Je la connais^ celle-la (pop.) = That is nothing
new ; I've been " had " before.
Conseil . 'M parti pris pas de conseil = Advice is useless
to one who has made up his mind.
"^La nuit porte conseil = Sleep upon it ; Time
will show a plan.
// a bieniot assemble son conseil = He makes
up his mind without consulting any one.
78
FRENCH IDIOMS AND PROVERBS
Conseiller " Aimez qu'on vous conseille et non pas qu!on
vous loue " = Prefer advice to praise.
[BoiLEAU, Art Podtique, i. 192.]
Consentir '''Qiii ne dit ?not consent = Silence gives con-
sent.
Consequence Ce/a ne tire pas a consequence = Tliat is of
no importance.
Conte . . Des contes a dormir debout = Tedious, non-
sensical tales ; Old wives' tales.
Contentement * Contentement passe richesse = Enough is
as good as a feast.
Center . // vous en conte de belles = He is deceiving
you finely ; He is telling you fine tales.
Controle . Vous etes porte sur le conirole = Your name is
placed on the roll.
Controler U'ne chaine controlee = A hall-marked chain.
Convertir Vous prechez U7i converti = You are talking to
a man who thinks with you.
Coq . . // est comme un coq en pate = He is in clover.
[Lit. one kept separately from the others to be
fattened ; pdie is its food. Comme rats en paille is
sometimes used.]
// est le coq Ju village = He is the cock of the^
walk.
Des coq-a-Vdne = Cock and bull stories ; Dis-
connected rigmaroles.
Coquille . ^ qui vendez-vous vos coquillesi - Tell that
to the marines. (See Autre.)
[Charles d'Orl6ans, Rondeau, 148.]
Kentrer dans sa coqtiille = To draw in one's
horns.
11 fait bien valoir ses coquilles = He praises
his goods too much.
Cor . . . A cor et a cri = With hue and cry ; Vehe-
mently.
Demander a cor et a cri = To clamour for.
FRENCH IDIOMS AND PROVERBS
79
Corde . . J^tre au bout de sa corde (or, son rouleau) =
To be at the end of one's tether; To
have no more to say.
Vous verrez beau jeu si la corde ne rbmpt =
You will see fine fun if no accident
happens, if no hitch occurs.
Cette affaire a passe a fleur de corde = That
business only just succeeded.
Cet homme file sa corde = That man will
bring himself to the gallows.
// ne faut pas parler de corde dans la maison
d'un pendu = We must not make personal
remarks ; We must not allude to the
skeleton in the cupboard. (See Boiteux.)
II a de la corde de pendu dans sa poche = He
has the devil's own luck.
[A piece of the rope with which a man had been
hanged was, and is even now, considered as a charm
against ill-luck. Archbishop Trench adduces other
proverbs in reference to the man whose luck never for-
sakes him, so that from the very things which would be
another man's ruin, he extricates himself not only with-
out harm but with credit : e.g. the Arabic : ' ' Cast him
into the Nile, and he will come up with a fish in his
mouth " ; the German : ' ' Wiirf ' er einen Groschen aufs
Dach, fiel' ihm ein Taler herunter" = If he threw a
penny on to the roof, a dollar would come back to him.]
// tient la corde = He is leading ; He is first
fa/ourite.
Vous iouchez la corde sensible = You are
touching the sore point.
Ne touchez pas cette corde = (fig.) Do not
speak of that.
Cela est use jusqu^ a la corde = (lit.) That is
worn threadbare ; (fig.) That is thoroughly
hackneyed.
Cordeau . Aux Etats-Unis les rues sont tirees au cordeau
= In the United States the streets are
perfectly straight.
Cordon . Cordon^ sHl vous plait = Open the door,
please (to porters in Paris).
8o
FRENCH IDIOMS AND PROVERBS
Corne . . Ne faiies pas de comes a ce livre = Do not
dog's-ear that book."
Corneilles Bayer aux corneilles = To stare {or^ gape)
about vacantly.
Corps . . Cest un drole de corps = He is an odd fellow,
a queer fish.
Nous verrons ce quHl a dans le corps = We
will see what he is made of.
// s^est jete a corps perdu dans cette affaire =
He threw himself headlong {pr^ with might
and main) into the matter.
Je le saisis a bras le corps = I seized him
round the waist (in a struggle).
lis se sont battus corps a corps = They fought
hand to hand.
/e Tai fait a nion corps defendant = I did it
reluctantly, in self-defence.
Prendre du corps = To get fat.
11 a Vame chevilUe dans le corps = He has as
many lives as a cat.
Corsaire . '*'A corsaire, corsaire et demi = Set a thief to
catch a thief.
[" Ars deluditur arte." — Cato.
"A trompeur, trompeur et demy." — Charles
d'Orli^ans, Rondel, 46.]
* Corsaires contre corsaires ne font pas leurs
affaires = Dog does not eat dog. (See
Loup})
[" Corsaires contre corsaires,
L'un I'autre s'attaquantne font pas leurs affaires." —
La Fontaine, Tribut envoys par les animaux a Alex-
andre, imitating R^gnier, Satire xii,, ad Jin., who took
it from the Spanish De corsario a corsario no se llevan
que los barriles.']
Corvee . C^est une vraie corvee I = What a nuisance !
What a bore !
\Corvde originally referred to feudal forced labour.
It is now a military term, and means " fatigue duty " :
hence, any unpleasant task.]
C6te . . On lui compterait les cotes = He is nothing
but skin and bone.
FRENCH IDIOMS AND PROVERBS
8l
Cote . . ^tre sur le cote (or, flanc) = To be on one's
back, ill.
Mettre les rieurs de son cote = To turn the
laugh against a man.
Vous etes du bon cote = You are on the right
side.
Vous Hes du cote du vianche = You are on the
winning side.
Donner a cote = To miss the mark.
Colon . . Depuis sa faillite il file un mauvais coton
(fam.) = Since his failure, his health {or^
reputation) has entirely broken down.
Coucher . On est plus couche que debout = Life is short
compared with eternity.
/e rat couche en joue = I aimed at him.
Coucher dans son fourreau = To go to sleep
without undressing ; To turn in all stand-
ing (nav.).
*Comme on fait son lit^ on se couche = As you
make your bed, so you must lie on it.
Se coucher comme les poules = To go to bed
with the sun, very early.
Coucher sur la dure = To lie on the ground,
on the floor.
Coude . . II ne $2 mouche pas du coude (fam.) = i. He
is no fool. 2. He does things in grand
style. (See Pied.)
II a vial au coude (fam.) = He is very lazy.
(See Main.)
Coudde . Avoir les coudees /ranches = (lit.) To have
elbow-room ; (fig.) To have full scope.
Coudre . On ne salt quelle piece y coudre = One does
not know how to prevent {or^ cure) it.
Coule . . C^est un honwie a la coule (pop.) = He is a
smart, knowing chap.
[Compare : // la connait dans les coins, celui-ld = \ie
knows his business in every corner.]
82
FRENCH IDIOMS AND PROVERBS
Couler . Ce quHl dit coule de source = What he says
comes from the heart, comes fluently from
his Hps.
Ce/a coule de source = That follows naturally.
Couler a fond = (of ships) To founder ; (of
persons) To be ruined.
*Il faul laisser couler Veau = What can't be
cured must be endured.
Coulisse . Faire les yeux en coulisse = To make sheep's
eyes ; To ogle.
Coup . . *jFalre d'une pierre deux coups = To kill two
birds with one stone.
Cette demarche a parte coup = That step told,
had its effect.
Sans coup ferir = Without striking a blow.
// a fait un bon coup = He has made a good
bargain.
// vient de faire un mauvais coup = He has
just committed a crime.
Pour le coup il ne m^echappera pas = This
time he will not escape me.
J^irai a coup sur = I shall go to a certainty.
C^est donner un coup d^epee dans Veau = It is
an unsuccessful attempt. (See Eau.)
II m'a porte un coup fourre = He struck me
a blow in the dark.
[This is a term derived from fencing ; un coup fourri
is a blow struck at an adversary at the same moment
that he strikes.]
Le coup vaut la balk = It is worth trying.
Ilfaut toujours qu^elle donne son coup de patte
= She always makes sarcastic {or, un-
pleasant) remarks.
Cest un coup monte = It is a pre-arranged
affair.
On lui a monte le coup = They induced him
to do it ; They deceived him.
// a bu un coup de trop = He has had a drop
too much.
FRENCH IDIOMS AND PROVERBS 83
Coup . . C^est venu apres coup = It came too late,
{continued) after the event.
J^aire les cent coups = To amuse oneself
^ noisily ; To play all sorts of tricks.
£fre aux cent coups = To be half mad (dis-
tracted) with anxiety ; To be in the great-
est difficulties.
Oest un coup qui porte = That is a home-
thrust.
Avoir un coup de 7narteau = To be a little
touched.
fai ecrit trois lettres coup sur coup = 1 wrote
three letters one after the other.
Un coup de sang = A rush of blood to the
head.
Un coup de Jarnac = A treacherous blow ; A
blow below the belt.
[In a duel before the whole Court in 1547, Gui
Chabot, Seigneur de Jarnac, wounded his adversary,
La Chataigneraie, with an unfair stroke. La Ch^tai-
gneraie refused to survive such an affront, tore off the
bandages placed over his wound, and bled to death.]
Un coup de fouet = (lit.) A crack of a whip ;
(fig.) A sudden contraction of the muscles
of the leg (or back).
Un coup d'etat = A sudden, unexpected act
of policy; A violent change in the Govern-
ment {e.g. 18 brumaire 1799, or 2
decembre 185 1).
Un coup defion (fam.) = A finishing touch.
DoJiner le coup de grace = To give the finish-
ing stroke.
// gagna milk fratics tout d'un coup — He
won ^40 at one shot, all at once, at
one "go."
// s'en alia tout a coup = He went away
suddenly, abruptly.
{Tout d'un coup and tout d coup are frequently used
indiscriminately, even by PYench people.]
Un coup de tete = A moment of passion ; a
rash action.
84
FRENCH IDIOMS AND PROVERBS
Coup . . Dontier un coup de main = To give a helping
[continued) hand.
fai 7nanque ?non coup = I missed my shot ;
I failed.
lis Vo7it vioulu de coups = They beat him
black and blue.
[A well-known quotation from Corneille runs :
' ' Mes pareils a deux fois ne se font pas connaitre
Et pour leurs coups d'essai veulent des coups de
maitre." — Le Cid, ii. 2.]
Coupe .
■*^// y a loin de la coupe aux levres = There is
many a slip 'twixt the cup and the lip.
[The Greek troWa fiera^ii ir^Xei kOXikos xal xe^Xcos
UKpov is said to have had its origin in the following
circumstances : — Anceaus, an ancient King of Samos,
treated with extreme cruelty his slaves who were
planting a vineyard for him ; until at length one more
ill-used than the rest prophesied that for his cruelty he
should never drink of its wine. When the first vintage
was over the master bade this slave fill him a goblet,
and, taking it in his hands, he taunted him with the
failure of his prophecy. The slave answered with these
words ; and as he was speaking news was brought of
a huge wild boar that was wasting the vineyard. Set-
ting down the untasted cup and snatching up a spear
the master went out to meet the wild boar and was
slain in the encounter. Compare the Latin : Inter
calicem et os multa cadunt ; and the Spanish : De la
mano a la boca se pierde la sopa.
Other variants in French are :
Entre la bouche et le verre
Le vin souvent tombe d terre.
Vin versd nest pas avaU.
En amour, en cour, et a la chasse,
Chacun ne prend ce qu'il pourchasse."]
Mettre en coupe reglee = (lit.) To cut down
periodically (of forests) ; (fig.) To lay
regularly under contribution.
Couper . // s'est coupe dans ses r/ponses = He contra-
dicted himself in his answers.
// lui a coupe la parole = He interrupted him.
Son pere lui a coupi les vivres = His father
stopped his allowance.
FRENCH IDIOMS AND PROVERBS
8s
Couper . Ce verre de bicre m^a coupe les jambes = My
[cotitinued) legs feel shaky after that glass of beer.
Couper un cheveu en quatre = To split hairs.
Coupons le cable = Let us take the decisive
step.
[Sieyes, June lo, 1789.]
Ce/a lui a coupe le sifflet (pop.) = That
stopped his mouth ; That shut him up.
Je vats y couper {^o^.) = I am going to "cut"
that ; I am not going to do it.
Courage . Prenez voire courage a deux mains = Summon
up all your courage.
Courage I tout finira bien = Cheer up ! all
will yet be well.
Courant . Je vous krirai fin courant (commercial) = I
will write to you at the end of the
present month.
Je 7ie suis pas au courant de V affaire = I have
not the latest information on the point;
I am not up (well posted) in the matter.
Courir . . Par le te?nps qui r^2^/-/ = Nowadays ; As times
. go.
Etrefou a courtr les chafnps = To be as mad
a£ a March hare.
Nous courons menie fortune = We are rowing
in the same boat.
" Pien ne sert de courir, il faut partir a
point'' = It is no good hurrying if you
have not started in time.
[La Fontaine, Le lievre et la tortue, vi. 10.]
Courrier . Repondez par retour du courrier = Answer by
return of post.
Faire son courrier (commercial) = To write
one's letters.
Courroie . II faut lui serrer la courroie = We must curtail
his allowance; We must keep him on short
commons.
86
FRENCH IDIOMS AND PROVERBS
Courroie
{continued)
Cours .
Court .
Couteau
Couter .
Coutume .
Coutumier
Couture .
Faire du cuir (Vautrui large courroie = To be
generous with other people's money.
Les pieces des Etats du Pape n ont plus cours =
The coins of the Papal States are no
longer legal tender.
C/n capitaine au long cours = A captain of a
trading vessel going to foreign ports.
Je suis reste court = I did not know what to say.
Je Vai pris a court = I took him unawares.
II se trouve a court {d' argent) = He is short
of money.
Dites cela tout court =S2iy that and no more.
// Pa appele Jean tout court = He called him
simply {or^ just) John (without Mr. or sur-
name).
lis sont a couteaux tires = They are at daggers
drawn.
[Formerly : lis en sont aux couteaux tiris.'\
Aller en Flandre sans couteau = To embark
in an enterprise without the necessary
resources.
[Also : Aller aux mitres sans crochet.']
Cest com7ne le couteau de Jeannot=Th2i\. is
like the Irishman's gun (said of anything
that has been mended so often as to
have nothing of the original left).
Rien ne lui coute= He sticks at nothing; He
spares no trouble.
Coiite que coiite - Cost what it may.
Couter les yeux de la tete = To cost a small
fortune, a fearful lot of money.
* Une fois n'est pas coutume = It is only this
once ; One swallow does not ^make a
summer ; Once does not count.
// est coutumier du fatt=lX. is not the first
time he has done it.
lis etaient battus a plate couture = They were
beaten hollow.
FRENCH IDIOMS AND PROVERBS
S7
Couvercle
Couvert .
Couvercle digne du chaudron = The lid matches
the caldron ; They are a precious pair ;
Arcades ambo.
Mettez le convert^ Lay the cloth (for dinner).
Mettez un couvei't de plus = Put another knife
and fork (for another guest); Lay for
one more.
Cracher . Cest son pere tout crache (fam.) = He is the
very spit {pr^ less fam., image) of his father.
// a crache en Pair et fa lui est retombe sur le
nez (pop.) = He wished to do harm to
another but it recoiled on himself.
// ne crache pas dessus= He does not despise
it ; He likes it very much.
Crdmaill^re Pendre la cremaillere = To give a house
warming.
[Cremaillere = tige de far suspendue au dessus du
foyer d'une chemin^e garnie de crans, qui permettent
de la fixer plus ou moins haut, et termin^e par un bout
recourW auquel on accroche une marmite. Compare
Longfellow's poem " The Hanging of the Crane."]
Crever . Le roi Jean a creve les yeux a Arthur = King
John caused Arthur's eyes to be put out.
Je ne voyais pas mon livre^ cependant il me
crevait les yeux = I did not see my book,
yft it was staring me in the face (right
under my nose).
Cri . . . II ny a qu'un cri sur son compte = lLherQ is
only one opinion about him.
Elle poussa les hauls cris = She screamed at
the top of her voice ; She complained
loudly.
Cest le dernier cri= It is the last thing out.
Cribler . Crible de mitraille = Riddled with grape-shot.
Crible de dettes = Over head and ears in debt.
Crier . . Crier fafnine sur un tas de ble = To cry out
for what one has in plenty.
Plumer la poiile sans la /aire crier = To fleece
a person adroitly, without his perceiving it.
88
Crin .
Crochet
Croire .
Croix
Croquer
Cm
FRENCH IDIOMS AND PROVERBS
Un republicain a tons crins = Every inch a
republican.
[Properly of a horse with flowing mane and tail,
hence thorough, strong.]
// a trente ans, et cependant il vit aiix crochets
de sa m^re=He is thirty years old, and
yet his mother has to keep him.
// s'en croit beaucoup — He thinks a great deal
of himself.
Cest a rHy pas croire = It is not to be be-
lieved ; It is so extraordinary (incredible,
preposterous) that we can hardly believe it.
A Ten croire il a eu tous les prix = If he is to
be believed he won all the prizes.
" Et chacun croit fort aisement
Ce qu'il craint et ce qu'il desire J^
= The wish is father to the thought.
[La Fontaine, Fables, i. 6. Le loup et le renard.
Compare 2 Henry IV., iv, 5.
" Fere libenter homines id quod volunt credunt." —
CiESAR, iii. 18.]
Aller au devant de quelqu'un avec la croix et
'la banniere = To receive any one with great
fuss and ceremony (often used ironically).
Voire enfant est gentil a croquer =Y our child
is a charming little fellow.
// croquait le marmot = He was dancing
attendance ; He was cooling his heels.
[Littr^ gives as the explanation of this obscure ex-
pression that artists while waiting for their patrons used
to draw pictures of little monkeys {marmot) in the
vestibule. Others assert that in the antechambers of the
rich were to be found dishes of cakes in the form of
little monkeys, which visitors used to eat {croquer)
whilst waiting. But both explanations need confirma-
tion.]
Sagenouiller a cru = To kneel on the bare
ground, on the cold stone (without a
hassock or carpet).
[Literally, to kneel on the bare knee, but the quality
has passed from the person to the object,]
C^est de son cru = That is of his own creation.
FRENCH IDIOMS AND PROVERBS
89
Cruche . Cest une vraie cruche (fam.) = She is a silly
goose.
Cuir . . Pester entre cuir et chair (fam.) = To fume
inwardly.
Faire des cuirs - To drop one's h's.
[Really these are faults made by uneducated French
people in pronunciation, consisting in sounding s for /,
or vice versa, when running their words together or in
pronouncing these letters when they do not occur, as :
Us dtaient zici, for Us dtaient ici.']
Cuirasse . I^s observations glissent sur lui comme sur une
euirasse = Blsime slips off him as water off
a duck's back.
Cuire . . Vous viendrez cuire a mon four = Some day
you will need my assistance.
// vous en cuira = Yqu will smart for it.
Avoir son pain cuit = To have one's bread
and cheese, a competency.
Culbute . *^« bout du fosse la culbute = At the end of
the run comes the fall.
[This expression refers to those who, from careless-
ness or wrong-headedness, are resigned to the conse-
quences of their bad conduct.]
Cuver . . Cuver son vin = To sleep oneself sober.
Dame . . l/ne grande dame de par le monde = A great
lady in the eyes of the world.
[This should be written Une grande dame de la part
du monde. Littr6 points out that the error in spelling
par for part is a very old one ; it would appear to date
from the thirteenth century from the examples he quotes.
De par le monde must be derived from de parte mundi,
as de per was never used.]
Darner . Damer le pion a quelquun — To outwit some
one.
[From the game of draughts, dame = a king, pion =
a man.]
90
FRENCH IDIOMS AND PROVERBS
Damner . Cet homme est son ante dainnee — That man
does his dirty work for him, is his tool.
[The man who does the dirty work knows he is
damning his soul by doing it, but does it all the same
for the money or interest it brings him.]
Danger . // n'y a pas de danger -"Ho fear of that;
Don't you fret !
Danser . // ne sait sur quel pied danser= He does not
know which way to turn.
li en dansera en fair = He will swing for it.
Danser devant le buffet = To have nothing to
eat.
Dater . . Cet evenement date de loin = That event hap-
pened long ago.
Dd , , , A vous le de=lt is your turn to play (at dice).
[See Avoir.]
Ne nous flattez pas le de = Speak out without
any reserve.
[Flatter le d^ is to let the dice slide gently out of the
box.]
" Car niadame a jaser tient le de tout lejour^*
= Madame engrosses the conversation all-
day long.
[MOLlfeRE, Tartufe, i. i.]
Ddbandade lis laisserent tout a la debandade = They left
all at sixes and sevens, in confusion.
Ftiir a la debandade = To fly helter-skelter.
D^bit . . Le ministre lui a accordk un debit de tabac =
The minister has given him a license to
sell tobacco.
[The sale of tobacco, snuff, gunpowder, and cards is
a Government monopoly in France.]
Debout . *Mieux vaut goujat debout qu^empereur enterrk
= " A living dog is better than a dead
;' lion." — Ecclesiastes ix. 4.
[La Fontaine, La Matrone (TAphhe. Goujat first
meant a soldier's servant (as here), now it means a
hodman, or bricklayer's apprentice, hence a vulgar,
coarse fellow, a bungler.]
FRENCH IDIOMS AND PROVERBS
91
Debout
(continued)
Ddbrider
Ceia ne tient pas debout = That won't hold
water.
// a ecrit vingt pages sans d'ebrider = He has
written twenty pages at a stretch.
Ddchausser // ne faut pas se dechausser pour manger cela
= It is not worth while sitting down to eat
that.
[The ancients were in the habit of reclining bare-foot
at their meals.]
Ddcoiffer ^Decoiffer {Decouvrir) St. Pierre pour coiffer
St. Paul = To rob Peter to pay Paul.
Decouvrir On a dicouvert le pot aux roses = They have
discovered the mystery, the secret.
JEtre a decouvert = To be unprotected, undis-
guised.
Decrocher Un dkrochez-moi-^a (pop.) =- A reach-me-
down (second-hand garment).
Dedans . Elle est tout en dedans = She is not com-
municative.
On Va mis dedans (fam.) = i. They took him
in {i.e. they deceived him). 2. They ran
him in {i.e. they put him in prison).
[The second meaning is more often translated : " On
I'a coffrd."]
Comme un nigaud, fai donne dedans = Like a
goose, I fell into the trap.
/e ne sais si je suis dedans ou dehors = I do
not know which side to take; I do not
know whether I have made a profit or
not.
Ddfaire . II a le visage defait = He has a pale, worn-
out look.
Defaite Cette marchandise est d'une bonne difaite =
These goods have a quick sale.
Ddfaut . Attaquez-le au defaut de la cuirasse = Attack
him on his weak point.
Defense . Defense d'afficher = Stick no bills.
92
FRENCH IDIOMS AND PROVERBS
Defense .
{continued)
Degainer .
Defense d^entrer = No admittance.
Defense d'entrer sous peine d^ amende = Tres-
passers will be prosecuted.
Eire brave jusqu'au degainer = To be brave
until it come to blows.
[Dtfgatner = to unsheathe a sword.]
Degourdir I/s auront a se digourdir ou a diguerpir =
They will either have to wake up or to
clear out.
Se degourdir les jambes = To stretch one's
legs ; To go out for a run.
Faire le degoute = To be fastidious, dainty.
Si f'avais la fortune de Rothschild^ je serais,
content. — Vous n'etes pas degoutil = If I hadl
Rothschild's fortune I should be satisfied.]
— I should rather think so !
Sauver le dehors ■= To save appearances.
// n'a pas de dehors = His personal appear-
ance is not prepossessing ; He looks]
nobody.
jEn flagrant delit = In the very act ; red-
handed.
[Lat. In ficLgrante delicto. '\
Diloger sans tatnbour ni trompette = To leave
without beat of drum.
Avec lui dest toujours demain = He always
procrastinates.
Demandeur ^^ beau demandeur beau refuseur = Diamonc
cut diamond.
[i.e. "If you are not ashamed to ask, I am not
ashamed to refuse. "]
D^manger La langue lui d^mange = He longs to speak
He is dying to put in a word.
Denier . Cet homme n'a pas un denier vaillant = That
man is not worth a brass farthing.
Rendre compfe a livres^ sous et deniers = T<
give an account to the uttermost farthingJ
Degouter
Dehors
Ddlit .
Deloger
Demain
FRENCH IDIOMS AND PROVERBS
Dent . . J^ai les dents Men longues aujourd'hui
very hungry to-day.
Je suis sur hs dents = I am done up.
Jpai une dent contre lui = I have a grudge
against him.
[Also : Je Im garde un chien de ma chienne (pop.).]
Aidant prendre la lune avec les dents = You
might just as well try and scale the moon.
Manger du bout des dents = To eat without
an appetite ; To eat daintily.
[" Dente superbo." — Horace, Satires, ii. 6, 87.
Compare : rire du bout des dents.']
Dechirer quelqu'un a belles dents = To tear a
person's reputation to shreds.
[Also more forcibly : Passer quelqu'un a tadac]
D^pense . *Zes folks depenses refroidissent la cuisine =
Wilful waste makes woeful want.
Ddplaire . Quil ne vous en dSplaise = With your permis-
sion ; By your leave ; If you'll allow me ;
An it please you.
[Sometimes shortened to : Ne vous d^plaise, as in La
Fontaine, Fables, i. i. The sense is often ironical,
and means, " whether you like it or not."]
D^pourvu Au d&pourvu = Unprepared.
Derate . Courir comme un derate = To go like a shot ;
To run like mad.
[^afe= spleen. The Greeks believed that men and
animals ran faster if their spleen was removed. ' ' On
sait que I'extirpation de la rate se pratiquait chez les
coureurs d'antiquit^ pour 6viter I'essoufFlement." —
CouvREUR, Les Merveilles du Corps humain. Comp.
Pliny, xxvi. 13.]
Dernier . Une representation du dernier vulgaire = A
display vulgar to the last degree ; A very
low show.
93
I am %hjU.*-^
Ce que vous dites 1^ est du dernier bourgeois."
MOLi^RE, Les Pr^cieuses Ridicules, sc. 5.]
94
D^sirer
FRENCH IDIOMS AND PROVERBS
*Flus on desire tine chose ^ plus elle se fait
attendre = A watched pot never boils.
Ce/a laisse a desirer = There is room for im-
provement.
D^SOrienter /e suis desoriente = i. I am disconcerted.
2. I am out of my element ; I do not
feel at home ; I have lost my bearings.
Desserrer Je riai pas desserri lejs dents = I never opened
my lips,
Dessus . Par dessus k 7?iarchi = Into the bargain ;
Over and above.
// n^y a rien an dessus de cela = That beats
everything.
Sens dessus dessous = All upside down ;
Topsy-turvy.
lis ont eu le dessus = They got the best of it.
[^Avoir le dessous— \o get the worst of it.]
Prendre le dessus = I'o gain the upper hand.
J^en ai par dessus la tete = I am worried out
of my life with it.
// le /era par dessus Vepaule — He will never
do it.
[Comp. " over the left," in schoolboy slang.]
11 nCa regarde par dessus Pepaule = He looked
at me contemptuously.
Destinee . On n^echappe pas a sa destinee = He that is
born to be hanged will never be drowned.
Detente • // est dur a la detente = (fig.) He is close-
fisted, a miser.
Ddterrer . // a Pair d'un deterre = He looks as pale as
death, as pale as a ghost.
Ddtour . Faire un detour = To go a roundabout way.
// est sans detour = He is straightforward.
Dette . . // est crible de dettes = He is head over ears in
debt.
[For cribU one finds accabU, perdu, or aMm^.]
FRENCH IDIOMS AND PROVERBS
95
Dette . . Des dettes criardes = Small debts to trades-
{continued) people or workmen (who are continually
asking for their money).
Deuil . . fen at fait mon deuil = I have resigned
myself to the loss of it.
Deux . . Maintenant^ a nous deux ! --= Now I will settle
with you ; Now is the time for a private
explanation ; Now to business.
'^Deux s'amusent, trots s^embetent (fam.) = Two's
company, three's none.
Tons les deux jours ; De deux jours Vun =
Every other day.
Piquer des deux = To spur on one's horse ;
To rush forward.
Devant . "^Les premiers vont devant = First come, first
served.
// faut prendre les devants = One must be
first in the field.
A lions au-devant de lui= Let us go and meet
him.
Divider . Mathurift divide lejars (pop.) = Jack Tar is
spinning a yarn.
Devoir . // doit au tiers et au quart {a Jean et a Paul)
= ile owes money to everybody.
// doit plus d^ argent qu^il n'est gros = He owes
more money than he can pay.
'*'Qui a terrne ne doit rien = No one need pay
before a debt is due.
"^Qui fie doit rien ?i^a rien a craindre = Out of
debt, out of danger.
*A chacun son du = Give the devil his due ;
Every man is worth his hire.
'''Fais ce que dois, advienne que pourra = Do
your duty, come what may.
Dusseje en mourir = Were I to die for it.
Chose convenue, chose due = A promise must
be kept.
96 FRENCH IDIOMS AND PROVERBS
Ddvolu . J^ai jeti mon devolu sur cela = I have fixed
my choice upon that.
Devotion . // rHest de devotion que de jmne pretre = En-
thusiasm wears out in time ; New brooms
sweep clean. (See Balai).
Diable . Oest le diable qui bat sa femme et qui ?narie
sa fille = It is raining and the sun is
shining at the same time.
Tirer le diable par la queue = To be always
hard up for a living.
Faire le diable a quatre = To make a terrible
noise ; To play all sorts of tricks. (See
Quatre.)
Le diable chante la grand^messe = He hides
his vices under the cloak of religion.
C^est le diable a confesser = It is terribly hard
to do.
// a le diable au corps = He is never still,
quite unmanageable, very energetic.
Oest un air de porter le diable en terre = It
is an air to conjure up the devil.
*/l n'est pas si diable qu'il est noir = The
devil is not as black as he is painted.
[Or : Le diable nest pas si noir quit en a I'air.]
Se demener conwie un diable dans un benitier
= To rush about half-mad.
Loger le diable dans sa bourse — To be penni-
less. (See Bourse.)
[" Et logeant le diable en sa bourse,
C'est i dire, n'y logeant rien."
La Fontaine, Fables, ix. i6.]
Quand le diable fut vieux il se fit ermite =
The devil was sick, the devil a monk
would be, The devil was well, the devil a
monk was he !
[Compare the Italian :
Passata il punto, gabbato il santo = The peril past,
the saint mocked.
Also : The river past and God forgotten.]
FRENCH IDIOMS AND PROVERBS
97
Diable .
[cotitinued)
Dieu . .
Diffdrer .
Diligence
Dindon
Dire . ,
Aller au diable Vauveri (corrupted into au
vert) = To go very far away, a devil of a
way; To disappear.
[The Carthusians having been given a large building
at Gentilly by St. Louis, coveted the abandoned man-
sion of Vauvert { — vallon vert), which they could see
from their windows. But to ask for it without a valid
reason was to court refusal. So they caused it to be
haunted by evil spirits, and the king was soon glad to
get rid of this uncanny possession. It is needless to
add that the spirits were exorcised directly the monks
took possession. It stood in the rue de Vauvert, be-
yond the Luxembourg, which was until lately called
the rue d' Efifer. As this was then a remote suburb of
Paris, the expression was equivalent to going to the
end of the town, and thus, very far off.]
C^est la le diable (or, le hie) = There is the
rub.
Elk a la beaute du diable = All her beauty
consists in her youth and freshness.
jFait a la diable (i.e. a la maniere du diable)
= Done anyhow, in a slipshod way.
A Dieu ne plaise ! = God forbid !
Jurer ses grands dieux = To afifirm vehe-
mently ; To swear by all that one holds
sacred.
■^CV ^ui est differe 7i^ est pas perdu = All is not
lost chat is delayed.
[German : Aufgeschoben ist nicht aufgehoben.]
Voyager par la diligence d' Adam = To travel
on shanks' nag.
[German : Auf Schusters Rappen.]
Cest mi franc dindon = He is a thorough
goose.
£tre le dindon de la farce = To be the dupe.
Pour tout dire = In a word.
Cest tout dire = That is saying all, enough.
\e.g. ' ' Get homme est-il honnete ? " — ' ' Je lui ai
pr6t6 500 fr. il y a deux ans et il n'a jamais voulu me
rendre un sou. C'est tout dire. "]
Pour ainsi dire = So to speak.
G
98
FRENCH IDIOMS AND PROVERBS
Dire . . Je ne voi/s dis que ca = I cannot tell you any
{continued) more, but it is a fact.
[This can also be translated : " I can tell you ! " as
in " Je me suis bien amus6, je ne vous dis que 9a ! "]
Pour mieux dire = Or rather.
y<? me le suis tenupour dit = I took it for granted.
Soit dit enire nous = Quite between ourselves.
Cela est hen a dire, mais . . . = That is all
very well for a speech, but . • . ; That is
all very fine, but . . .
// est sensible au quen dira-t-on = He is sensi-
tive to public opinion ; He is easily
influenced by what people say about him,
by what Mrs. Grundy will say.
// etait dit que farriverais trap tard = The
Fates had willed that I should come too
late.
Quand je vous le disais I (or, Je vous r avals
bien dit f) = I told you so !
A/i ! vous m^en direz tant! = i . Well, that alters"
the case ! 2. Ah ! now I understand, why
did you not say so at first? 3. There's^
no going against such a reason as that.
[This expression has almost as many meanings
n'est-ce pas. The above are a few of them. It is oftei
used ironically.]
A qui le dites-vous ^ = Am I not perfectl]
aware of it ? Don't I know it ?
Au dire de tout le ?nonde= According to what
everybody says ; According to the genei
opinion.
Je Viral dire a Rome = It is so unlikely, that
if it happens I will undertake a pilgrimage
to Rome ; 111 eat my hat.
[Corap. Racine, Epigramme III. Sur Andromaque.']
Cela ne me dit rien = That has no effect
upon me ; I have no desire for it.
Discretion On fwus donna du vin a discretion = They
gave us as much wine as we wanted (wine
ad libitum).
FRENCH IDIOMS AND PROVERBS
99
Distance . La distance grandit tout prestige =
" 'Tis distance lends enchantment to the
view,
And robes the mountain in its azure hue."
[Campbell, Pleasures of Hope, i. 7.]
Doigt . • Je lui ai donne sur les doigts = I rapped his
knuckles (lit. and fig.).
// y met les qiiatre doigts et le pouce = (lit.)
He eats greedily ; (fig.) He acts clumsily.
lis soni comme les deux doigts de la main =
They are hand and glove together, inse-
parable.
Vous avez juis le doigt dessus = You have hit
the right nail on the head ; You have
touched the spot.
Mo?i petit doigt me Va dit = A little bird told
me so.
// etait a deux doigts de la mort = He was at
death's door, within an ace of death.
Se fourrer le doigt dans Poeil jusqu^au coude
(pop.) = To deceive oneself most blindly ;
To put one's foot in it.
Savoir sur le bout du doigt = To know per-
fectly ; To have at one's finger-ends.
// lui obeit au doigt et a Pceil = He is at his
beck and call.
Un doigt de vin (fam.) = A toothful of wine.
Dommage Cest dommage I = What a pity.
Donner . Us lui en ont donne tout du long de Vaune =
They beat him black and blue.
Je vous le donne en dix = I bet you ten to
one you will not guess it.
"^Qui donne tot do?tne deux fois = He gives
twice who gives in a trice.
["Bis dat qui celeriter dat. "— PuBLius Syr US. Cito,
which is now used instead of celeriter, appears to be a
later alteration.
Le regiment a donne
engaged.
The regiment has
FRENCH IDIOMS AND PROVERBS
Donner
{continued)
Dormir
Dos
On ne lui donnerait pas quarante ans = You
would not take him for forty.
On fen donnera des tabliers propres pour les
salir = You ask too much.
J'ai passe quinze jours a Paris et je 7fien suis
donne = I spent a fortnight in Paris, and
I thoroughly enjoyed myself.
[This idiom implies movement, excitement, &c.]
Dor77iir sur les deux oreilles = (lit.) To sleep
soundly ; (fig.) To have no cause for
anxiety.
Dormir comme une mar7notte, comme un sabot,
conime une souche, les (or, a) poings fermes
= To sleep like a top, like a log.
Dormir la grasse matinee = To lie late in bed.
// nous a dit des confes a dormir debout = He
told us tedious, nonsensical tales, old
wives' tales.
1
[" rpawj/ C^Xos."-
' * Aniles fabellae.
■Plato, Rep. 350 E.
—Cicero.]
is as good as
'''Qui dort dine = Sleeping
eating.
*Qui a renotnmee de se lever matin peut dormir
jusqu^a midi = A good reputation covers
a multitude of sins.
Dormir en gendarme = To sleep with one
eye open.
*Il ne se laisse pas manger la laine sur le dos =
He is not the man to let himself be made
a fool of; He will not allow people to
take the food out of his mouth; He will
not tamely submit to any imposition.
Le juge les a renvoyes dos a dos = The judge
nonsuited them both.
II fait le gros dos = He gives himself airs.
En dos d'dne = Sloping on both sides, sharp-
ridged.
Je me suis mis le Juge a dos = I have made
an enemy of the judge.
FRENCH IDIOMS AND PROVERBS
Dos
{co7itinued)
Double
Douceur
Doute . .
Douter .
Douzaine
Dragee .
Dragon .
Drap . .
Drapeau .
fe7i ai plein le dos (pop.) = I am sick and
tired of it.
// a bon dos = His back is broad enough to
stand a good deal.
Cest un double coquin = He is a thorough
rascal.
Cest un homme double = He is a double-faced
man.
"^ Plus fait douceur que violence = Kindness does
more than harshness ; More flies are
caught with honey than with vinegar.
[La Fontaine, Fables, vi. 3.]
II faudra le prendre en douceur = Yo\i must
tackle him gently.
Cela ne fait aucun doute = There is no doubt
about it.
Z>ans le doute abstiens-toi = When in doubt,
do nothing.
Je ne me doutais de rien = I did not suspect
anything.
/e m'en doutais = I thought so.
Cest unpoHe comme on en trouve a la douzaine
= He is a very minor poet.
[Rj^GNlER, Sat. iv.]
Tenir la dragee haute a quelqu^un = To make
a person pay well {or, wait a long time)
for what he desires.
Cette femme est un vrai dragon = i. That
woman is a virago. 2. That woman is
very masculine (in appearance and man-
ners).
Je suis dans de beaux draps = I am in a fine
mess, in a pretty pickle.
// voudrait avoir le drap et Pargent — He
would like to have his cake and eat it too.
£lle a deja un fits sous les drapeaux = She
already has a son in the army.
I02 FRENCH IDIOMS AND PROVERBS
Droit . . Remettez ceci a qui de droit == Give this to the
proper person, to the person who has a
right to it.
II f era droit a voire demande = He will accede
to your request.
II fait son droit = He is studying for the bar.
Drole . . Cest un drole de corps = He is a queer fish.
C'est un mauvais drole = He is a downright
scamp.
Dm . . . Frapper fort et dru = To strike with might
and main.
Hau . . ^// n'est pire eau que Peau qui dort = Still
waters run deep.
*Oest porter de Peau a la mer (or, riviere) = It
is carrying coals to Newcastle.
[The Greek equivalent was FXaO/cas ets 'A^Tji'as =
Owls to Athens; the Hebrew "Enchantments to
Egypt," and the Late Latin " Indulgences to Rome."]
Cet ho7mjie aime a pecher en eau trouble = That
man likes fishing in troubled waters.
*Ils se ressemblent comme deux gouttes d^eau =
They are as like as two peas.
Tout va a vau Peau = All is going to wreck
and ruin.
^A vau Veau — With the current.]
Pendant Pinondation le toil de cette fnaison
e'tait afieur d'eau = During the flood the
top of that house was on a level with the
water.
Cest un don?ieur d^eau benite de cour == He
makes empty promises.
Les eaux sont basses chez lui= He is hard up ;
He is in low water.
Cest do7iner un coup d^epee dans Peau — It is
useless trouble, an unsuccessful attempt.
[" 'Ev ^ha.ri ypd<peiv."— Plato, Phaedrus, 276 c]
FRENCH IDIOMS AND PROVERBS
T03
Eau . . Faire venir I'eau au motdin = To bring grist
{continued) tO the mill.
Faire venir Veau a la botiche = To make one's
mouth water.
"^Veau va toujours au moulin = Property always
goes to those who have some already ;
Money makes money ; Nothing succeeds
like success.
D'ici la il passern Men de Peau sous le pont =
It will be a long time before that happens.
Mettre de Veau dans son z//;^ = (fig.) To come
down a peg.
'''Veau qui tombe gouite agoutte cave la pierre =
Dropping water will wear away a stone.
[Ovid begins a line with ' ' Gutta cavat lapidem " an
abbreviation of the proverb ' ' Gutta cavat lapidem non
vi sed saepe cadendo."
" Stillicidi casus lapidem cavat." — Lucretius,
i- 313.]
* Une goutte d'cau suffit pour faire diborder un
vase plein = The last straw breaks the
camel's back.
jVager enfre deux eaux = (lit.) To swim under
water; (fig.) To run with the hare and
hunt with the hounds.
Faire eau (of boats) = To spring a leak.
Fdire de Veau (of boats) = To take in fresh
water.
Laissez couler Veau = Do not be anxious
about what cannot be helped ; Don't cry
over spilt milk.
Cela s^en est allc eti eau de boudin = That
collapsed utterly, came to nothing.
[The more correct form is .vV« alter en aune de
boudin, alluding to Perrault's tale of Les Souhaits
Ridicules.']
Echapper Ce mot m^est cchappe = That word escaped
me inadvertently (/.^., I did not mean to
say it).
Ce mot m'a khappe = I have forgotten that
word.
I04
FRENCH IDIOMS AND PROVERBS
6ch^ant .
fechelle .
Le cas ccheant= Should such a thing happen ;
If such should be the case.
Faire la courte echelle a quelquhin = To allow
some one to climb on one's shoulders to
scale a height ; To give a lift to some one.
Aprh lui il faut tirer Pkhelle = One cannot
do better than he has {pr^ does) ; He beats
the record, takes the cake.
tcole . . Faire Vicole buissonniere = To play truant.
Fat're une kole = To make a blunder.
Faire ecole = To found {or^ to be a leader of)
a school of art, literature, music, &c.
tcolier . Faire un tour cT^colier =To play a schoolboy
trick.
Faire une faute d'ecolier= To make a foolish
mistake.
tconomie *// ny a pas de petites economies = K penny
saved is a penny earned ; Take care of
the pence and the pounds will take care
of themselves.
[Also : Les petites dconomies font les bonnes maisons.}
tcorcher. '''Jamais beau parler n'Scorcha la langue = Fair
words never did harm ; Civility costs
nothing.
II ecorche le f ran fats =YLe. murders French.
// ecorche Vafiguille par la queue = He sets
(goes) the wrong way to work.
tcorner . II fait un vent a ecorner (or, decorner) un bosuf
= The wind is enough to blow one's
head off.
Ecot . . Chacun a paye son ecot = Each paid for himself.
tcouter . Com?ne cet homme s'ecoute ! = What care that
man takes of himself!
Cest un ecoute s'il pleut=Yie is a man who
cannot be relied upon.
[Mills were so called which depended for their motive-
power on rain-water and consequently were continually
stopping.]
FRENCH IDIOMS AND PROVERBS
105
Ecouter
{conthiued)
6crire .
6cuelle
6curie
Effet
6gal
6glise . .
^lan . .
Embarras
// n^ecoute que (Tune oreiV/e^He pays very
little attention.
Ecrire de bonne encjx a quelqu^un = To write
to some one in strong terms.
Etre propre comme une ecuelle de chat= To be
very dirty.
"^Fermer V^curie quand les chevaux sont dehors
= To lock the stable door when the steed
is stolen.
C'esf un cheval a Vecurie = It is a white
elephant.
Cela fait de r effet = That looks well ; That is
showy ; That makes a fine display.
Cela me fait cet effet = Tha.t seems so to me.
Cela m'est egal= It is all the same to me ; I
don't care.
Tout lui est egal= Everything is the same to
him.
D'^gal a egal = i. Between equals. 2. On
equal terms.
C'est egal, je me suis joliment afnuse = Any-
how (All the same), I enjoyed myself very
much.
*Fres *2e teglise, loin de Dieu = The nearer the
church, the farther from God.
Gueux comme un rat d^eglise = As poor as a
church mouse.
Prendre son elan = To take one's spring
(before a jump).
JVe faites done pas tant d! embarras =T>o not
make such a fuss.
Ce n^ est pas P embarr as = There, is no great
difficulty in it ; After all ; For the matter
of that.
Elle na que Veiiibarras du choix = ^\\e has
only too much to choose from.
io6
FRENCH IDIOMS AND PROVERBS
Emblde . La lot passu d'emblee = The law passed straight
off, by acclamation.
//a ete recu (Hemblee = He passed his examina-
tion the first time he went up, without
any difficulty.
Embrasser *Qui trop embrasse mal etreint= Grasp all, lose
all.
[" Qui totum vult totum perdit."— Publius Syrus.
d Qui tout convoite tout perd.
L'avarice rompt le sac.
Too much is stark naught.
" Oh, the little more, and how much it is !
And the little less, and what worlds away ! "
Browning, Dramatic Lyrics,
* By the Fireside, 39.]
Employer // a employe le vert et le sec pour y parvenir =
He left no stone unturned to secure suc-
cess.
Emporter Se77iporter comme une soupe au lait =To be
very hasty-tempered.
Ne faites pas attention a ses menaces^ autant en
emporte le vetit = Pay no attention to his
threats, they are as light as air.
jEmporter ses cliques et ses claques =^1^0 clear
off, bag and baggage.
Oest une reponse a r emporte-piece = It is a
very cutting answer, and to the point.
[y4 remporte-pi^ce=C\ii out by a machine-punch.]
Cela m^effiporte la bouche =-- It burns my
mouth {i.e. it is too highly spiced).
Empress^ // fait Pempresse aupres de sa vieille tante =
He pays marked attention to his old
aunt.
Empninter Elk a un air eniprunte = She looks awkward,
embarrassed, affected.
JVe choisit pas qui emprunte — l^eggaxs cannot
be choosers.
[" Qui empruncte ne choisist mie."
Maistre Pierre Pathelin,
79'
FRENCH IDIOMS AND PROVERBS
107
Encensoir Casser le nez a quelqu'un a coups (Tencensoir
= To flatter some one fulsomely to his
face. (See Casser.)
Enchere . Payer la folk enchere = To pay for one's rash-
ness, for one's folly.
[When a man bids at an auction and does not pay
for what he has bought, the lot is put up again and he
has to pay the difference (if any) between the price it is
then sold at and the price he bid for it.]
Enchere au rabais = A Dutch auction.
Enclume . /e suis entre renclu?ne et le marfeau = I am in
a dilemma ; I am between the devil and
the deep sea.
*// frappe toujours sur la 7nenie enclume = He
is always harping on the same string.
'^A dure enclume marteau de plume = The
strokes of adversity find the wise man
unmoved.
[" Impavidum ferient ruinae."
Horace, Odes, iii. 3.]
Endroit . Frapper au bon endroit = To touch the right
spring; To hit the right nail on the head;
To hit the mark ; To touch the spot.
Endimancher Des gens endimanches^-Yc^ rigged out in
their Sunday best.
Enfant . Des ^ if ants per dus (military) = A forlorn hope.
Un enfant terrible = A child who tells awk-
ward truths.
[Gavarni, the caricaturist, published a series of
sketches in 1865 under the title of " Les Enfants
Terribles."]
Elle a deux enfants du premier lit= She has
two children by her first husband.
Oest U7i enfant de la balle = He is his father's
son ; He follows the profession of his
father. (See Balle.)
Cest bien Penfafit de sa mere = He is the very
image of his mother.
Eaire Penfant = To behave childishly (on
purpose).
io8
FRENCH IDIOMS AND PROVERBS
Enfiler
Enfonceur
Engrenage
Enlever .
Ennemi .
Enseigne
Je ne suis pas id pour enfiler des perks = \ am
not here to waste my time.
Cela ne s^enfile pas co??ime des perles = That is
by no means an easy matter.
C'esf U7i enfonceur de portes ouvertes= i. He
is a braggart. 2. He takes a deal of
trouble to solve a difficulty which does
not exist.
J^tre pris dans l' engrenage = To be caught in
the toils.
On enleva les journaux comnie du pain = The
papers sold like hot rolls, like wild-fire.
// n'y a pas de petit ennemi =^v&ry enemy is
to be feared.
[" Croire qu'un faible ennemi ne pent pas nuire, c'est
croire qu'une 6tincelle ne peut pas causer un incendie."
Sa'adi.]
Nous sommes loges a la meme enseigne = We.
are both in the same predicament, in the
same boat.
A
[" €v yap T(fi avT(f ifffiev CK&ixfxaTi."
St. Clement's Epistle to the Church of Corinth.]
telles enseignes = In proof whereof; So
much so that.
Je ne le croirai qua bonnes enseignes = I shall
only believe it upon good authority.
Entendre // entend a demi mot = He can take a hint.
*A bon entendeur, salut=A word to the wise
is enough ; Verbum sap.
["A bon entendeur ne fault qu'une parole."—
Rabelais, Pantagruel, v. 7.]
// n^ entend pas de cette oreille -^ (fig.) He will
listen to nothing on that subject.
Vous ne vous y e?ttendez pas — You do not
know how to set about it, how to manage it.
// n^ entend pas raillerie la-dessus = i. You
must not speak lightly of that before him.
2. He will not be trifled with on that
point.
FRENCH IDIOMS AND PROVERBS
109
Entendre Entendre la railkrie = To know how to be
[continued) witty ; To be a good hand at chaff.
Entendre railkrie = Not to be offended at a
joke ; To stand chaff well.
// ny entend pas malice = i. He does not
mean any harm ; He means no more than
he says. 2. He takes it innocently.
Eaire Pentefidu = To put on a knowing look.
*// n'est pire sourd que celui qui ne veut pas
entendre = None so deaf as those who will
not hear.
Entente . Un mot a double entente = A word {pr^ remark)
with two meanings.
Enterrer . *Mieux vaut goujat debout qu^empereur enterre
= A living dog is better than a dead lion.
Envie . . J'ai bien envie d'aller a Paris avec vous = I
have a good mind to go to Paris with you.
// ne porte envie a person?! e = He envies no
one.
// ne fait envie a personne = No one envies
him.
Si P envie m'en prend= If I feel inclined to
do it.
Envoyer . Je Pai envoye promener (or, fam., paitre)^!
sent him about his business.
Ep^e . . C'est son epee de chevet= i. That is his trusty
counsellor. 2. That is what he is always
talking about.
[Literally, a sword that hung at the head of a bed to
guard one from nocturnal attacks.
" Voila leur ^p^e de chevet, de I'argent." — Moliere,
VAvare, iii. 5.]
Passer aufil de Pepee=^To put to the sword.
Qui porte epee porte paix = One sword keeps
another in its scabbard; Si vis pacem,
para bellum.
Epervier . "^Mariage d'epervier, la femelle vaut ?nieux que
le male = The grey mare is the better
horse.
no FRENCH IDIOMS AND PROVERBS
Hpine . . Tirer une ^phie du pied a quelqii'un = To take
a thorn out of some one's side; To get
some one over a difficulty.
Hpingle . // est toujours tire a quatre epingles = He
always looks as if he came out of a band-
box.
J^ai tire mon epiiigle du jeu = I have saved
my stake ; I got well out of a bad job.
[Une locution qui vient d'un jeu de petites fiUes :
elles mettent des Epingles dans un rond, et, avec une
balle qui, lancde contra le mur, revient vers le rond,
elles essayent d'en faire sortir les Epingles : quand on
fait sortir sa mise, on dit qu'on retire son ^pingle
du jeu.]
Une ^pingle par jour fait huit sous par an = A
pin a day is a groat a year.
Eponge . Passons PepOTige la-dessus = Let us say no
more about it ; Let us forget all about it ;
Let bygones be bygones.
6preiive . C'est un ami a toute epreuve = He is a well-
tried, faithful, trusty friend.
Epuiser . V edition est epuisee = The book is out of
print
Equipde . Ohl la belle equipeel = Here's a pretty
kettle of fish !
Ergot . . Se dresser sur ses ergots = To stand on one's
dignity.
Esprit . . Je suis Men dans son esprit =Yie has a good
opinion of me.
Oil avez-vous done V esprit ^ =^^\\2X are you
thinking of?
// a Vesprit aux talons = He shines at the
wrong end ; He is not witty.
// a Vesprit de Pescalier= He never thinks of
the right answer at the proper moment.
[i.e. He thinks of the right answer going down the
staircase, after leaving the room.]
Faire de r esprit = To try and be witty.
FRENCH IDIOMS AND PROVERBS
Esprit." . II a de V esprit comme quatre=We. is very
[continued) witty.
L^ esprit court les rues = \^\\. is a drug in the
market.
Avoir r esprit Men fait = To be good-tem-
pered.
Les grands esprits se rencontrent = Gx&2Lt wits
always jump together ; We both said the
same thing at the same moment.
Essuyer . Essuyer les pldtres = To move into a newly-
built house before the walls are dry ; (fig.)
To experience the disadvantages of a
beginning.
Estomac Avoir Vestomac dans les talons = Tq be as
hungry as a hunter.
^tat . . Nous faisons peu d^etat de cet homme = We
consider that man very little; We take
little account of that man.
De son e'tat^ By profession, by trade.
/e Vai mis hors d^etat de vous nuire = I have
put it out of his power to harm you.
I^our un rien il se met dans tous ses etats (fam.)
= He gets very excited over a mere trifle.
LEtat^ c^est moil = The State ! I am the
State.
[Chi^ruel, Histoirede F Administration monarchique
en France, Livre II, p. 32.]
6toffe . . II y a de Vetoffe dans cet en/ant = There is grit
in that boy.
^toile . . yoir des etoiles {la lune) en plein midi=To
receive a violent blow in the eye, so as to
" see stars."
l&tourdir . Etourdir la grosse /aim = To take the edge
off one's appetite.* .
Etre . . /e ny suis pour personne = I am not at home
to anybody.
yi? n'y suis pour rien = I have nothing to do
with it ; I have no hand in it.
112
FRENCH IDIOMS AND PROVERBS
Etre . . Vous n^y etes pas = You do not understand it ;
{continued) " You are out of it."
y'jF suisyfy resfe='Here I am, here I stop.
[Marshal MacMahon in the trenches before the
Malakoff, Sept. 9, 1855.]
CeUe fot's, fa y est = Now it is done, and no
mistake.
y<? n^en suis plus = I am no longer one of the
party ; I no longer belong to it.
// n'en a rien ete = Nothing came of it.
// en a ete pour sa peine = ^q had his trouble
for nothing.
// en sera ce qu'il vous plaira = lt shall be
just as you please.
Je ?ie sais plus oil fen suis = i . I have lost
the place where I left off (in reading, etc.).
2. I do not know what I am about.
Je suis tres Men avec lui^ I am on very good
terms with him.
Etes-vous de la noce? = KxQ you one of the
wedding party ?
Etes-vous des notres = Are you one of our
party ? Are you one of us ? Do you think
as we do ?
Voila ce que c'est que de se mettre en colhre =
That is the consequence of losing one's
temper.
Je suis a ritroit= I am cramped for room.
*0n ne peut pas etre et avoir ete = One. cannot
have one's cake and eat it. (See Drap.)
6trenne . Tu n'en auras pas V^trenne — You will not be
the first to use it.
6trier . . II a le pied a retrier= He is ready to start.
Buvez le coup de lVtrier= Drink the stirrup-
cup.
A franc etrier=kX. full speed. (See Bride
and Train!)
fevangile . Cest VEvangile (or, d est parole d^Avangile) =
It is gospel truth.
FRENCH IDIOMS AND PROVERBS
113
ExCUSer . '''Qui s^excuse, s^accuse=^li you try to excuse
yourself you practically acknowledge that
you have done wrong ; A guilty con-
science needs no accuser.
Excusez du peu (ironic.) = Only that? How
modest !
Example . II prhha d^exemple = He practised what he
preached ; He set the example.
'^Peu de lecons^ heaucoup d'exemples = Precepts
lead, examples draw ; It is easiest learning
at another's cost.
Experience * Experience passe science = Experience is the
best master ; Experientia docet.
[" Experience is the best of schoolmasters, only the
school fees are heavy." Carlyle, Misc. Essays,
i- 137.]
Extreme . Les extremes se touchent = Extremes meet ;
Too far east is west ; Too much care may
be as bad as downright negligence.
F.
Fabrique Cest de sa fabrique = That is of his inven-
tioij.
Marque de fabrique = Trade-mark.
Face . . // /era face a tout = He will meet every
demand.
Ce portrait est pris de face = That portrait
is taken full face.
Jouer a pile ou face = To play at heads or
tails, pitch and toss.
// /e regarda bien en face = He looked him
straight in the face.
Fa^on . . Donner un ouvrage a fafon = To put out a
job to be done.
On travaille a facon (of small tailors, etc.) =
People's own materials made up.
H
114
FRENCH IDIOMS AND PROVERBS
Fa^on . . Cest un conte de sa facon = It is a story of
{continued) his owii invention.
Maintenant qu!il est riche, il s'en donne de la
bonne fafon = Now he is rich, he refuses
himself nothing.
Je lui dirai fnafafon de penser = I'll give him
a piece of my mind.
Une fafon de parler = A form of speech ; A
way of speaking (not to be taken literally).
[e.g. " Quand je dis qu'il n'est jamais venu en
Angleterre c'est une fafon de parler, car il a pass6 huit
jours a Douvres il y a dix ans."]
Cet homme n'a ni mine ni fafon = That man
has neither grace nor good looks ; That
man is as awkward as he is ugly.
C^est lui qui fait les sottises et c'est ?noi qui eni
paye la fapn = He commits the mistakes]
and I have to pay for them.
// a bonne fafon = He has good style ; He]
is well got up.
De toute fa^on il a tort = At any rate he isj
wrong ; Whichever way you look at it, he]
is wrong.
Sans fafon = Without ceremony, without
fuss.
Defapn ou d* autre = SomeJhow or other.
Fagot . . C'est un vrai fagot d'epines = He is a regular
bear.
*// y a fagots et fagots = There are men and
men ; All men are not alike.
[MOLliRE, Le MMecin malgrd lui, i, 6.]
Sentir le fagot = i. To be tainted with heresy
(obsolete). 2. Not to be quite honest.
Fagoter . Comme vous voila fagotee ! = How awkwardly
you are dressed ! What a fright (or,
dowdy) you look !
[" Pour moi, quand une femme a le don de se taire,
Eiat-elle en vrai niagot tout le corps fagots,
Je lui voudrais donner le prix de la beauts."
CORNEILLE, Le Menteur,^
FRENCH IDIOMS AND PROVERBS 115
Faillir . . J'aifailli tomber = I very nearly fell.
Faim . . Cest la faim qui epouse la soif =-- They are
both very poor ; It is one beggar marrying
another.
. "^^ La faim chasse le loup hors du bois = Hunger
tames the lion ; Hunger will break through
stone walls.
Faire . • Rien tCy fait = Nothing has any effect
upon him (orj on it); It is all of no
use.
Comment est-il fait 1 = What sort of a man
is he?
*Ce qui est fait est fait = It is no good crying
over spilt milk.
'*'0n ne pent faire qu^en faisant =-■ Practice
makes perfect.
Faire la Saint-Lundi = To do no work on
Monday. (See Lundi.)
[Colloquially : Faire le Lundi. ]
Tdchez de faire quelques provisions = Try and
collect some provisions.
Faire dix ans de travaux force's = To undergo
ten years' penal servitude.
// est bon de se faire a la fatigue = It is good
to accustom oneself to fatigue.
Coquelin fait le role principal = Coquelin is
taking the principal part.
On le fait riche = He is said to be rich.
Cela ne me fait ni chaud ni froid = It is all
the same to me.
fe n'ai que faire de vos co?iseils = I do not care
a jot for your advice ; I do not want your
advice.
*Qui bienfera, bien (se) trouvera = Who works
well will have a good reward.
// ne faut pas me la faire (pop.) = You must
not try that on with me.
Coinbien faites-vous cette etoffe ? = How much
are you asking for this stuff?
Il6 FRENCH IDIOMS AND PROVERBS
Faire . . // (time a ce guon fasse cas de ltd = He likes
(continued) to be made a fuss of.
II fait bien son chemin = He is getting on in
the world.
I/s ne font qu^un — They are hand and glove
together.
Cela fait beaucoup = That makes a great
difference.
Ce/a me fait sortir des gonds = That exaspe-
rates me.
// faut faire mousser sa marchandise = One
must puff one's goods.
Qu^est-ce que cela me fait ? = What is that to
me?
Faire huit kilometres a pied^ a cheval, en
voiture = To walk, ride, drive, five miles.
Le vert fait bien avec le rose = Green goes j
well with pink ; Pink and green are fit for'
a queen.
Faire des siennes = To be at one's old tricks.
// n'en fait qu'd sa volonte = He is self-
willed.
C^est a faire a vous de reussir ^- You are the
man to succeed.
C'en est fait de lui = He is done for ; It is
all up with him.
Ce qui est fait n^est pas a faire — Better to
finish it now than to leave it.
Ce n^est ni fait ni a faire = It is done, but
badly, (in a slovenly fashion).
Ilfaitchervivre a Londres = Living in London
is dear.
Que faire ? = What am I {or, are we) to
do ? What is to be done ?
Pourquoi faire ? = What for ?
Comment faire 1 ~y^\\2X is to be done?
Que voulez-vous que fy fasse ? = How can I
help it? What would you have me do?
It is no business of mine.
fe ne saurais qu'y faire = 1 cannot help it.
FRENCH IDIOMS AND PROVERBS
17
Faire . . ^^ chose faite point de remMe = What is done
{contifiued) cannot be undone.
Laissez-le faire = Do not interfere with him.
Si faire se peut= If possible.
Ceia nefait rien ^ That does not matter.
// rCenfera rien = He will do nothing of the
sort.
Je nCy fais = I am getting used to it.
Cest bien fait = It serves him {pr^ her, you)
right.
Quel temps fait-il? = What is the weather
like?
Quel temps ilfait ! = What weather this is !
Paris ne s^ est pas fait en un jour = Rome was
not built in a day.
II s'est fait jardinier =Yl& became a gardener.
Elle se fait vieille = She is getting old.
Pour se faire la main = To get one's hand in
(i.e. to get accustomed to the work).
Se faire jour a travers la foule = To force
one's way through the crowd.
Je me fdis fort de le faire = I feel quite
confident of doing it.
Coquelin sail le mieux se faire une tete =
Coquelin is the cleverest at altering his
features, at making up.
Cela se fait maintenant = That is the fashion
now.
Cela ne se fait pas = That is not proper ;
That is not the correct thing.
Faiseur . Cest un faiseur d'embarras = He is a fussy
personage.
Fait . . Cela est de mon fait = That is my doing.
Venons au fait = Let us come to the point.
Mettez-moi au fait de ce qui s'est passe = Tell
me what happened.
// lui a dit son fait = He told him what he
thought of him {not complimentary) ; He
gave him a bit of his mind.
Il8 FRENCH IDIOMS AND PROVERBS
Fait . . Si fait! = Yes, indeed! On the contrary!
{continued) Cette place est votre fait = That situation is
just the thing for you.
Je suis stir de mon fait = I am sure of what
I am saying ; I know what I am about.
Cest un fait accompli = It is done and cannot
be undone.
Travailler a prix fait (or, a forfait) = To
work at an agreed price ; Vo work by the
piece.
Prendre quelqu'un sur le fait = To take any
one in the act.
// a pr is fait et cause pour moi= He stood up
for me ; He took my part..
Falloir • . Vhomtne qu'il faut = The very man (for a
post).
// lefaut= It must be so.
// fallait voir comme il etait content = You
should have seen how happy he was.
Feu s'en fallut quHl ne fiit refu = He was
all but received; He failed for a few
marks.
[Latin : Haud multum abfuit quin. . . .]
Oest un homme comme il faut = He is a
perfect gentleman.
C^est un homme comme il en faut= He is one
of the right sort.
[Sometimes in bad sense : He is the sort of man we
want to do that dirty work.]
Cest un homfne comme il en faudrait beaucoup
= I wish more men were like him (be-
cause of his straightforward or courageous
nature).
S'il ?i est pas unfripon, il ne s' en faut guere —
If he is not a rascal, he is precious near it.
// s^en faut beaucoup que Vun ait autant de
merite que rautre='VheTQ is a great differ-
ence in merit between the two.
FRENCH IDIOMS AND PROVERBS
119
Falloir . // s'en faut de beaucoup que leur nombre soit
(continued) complet =. Their number is far from being
complete.
[The former of these two idioms should refer to
quality, the latter to quantity.]
Farine . . J^es gens de meme farine = Persons of the
same kidney (generally in a bad sense) ;
People tarred with the same brush.
Fat . . . "Z^ bruit est pour lefat, la plainte pour le sot^
Vhonnete homme trovipe s' eloigne et ne ditmot"
— Rows are for muffs, 'tis only fools complain.
The gentleman deceived will grin and bear
the pain.
[La Noue, La Coquette corrigde, i. 3 (1756).]
Faute . . Rien ne vous /era faute = You will want for
nothing.
// ne se fait faute de rien = He denies himself
nothing.
C'est une faute d^ inattention = It is a slip.
Oest une faute d* impression = It is a misprint.
// ne se fait pas faute de se plaindre = He
complains freely.
Faute de mieux = For want of something
better.
Faux . . Chanter faux = To sing out of tune.
Faireun faux pas = (lit.) To stumble; (fig.)
To make a slip ; To commit a mistake.
Vous faites fausse route = You are taking the
wrong road ; You are on the wrong track.
Cette poutre porte a faux = That beam does
not rest properly on its support.
Cette remarque a porte a faux = That remark
was not to the point, was not conclusive.
Faux conime un jeton = As false as Judas ;
As false as a die.
Je niinscris en faux contre cette assertion = I
emphatically deny the truth of that asser-
tion.
Fde . • . C'est la fee Carabosse = She is an old hag.
FRENCH IDIOMS AND PROVERBS
Feler . . ^^ Les pots feUs sont ceux qui durent k plus =
The door with the creaking hinge hangs
longest ; The cracked pitcher goes oftenest
to the well.
Femme • *Femme qui parte comme homine et geline qui
chante cofnme coq ne sont bonnes a tenir =
A whistling woman and a crowing hen
Are good for neither cocks nor men.
[" G'est chose qui moult me deplaist,
Quand poule parle et coq se taist. "
Roman de la Rose.
" La poule ne doit pas chanter devant le coq."
MOLl^RE, Z^s Femtnes Savantes, v. 3.]
*Prends k premier conseil d^une femtne et non le
second = A woman's instinct is better than
her reason.
[Montaigne coined the phrase V esprit primesautier
to describe this feminine peculiarity of either seeing a
thing at once or not at all.]
Femme sotte se connait a la cotte = A foolish
woman is known by her finery.
Ce que femme veut Dieu le veut = Woman
must have her way.
* Souvent femme varie,
Bienfol est qui s^y fie =
Between a woman's yes and no,
There's no room for a pin to go.
A woman's mind
And winter wind
Change oft.
[These words are said to have been written by Fran-
9ois I. on two little leaded panes in his room at the
castle of Chambord, about ten miles from Blois.
Brantome says that while talking with his sister, Mar-
guerite d'Angoulfime, he engraved the saying with a
diamond ring. Report has it that Louis XIV. broke
the glass with his stick at the request of Mademoiselle
de la Valliere. However that may be, the visitor to
Chambord will see that the words have been rewritten
on the window.]
Ciel pommele et femme fardie ne sont pas de
longue duree = A mackerel sky, not long
wet and not long dry
FRENCH IDIOMS AND PROVERBS
Fenetre
Fer
Ferir
Ferr^
Fete
Feu
II faut passer par la ou par la fenetre = It is
absolutely inevitable.
'^ II faut battre le fer pendant qu'il est chaud =
You must strike while the iron is hot.
[" Ce pendant que le fer est chault il le fault battre."
—Rabelais, Pantagruel, ii. 31.]
Cela ne vaut pas les quatre fers d'un chien =
That is not worth a rap, a fig (/>.,
nothing, for a dog is not shod).
// tomba les quatre fers en /Wr=(lit.) He fell
on his back ; (fig.) He was struck all of a
heap.
II y a quelque fer qui loche = There is a hitch
somewhere. (See Cloc/ier.)
Sans coup firir = Without striking a blow.
\raphie = He is well up
// est f err e sur la
in geography.
*Ce n^est pas tous les jours fete = Christmas
comes but once a year.
Faire fete a quelqu^un = To welcome some
one heartily.
Je me fats une fete de passer huit jours a la
campagne = I look forward with pleasure
to the idea of spending a week in the
country.
// n'a ni feu ni lieu = He has neither house
nor home.
Vennetni ?nit le pays a feu et a sang = The
enemy put the country to fire and sword.
Je n'y ai vu que du feu = It was impossible
for me to find out how the thing was done
(as it was done so quickly) ; It was done
so quickly {pr^ cleverly) that I could not
make head or tail of it.
Vous me faites mourir cl. petit feu = You are
killing me by inches ; You are torturing
me to death.
122 FRENCH IDIOMS AND PROVERBS
Feu . . . II ne faut pas jouer avec lefeu = One should
{continued) not play with edged tools.
// fC est feu que de bois vert = None are so
active as the young.
// j'ette feu et flamme = He frets and fumes ;
He is in a great rage.
Faire feu des quatre pieds = To strain every
nerve.
Ce n'est qu'unfeu de pailie = \t is only a flash
in the pan ; It will not last.
// a j'ete tout son feu— i. His anger *is over
now. 2. He has used up all his ideas.
Cest le feu et Peau = They are as opposite
as fire and water.
Fai're feu = To fire (rifles, guns).
Fat're dufeu = To light a fire.
F^ve . . *Il a trouve la f eve au gateau = He has hit the
mark ; He has made a lucky discovery.
[It was (and is still in many places) the custom to
hide a bean in the cake on Twelfth Night, and the
person who found it was the king of the revels.
" Pensent avoir trouve la feve du gasteau."
RteNiER, Satires, vii.]
^Donner un pois pour avoir unefeve = To give
a sprat to catch a herring. (See (Euf)
Fier . . Fier comme Artabaii (or, comme un Ecossais)
= As proud as a peacock.
[Artaban was the hero of CUopdtre, a romance by
La Calprenede, a Gascon. The phrase is also said
to be derived from Artabanes, King of Parthia. " Plus
fier que tous les Artabans." — Rostand, Cyrano de
Bergerac, i. 2.]
Fi^vre . . *Tomber defievre en chaud mal (or, de la poele
dans la braise^ de Charybde en Scylla) =
To fall out of the frying-pan into the
fire.
[" Incidit in Scyllam cupiens vitare Charybdim." —
Compare Homer, Od. xii. 85.
"Thus when I shun Scylla, your father, I fall into
Charybdis, your mother." — Shakespeare, Merchant
of Venice, iii. 5.]
FRENCH IDIOMS AND PROVERBS 123
Figue . . "^Moitie figue, inoitie raisin = i. Partly will-
ingly, partly by force. 2. Half one thing
and half another. 3. Half in jest, half in
earnest.
[This expression is often used of a remark that may
be complimentary or not.]
Fil , . . Je ltd donnerai du fil a retordre = I will cut
out his work for him ; I will give him a
deal of trouble.
Ce sont des fi7iesses cousues de fil blanc = Those
tricks are easily found out.
"^A toile our die Dieu envoie le fil= God sends
thread for a begun web.
Aufilde Veau = With the stream.
Aufil de repee = To the edge of the sword.
Filer . . Filer a ranglaise = To leave without saying
good-bye, without attracting attention;
To take French leave.
*Du temps que Berthe filait --^ When Adam
delved and Eve span ; In the good old
times.
[Berthe was the mother of Charlemagne. She was
known as Berthe au grand pied from her club foot.]
Filer doux = Ho sing small.
II faut filer (or, Filons /) (fam.) = We must
bo off, trot off.
Fille .. . La plus belle fille du monde ne peut dowser que
ce qu'elle a = No man can give more than
he has ; A man cannot give what he has
not got.
'^Quand on a desfilles, on est toujours berger =
My son is my son till he gets him a wife,
My daughter's my daughter all the days
of her life.
* Fille oisive, a mal pensive = An idle brain is
the devil's workshop.
[" For Satan finds some mischief still
For idle hands to do."
Isaac Watts, Divine Songs, xx.]
124 FRENCH IDIOMS AND PROVERBS
Fille . . Fille trop vue^ robe\ iK maid often seen, a
(coTiHnued) trop vetue, I — / garment often worn,
JV^est pas c/ierel~\ Are disesteemed and
Unue. ) [ held in scorn.
Fils . . . // esf bien k fils de son pere = He is a chip of
the old block.
^tre le fils de ses oeuvres = To be a self-made
man.
Fin (subst.) A la fin vous voilal — Here you are at
last!
A la fin des fins (or, en fin finale) vous nous
direz quelque chose = At last you will tell
us something.
A telle fin que de raison = At all events ; At
any rate.
*La fin couronne Pocuvre = The end crowns
all ;■ All's well that ends well.
*Qut veut la fin veut les moyens= Where there
is a will there is a way ; If you want the
end you must not stick at the means.
^La fin justifie les moyens = Success justifies
the means by which it has been attained.
// louche a sa fin = He is nearing his end ; It
is nearly over.
*£n ioutes choses il faut considerer la fin = We
must always look to the end; Look before
you leap.
[La Fontaine, Fables, iii. 5. The motto of the
Kennedy family is " Look to the end," or " Avise la
fin."]
Oest fin de Steele = That is smart, up to
date.
[This expression came to the front in Paris about
the time of the 1889 Exhibition. In 1890 appeared
a play called " Paris fin de si^cle," by Blum and
Toch6, in which occur these words: " C'est un mot
nouveau qui dit tres bien ce qu'il veut dire. Le siecle
n'a plus que dix ans k vivre, et, vois-lu, il veut les passer
gaiement." The saying, however, has lost its sense,
and is becoming obsolete now that a new century has
begun.]
FRENCH IDIOMS AND PROVERBS
125
Fin (adj.) . // salt lefort et le fin de son arf=He knows
every trick of his trade.
I^/us fin que lui n^est pas bete = He who can
take him in is no fool.
/'arrive du fin fond de PAfrique = I have
come from the very depths of Africa.
C'est une fine mouche (or, lame) = He is a
cunning fellow, a sly dog. (See Compere.)
Cest fin contre fin = It is diamond cut dia-
mond.
[Also : Fin contre fin ne vaut rien four doublure.'\
Fin contre fin gare la bonibe = " When Greeks
joined Greeks, then was the tug of war."
[Nathaniel Lee, Alexander the Great, iv, 2.]
Dites nous le fin /;/<?/ = Tell us the secret.
// a le nezfin = i. He has a good nose. 2. He
is far-sighted, sagacious.
Jouer au plus fin = To vie in cunning.
Finir . . Ce sont des disputes a n'en plus j'?;?/r= Those
are endless quarrels.
Flamber . Cest un ho?nme flatnbe— He is a ruined man,
a lost man.
Flanc . . // s'est battu les flancs pour rien = He gave
himself all that trouble for nothing.
// est sur le flanc =^ He is laid up, on his back.
Preter le flanc 4 des reproches = To lay one-
self open to reproaches.
Fldtrir . . *De rose fletrie nul ne soucie = The fading rose
has no suitor.
Fleur . . Cest la fine fleur de rarmee= It is the cream
of the army.
B affaire passa a fleur de corde = The matter
only just succeeded.
Les yeux a fleur de tete = Goggle eyes (i.e.
on a level with the cheek-bone and fore-
head).
A fleur de terre = On a level (or, flush) with
the ground.
126
FRENCH IDIOMS AND PROVERBS
Fleur .
[continued)
Fleurette
Flute .
Foi .
Foin
Folic
Fond
A la fleur de Vage= In the prime of life.
II a les nerfs a fleur de peau = His nerves are
always on the twitch ; He is extremely
sensitive.
Coulter fleureUes = To say soft nothings.
*Ce qui vient de la flute s'en va au tambour =
Lightly come, lightly go; What is dis-
honestly acquired is easily dissipated.
Cest un homme sans foi ni loi= He is a man
without honour or honesty.
// est de peu defoi= He is not to be trusted.
Ses ouvrages en font foi ^Yl'is works prove it.
* Oest avec la bonne fdi qu'on va le plus loin =
Honesty is the best policy.
Lafoidu charbonnier = Blind faith.
/e ne puis aj outer foi a ce quHl dit = I cannot
believe what he says.
Ma foi ! = Upon my word !
Mettre du foin dans ses bottes = To feather
one's nest.
[Literally, to place hay in one's wooden shoes to
keep one's feet warm. Another saying is Mettre du
beurre dans ses dpinards.'\
Avoir du foin dans ses bottes = To be well off.
Quand il n'y a pas de foin au rdtelier^ les
chevaux se battent = When poverty comes
in at the door, love flies out at the
window.
Ce qui me lie^ dest 7tia folie = Straw bands
will tie a fool's hands.
Je fais fond sur vous = I rely on you.
// salt cette langue a fond = He knows that
language thoroughly.
// est ruine de fond en comble = He is utterly
ruined.
Aufond^ il a tort = He is wrong in reality.
Courir a fond de train = To run at the top
of one's speed.
FRENCH IDIOMS AND PROVERBS
127
Fonds
Fontaine
Force
I
Article de fonds = Leading article (in a news-
paper).
II possede une fortune en bien-fonds = He has
a fortune in landed property.
// a place son argent a fonds perdu = He
sank his money in an annuity.
*" Travaillez^ prenez de la peine ;
C^est le fonds qui manque le inoins" =
Work and take pains, that you can
always do.
Hard work and pain
Are ne'er in vain.
[La Fontaine, Fables, v. 9.]
*Il nefaut pas dire, " Fontaine, je ne boirai pas
de ton eau " = One must never be sure of
not wanting some one {or, something).
[Compare the proverb that Alfred de Musset took for
the title of one of his Proverbes : *' II ne faut jurer de
rien."]
Tu me pay eras de gre ou deforce = You shall
pay me, whether you like it or not.
Hugo est un romantique dans toute la force du
terme = Hugo is a romanticist in the full
sense of the word.
J^e suis a bout de force = I am exhausted,
played out.
fe nS suis pas de voire force = (lit.) I am not
so strong as you are; (fig.) I- am no
match for you.
Force m^est de partir = I am compelled to go.
II faut a toute force Pempecher de sortir — Y om
must prevent him going out by all the
means in your power; We must do all
we can to prevent him going out.
// y avail force badauds - A quantity of
loafers were there.
''' La force prime le droit = Might is right. (See
Fort)
Oest un joueur de premiere force = He is a
first-rate player.
128
FRENCH IDIOMS AND PROVERBS
Force . . Force est restee a la lot = The police proved
(coniinued) the Stronger ; Order was restored.
C^est un cas de force t?iajeure = It is a case
of absolute necessity; It is an utter im-
possibility.
[e.g. " Le t^nioin n'a pu venir parce qu'il est dange-
reusement malade; son absence est due a un cas de
force majeure."]
Faire force de voiles = To crowd on all
sail.
Faire force de r antes = To row with all one's
might.
*Tout par amour, rien par force = Sweet
words will succeed where mere strength
will fail ; You may row your heart out if
wind and tide are against you.
A^ force de travailler = By dint of working.
A force de bras = By strength of arm.
De Dive force = By main force.
Un tour de force = A feat (of strength or
skill).
Forgeron ^^ force de forger on devient forgeron = Practice
makes perfect; Drawn wells are seldom
dry.
[Lat. Fit fabricando faber.'\
Fort . . Cela est trop fort (or, raide) = That is too
bad ; That is beyond a joke.
Cela est par trop fort = That is really too
bad.
[This/ar is derived from the Latin intensive particle
per, as in perhorridus. In French one finds such words
as parfaire, parachever, and in old French this prefix
was separable. Thus, tant il est parsage might be
written tant il par est sage. So, Cela est par trop fort
= Cela est trop parfort.']
C^est un esprit fort = He is a freethinker.
Voila qui est fort = That is rather strong.
fa, ce n'est pas fort = That is very tame ;
There is not much in that.
FRENCH IDIOMS AND PROVERBS
129
Fort . . A plus forte raison = All the more reason ;
{continued) A fortiori.
11 faut que je park, d est plus fort qice moi =
I must speak, I cannot help it.
Le plus fort est fait = The worst is over ;
The most difficult part is done.
Savoir le fori et le faible de V affaire = To
know the ins and outs of the matter.
Le fort portant le faible = One thing with
another ; On an average.
*^^ La raiso?i du plus fort est toujours la
meilleure = Might is right; There is no
arguing with a large fist.
[La Fontaine, Fables, i. 10, Le loup et I'agneau.']
Fort cotmtie un Turc = As strong as a horse.
" Ou tot ou tard, ou prh on loin,
Lefort du faible a besoin " =
The lion had need of the mouse.
[G^NIN, Recreations, ii. 250,]
Fortune . Chacun a dans sa vie un souris de la fortune
= Fortune knocks once at every man's
door.
La fortune rit aux sots = Fools have the best
. luck.
[" Fctuna fortes adjuvat." — LiVY, xxxiv. 37.]
Voulez-vous accepter la fortune du pot ? = Will
you take pot-luck with us ?
Faire contre fortune bon coeur = To bear up
against misfortune ; To make the best of
a bad job.
Foil. . • Cela lui a coUte un argent fou (fam.) = That
cost him a heap of money.
*Combattre un fou est temps perdu = Fools are
not to be convinced.
[Schiller says: "Heaven and Earth fight in vain
against a dunce " (" Mit der Dummheit fechten Gotter
selbst vergebens." — Jungfrau von Orleans), and the
Chinese say : ' ' One never needs his wit so much as
when one argues with a fool."
I30
FRENCH IDIOMS AND PROVERBS
Foil . . Ne faites pas messagers des fous = " He that
(continued) sendeth a message by the hand of a fool
cutteth off the feet and drinketh damage."
Prov. XX vi. 6.
Unfolou bete
Fait Men couquete,
Mais bon menage
O est fait du sage =
A fool may meet with good fortune,
but the wise only profit by it.
'^Plus 071 est de fous plus on rit = The more
the merrier.
'''Qui ne sait pas Hre fou n'est pas sage = YiQ. is
not wise who does not sometimes make
merry; It takes a wise man to make a
fool.
*Les fous sont aux echecs les plus proches des
rois = In chess the fool stands next to the
king. (Regnier, Sat. xiv.)
[This implies that it is not only at chess that the king
is surrounded by fools, but at court too. It must not
be forgotten that le fou is called the bishop in the
English game.]
// est fou a Her (or, fou furieux) = He is
raving mad.
// vaut ?fiieux etre fou avec tous que sage tout
seul = " One had as good be out of the
world as out of the fashion."
[CoLLEY Gibber, Loves Last Shift, Act ii,]
La Folk du Logis = Fancy, imagination.
Fouet . . II ne marche qWa coups de fouet = He works
only when he is compelled.
Fouetter . Fouette^ cocker ! = Fire away ! Go ahead !
Four . . // fait noir comme dans un four = It is as
dark as pitch.
[MoLi^RE, Le Sicilien, ii.]
Faire un four = To make a blunder
FRENCH IDIOMS AND PROVERBS
13^
Four . . Cette piece a fait four = That piece was a
[continued] failure, a frost.
On fie pent etre au four et au moulin = One
cannot be in two places at the same time.
Fourchette Une bonne fourchette = A good trencherman.
Fourgon . *La pelle se moque du fourgon = The pot calls
the kettle black.
Fourreau *Vepee (or, la lame) use le fourreau = The
mind is too active for the body.
["A fiery soul, which, working out its way,
Fretted the pigmy body to decay."
Dryden, Absalom and Achitophel, i.]
Fourrer . // ne savait otc se fourrer = He did not know
where to hide his head.
II faut qu^il fourre le doigt (or, more fam.,
nez) partout = He must have a finger in
every one's pie.
Frais . . En etre pour ses frais = To have lost one's
money {or, pains) for nothing.
Faire des frais = (lit.) To go to expense;
(fig.) To make efforts to please.
Faire ses frais = To cover one's expenses.
Faire les frais de la conversation = i. To
keep a conversation going. 2. To be
(Oneself) the subject of conversation.
Frangais . En bonfranfais = (lit.) In good French ; (fig.)
In plain English {i.e. without mincing
matters).
Farler franfais comme une vache espagnole =
To speak French very badly.
[This is said to be a corruption of cotnnte un Basque
espagnol (formerly written Vace). The Basques speak
French with a very bad accent, owing to their language
having no relation whatever to the Romance tongues.]
Franquette Recevoir quelquhm a la bonne franquette = To
treat a person without ceremony.
Frein . . Ronger son frein = To put up with annoyance
in silence.
132
FRENCH IDIOMS AND PROVERBS
Frein . . A vieille mule frein dore = Old women have
^continued) the finest clothes.
Friandise Aimer les friandises {chatteries) = To have a
sweet tooth.
Friser . . Elk /rise la quarantaine = She is just upon
forty.
Froid . . Cela se 7nangefroid= (Ut.) That is eaten cold;
(fig.) That is a matter of no importance ;
That is easily done.
// fi^a pas froid aux yeux ~ He is a plucky
fellow.
II fait un froid de loup = It is terribly cold.
Front . . Vous heurtez de front tons ses prejugis = You
run counter to {or, openly attack) all his
prejudices.
II mene plusieurs affaires de fronts He carries
on several schemes simultaneously; He
has many irons in the fire.
Marcher de front = To walk abreast.
Frotter . '''Qui s'y frotte s'y pique = Whoever meddles
with it, will smart for it.
[Compare the motto of the Order of the Thistle :
Nemo me impune lacessit,]
Je ne vous conseille pas de vous y frotter =^ I
advise you not to meddle with it.
On I'a frotte d'ijnportance (or, comme il faut)
= He got a good drubbing.
Fuite . . l/ne bonne fuite vaut mieux qu^une mauvaise
attente = Discretion is the better part of
valour.
Fumde . Manger son pain a la fumce du rot = To see
others enjoying themselves without join-
ing in.
// n^y a pas de feu sans fumee = There is no
smoke without fire.
[Though the French form is not exact, it is preferred
to ' ' il n'y a pas de fumde sans feu " for rhythmical
reasons. Compare Plautus, Curculio, i. i, 53,
" Flamma fumo est proxima."]
FRENCH IDIOMS AND PROVERBS
133
Fur . .
Fureur
Fusil .
Gaffe .
Gageure
Gagner
Gai
Gaiety .
Gaillard
Galore .
Au fur et a mesure = In proportion as.
Cela fait fureur maintenani = That is quite
the rage now ; That is all the go now.
Changer son fusil d^epaule = To change one's
opinion, profession, tactics.
[A more familiar expression is retourner sa veste=.io
be a turn-coat.]
G.
Faire une gaffe = To put one's foot in it ;
To make a stupid blunder.
*La gageure est la preuve des sots =
" Most men (till by losing rendered sager),
Will back their own opinions with a
wager."
[Byron, Be/>po, 27.]
*Qui epargne gagne = A penny saved is a
penny earned.
// gagne a etre connu = He improves upon
acquaintance.
// est gai comme un pinson = He is as merry
as a grig,- as a lark.
// est gai comme un bonnet de nuit (ironic.) =
He is as dull as ditchwater. (See Bonnet.)
De gfieti de cosur = Out of pure wantonness.
^tre sur le gaillard d'avant = To serve before
the mast ; To be a common seaman.
Fogue la galore ! = Happen what may ! "Go
it, ye cripples ! "
*" Que diable allait-il faire dans cette galere 1 "
= Whatever induced him to get into that
fix ? Whatever business had he there ?
[MoLlfeRE, Fourberies de Scapin, ii. 11, imitated from
a scene of Le PMa?tt jotie by Cyrano de Bergerac, as
is noted by M. Edmond Rostand in his play, " Cyrano
de Bergerac," v. 6 :
Rag. Hier on jouait Scapin
Et j'ai vu qu'il vous a pris une scfene.
Le Bret. Entiere !
Rag. Oui, Monsieur, le fameux : ' ' Que diable allait-
il faire?"
^34
FRENCH IDIOMS AND PROVERBS
Galore .
{continued)
Galeux
Galon .
Gant
Gar9on
Garde .
Garder
Gaspiller
In Moliere, Scapin, the amusing but rascally servant
of farce, in order to obtain more money out of G^ronte,
the father of his young master, L6andre, pretends that
the latter has been taken prisoner on board a Turkish
galley and that the captain demands 500 crowns as
ransom. G^ronte in the dilemma of losing either his
money or his son, at last parts with his treasured gold,
but not without repeating several times in heartfelt
sorrow, " Que diable alia it-il f aire dans cette galere f "]
*Il ne faut qihme brebis gaieuse pour infecter
tout un troupeau = One scabby sheep will
taint a whole flock.
'''Qui se sent galeux^ se gratte (fam.) = If the
cap fits, wear it. (See Morveux.)
Quand on prend du galon on n^en saurait trap
prendre = As well be hanged for a sheep
as a lamb ; One cannot make too much
of a favourable opportunity.
[This is a parody of a line in Quinault's Roland, ii. 5 :
"Quand on prend de I'amour, on n'en saurait trop
prendre."]
// s'en donne les gants = He takes the credit
of it.
[It was the custom to give a pair of gloves to the
messenger who first brought a piece of good news.]
Ce/a me va comme un gant — That fits me to
a T ; That suits me down to the ground.
P'ous voila Jolt garcon ! = A pretty fellow
you are !
Mon chien est de bonne garde = IVIine is a
good watch-dog.
Ces poires sont de bonne garde = These pears
will keep well.
// 7i^a garde de venir = He will take care to
keep away ; There is no chance of his
coming.
// vous en garde utte bonne (pop.) = He is
keeping a rod in pickle for you.
Gardez-vous en bien I = Mind you do not do it !
Ce garcon gaspille son temps = That boy fools
his time away.
FRENCH IDIOMS AND PROVERBS
135
Geler
Gemir
G^ne
Gener
Gens
G^sir
Gibier
Gloire
Gond
Gorge
Geler a pierre fendre = To freeze very hard.
. Faire gemir la presse (ironic.) = To print
one's writings.
. // est sans gene = He is free and easy (casual,
off-hand) ; He makes himself too much at
home.
* Oil il y a de la gene il n^y a pas de plaisir
(ironic.) = There is nothing like making
one's self at home everywhere.
// a connu la gene = He knows what want is. '
. Est-ce que je vous gene ? = Am I in your
way?
Ne vous genez pas I = Do not stand upon
ceremony ! Make yourself at home !
Don't mind me !
// ne se gene guere = Doesn't he make him-
self at home ! Well, he is a cool cus-
tomer !
// est plus genant que gene = His free and
easy manners are unpleasant to others, but
he does not mind that.
. *A gens de village, trompette de bois = Rough
tools for rough work.
. *Cest la que git le lievre = That is the main
point ; There's the rub.
C est un gibier de potence = He is a gallows-
bird.
" J'aime mieux, n'en d^plaise a la gloire,
Vivre au monde deux jours que mille ans dans
I'histoire."
MOLIERE, La Princesse (TAlide, i. 2.
Contrast :
" One crowded hour of glorious life
Is worth an age without a name."
Sir Walter Scott, Old Mortality, Chap. 34.
Cela 7ne fait sortir des gonds = That exas-
perates (unhinges) me.
. Cettefu?nee ?ne prend a la gorge — That smoke
makes me cough, chokes me.
136
FRENCH IDIOMS AND PROVERBS
Gorge . . // cria a pleine gorge = He cried out as loud
{continued) as he COUld.
// /era des gorges chaudes du malheur de sa
tante = He will chuckle over (<?r, make
fun of) his aunt's misfortune.
[' ' Prdtend quelle en f era gorge chaude et curde."
La Fontaine, Fables, iv. 12.]
Rendre gorge = To have to pay back money
unjustly acquired; To disgorge one's ill-
gotten gains.
Gourme . Ce Jeune homme Jette sa gourme = Th2it young
man is sowing his wild oats.
Gout . . '''Des gouts et des couleurs il nefaut {pas) discuter
= There is no disputing about tastes.
^A chacun son gout = Tastes differ.
[Colloquially the a is omitted and the phrase becomes
chacun son goUt. The Dictionnaire de I'Acad^mie
gives : Chacun a son goiit.'\
Goutte . Je n'y vols goutte = I cannot see at all.
'''Goutte a goutte on emplit la cuve = Many a
little makes a mickle.
■^//y se ressemblent comme deux gouttes d^eau =
They are as like as two peas.
C^est une goutte d^eau dans la mer = It is a
drop in the ocean.
Boire la goutte (fam.) = To have a drop; To
take a nip.
Payer la goutte (fam.) = To stand something
to drink.
Grace . . Faites-moi grace de vos observations, je vous
en prte= Pray spare me your remarks.
Grain . . Veillez au grain = Keep a sharp look-out.
Avoir un grain de folie = 1 o be a little
cracked.
Graine . Ces plantes sont montees en graine = Those
plants have run to seed.
C'est de la graine de «/^/.f = That is some-
thing to deceive fools with.
FRENCH IDIOMS AND PROVERBS
137
Grand . . '''Les graftds sont les plus exposes aux coups
du sort = High winds blow on high
hills.
Juiire quelque chose en grand = To do some-
thing on a large scale.
Grandeur Un buste de grandeur naturelle = A life-size
bust.
Gre . . . "^Bon gre\ mal gre = Whether you wish or
not ; Nolens volens ; Willy-nilly.
Ceffe maison a ete vendue de gre a gri— That
house was sold by private contract.
// le fera de g7'i ou de force = He will have to
do it whether he likes it or not.
// venait mot tie de gre\ moitie de force = He
came somewhat reluctantly.
De son plein gre = Of his own accord.
De plein gr^= Voluntarily.
Nous vous en saurons bon gri = We shall be
obliged to you for it.
Je me sais bon gre de ne V avoir pas fait = I am
•thankful I did not do it.
Grelot . . *Attacher le grelot=To bell the cat.
[This phrase arises from the fable (La Fontaine,
ii, 2) of the rats who held a council as to how they
might best defend themselves from the cat. They
resolvjd to hang a bell round his neck, so that they
might hear him coming and run away. But the diffi-
culty was to find a vohmteer "to bell the cat," In
Scottish history Archibald Douglas, 5th Earl of
Angus (1449-1514), was called Bell-the-Cat. James III,
used to make favourites of architects and masons.
The Scotch nobles held a council in the Church of
Lauder for the purpose of putting down these upstarts.
Lord Gray asked who would bell the cat. " That will
I," said Douglas, and fearlessly he put the minions to
death in the King's presence. Compare Scott,
Marmion, v. 14, The Greek equivalent, Supeii' Xeovra
(=to shave the lion) occurs in Plato, RepulDlic, 341 C.
The refrain of Eustace Deschamps' Ballade 58 is :
" Qui pendra la sonnette au chat?"]
Grenier . /I va de la cave au grenier = i. He rambles
in his talk, 2. He writes very unevenly
(up and down).
138 FRENCH IDIOMS AND PROVERBS
Grippe . // m'a pris en grippe = He has taken a dislike
to me.
Gris . . II en a vu de grises = He had an unpleasant
time of it.
// /m en a fait voir de grises = He plagued
him terribly.
Grive . . "^Faute de grives on mange des merles = Half a
loaf is better than no bread. (See Aimer.)
Gros . . lis se sont dit de gros mots = They came to
high words ; They insulted (slanged) one
another.
La servante fait le gros de la besogne (or, la
grosse besogne) = The servant does the
heavy work.
// n^a qu'un gros bo7i sens = He has only
plain common-sense.
Vous avez toucM la grosse corde = You have
come to the main point.
Vendre en gros et en detail = To sell wholesale
and retail.
Grue . . // m^a fait f aire le pied de grue pendant deux
heures = He made me wait two hours for
him ; I was dancing attendance on him
for two hours.
[" Faites vous sus un pied toute la nuict la grue?"
R^GNIER, Sat. xi.J
Guerre . '''A la guerre comme a la guerre = One must
take things as they come ; We must take
the rough with the smooth.
/e Vaifiit de guerre lasse = Weary of resistance
I did it for the sake of peace and quiet.
*Qui terre a, guerre a = Much coin, much
care ; Much land, many lawsuits.
[Voltaire's variant was : ' ' Qui plume a, guerre a. "]
Ca, (^est de bonne guerre = He has only used
fair means to defend himself {or, attack
you) ; He has acted within his rights, you
cannot complain.
FRENCH IDIOMS AND PROVERBS
139
Guide .
Guillot
; Guise
Mejier la vie a grandes guides = (lit.) To drive
life four in
fast life.
hand; (fig.) To live a very
* Qui croit guiller Guillot, Guillot le guille =
" He that seeks others to beguile
Is oft overtaken in his wile."
The biter bit.
[" For often he that will begyle
Is gyled with the same gyle,
And thus the gyler is begyled."
GOWER, Confessio Amantis, 135.
" For 'tis the sport to have the enginer
Hoist with his own petar."
Hamlet, iii. 4.]
// fait (or, agit^ toujours a sa guise = He
always goes his own way ; He always acts
according to his own sweet will.
H.
Habit . . *V habit ne fait pas le moi/ie = The cowl does
not make the friar; The coat does not
make the gentleman.
Prendre Vhabit = To become a monk or a
nun (of the latter, To take the veil).
Habitud . Ce monsieur est un de nos habituis = That
gentleman is one of our regular customers.
Hache . . Cela est fait a coups de hache (or, serpe) =
That is done clumsily, roughly.
Hacher . Je les hacherais menu conwie chair a pate =
I would make mincemeat of them.
Haleine . J'ai couru a perte d'haleine = I ran until I was
out of breath.
Ce sout des phrases a, perte d^ haleine = Those
are very long-winded sentences.
II faut tenir les gefts en haleine = One, must
keep the ball rolling.
Oest un ouvrage de longue haleine — It's a
long job, a heavy piece of work.
140
FRENCH IDIOMS AND PROVERBS
Halle . . Le langage des Halles = Billingsgate.
[Also : des injures de carrefourJ\
Hallebarde Cela rime comme hallebarde et miskricorde^
That does not rhyme at all.
[The usual explanation of this expression is, that, on
the death of the verger of St. Eustache, one of his
friends — a small shopkeeper of the neighbourhood —
wished to write an epitaph for his tomb. Being entirely
ignorant of the rules of verse, he composed the follow-
ing':—
" Ci-git mon ami Mardoche
II a voulu etre enterr6 ^ Saint Eustache
II y porta trente-deux ans la hallebarde
Dieu lui fasse mis6ricorde."
(Par son ami, J, CI. Bombet, 1727.)
But in reality the proverb is much older. It dates from
the time of the old versifiers, one of whose rules was
that two consonants followed by an e mute were suffi-
cient to form a feminine rhyme. This led to abuses
like the above, and this rule was superseded by another,
that the vowel preceding the two consonants must be
alike in both cases.]
Hanter . Dis-moi qui tu hanteSyje te dirai qui tu es =
A man is known by his company ; Birds
of a feather flock together.
Haro . . Crier haro sur quelqu'un = To raise an out-
cry against any one.
[" A ces mots on cria haro sur le baudet."
La Fontaine, Fables, vii. i.
The origin of the word haro is disputed ; Littrd
quotes Diez, who connects it with O. H.G. /iera = \\Qxe.
The old opinion was that it was derived from Ha-
Raoul, an appeal to RoUo, or Hrolf, first Duke of
Normandy, and a mighty lawgiver. However, within
living recollection the cry of Ha-Ro! a [aide, mon
Prince ! was used in the Channel Islands as a protec-
tion against force and fraud, when no other defence
was possible. See a curious tale in ' ' The Gossiping
Guide to Jersey," by J. Bertrand Payne, London,
1863, p. 15.]
Hasard . II corrige le hasard= He cheats at play.
[" La fortune est redevenue mauvaise, il faut la
corriger."
Hamilton, Mimoires de Grammont, iii.]
FRENCH IDIOMS AND PROVERBS
141
Hate
Hater
Haut
Herbe .
Heure
Trop de hate gate to2^t= The more haste, the
less speed.
[Also : Plus on se hate, mains on avance ; Hatez-vous
lentement (Lat. Festina lente); Assez tot si bien ; and
the English popular proverb, ' ' Do nothing hastily save
catching of fleas. "]
Ouvrage
kdte, ouvrage ^«/(? = Haste makes
waste.
Tomber de son haut^{f[g.) To be thunder-
struck.
Regarder de haut en bas = To treat con-
temptuously ; To look down upon with
contempt.
II y a du haut et du bas dans la vie = Life has
its ups and downs.
Haut /ep'ed! = Beoff\
'*'Mauvatse herbe croit toujours = 111 weeds grow
apace.
Voire rival vous coupera V herbe sous le pied=
Your rival will cut you out, will take the
wind out of your sails, will cut the ground
from under your feet.
L! herbe sera bien courte sHl ne trouve a brouter
= It will go hard if he does not pick up a
living; He would live on nothing.
Cest un avocat en herbe = He is studying for
the bar; He is a sucking barrister.
A T heure qu'il est on ne le fait plus = Nowa-
days it is no longer done.
A r heure quHl est il doit savoir la nouvelle =
By this time no doubt he has heard the
news.
Faites-le sur V heure = Do it this very minute.
Je partirai tout a V heure = I will start pre-
sently.
Je Tai vu tout a r heure = 1 saw him just now,
not long ago.
A la bonne heure! ^V^tW done!; That's
right ! ; Capital ! ; That is something
like!
142
FRENCH IDIOMS AND PROVERBS
Heure . . Le quart d'heure de Rabelais = The moment
[continued) of payment (<?r, suspense).
[On returning from Italy, Rabelais found himself in
the south of France with no more money to continue
his journey to Paris. He had dined well at an inn,
and while waiting for his reckoning, he packed up
some dust in small packets whicli he labelled, " Poison
for the King," " Poison for the Dauphin," and so on.
The innkeeper noticing these packets and their terrible
inscriptions, informed the police, who took Rabelais to
Paris free of charge to suffer the penalty of treason.
When he was brought before the King, the monarch
laughed heartily at the tale and let him go free.]
Passer un mauvais quart d^ heure = To have a
bad time of it. .
Histoire . Voila Men des hist aires pour si peu de chose I
= What a fuss about nothing.
Voi/d Men une autre histoire ! = That is quite
another thing.
Histoire (or, Chansons) que tout cela I = That
is all stuff and nonsense.
/.e plus beau de F histoire detait qu'il n^en
savait rien - The best of the joke was he
knew nothing about it.
Histoire de rire = i . For the fun of the thing.
2. It was only a joke.
Hommage Hommage de I'auteur = With the author's
compliments.
Homme . *Hhomme propose et Dieu dispose = Man pro-
poses, God disposes.
[Also : " L'homme sagite et Dieu le mene. "
Fenelon, Sermon four la Fete de VApiphanie, 1685.
"A man's heart deviseth his way, but the Lord
directeth his steps." — Proverbs xvi. 9.
" There's a divinity that shapes our ends,
Rough hew them how we will."— Ha7nlet, v. 2.
German : Der Mensch denkt, Gott lenkt.]
*Le style dest l'homme = Style is the man him-
self; Like author, like book.
[" Ces choses sont hors de l'homme, le style est
l'homme meme,'" — Buffon, Discours de Reception d.
VAcaddmie, 1753. 1 here has been much discussion as
to what Buffon really did write, whether le style est
FRENCH IDIOMS AND PROVERBS
143
Homme
[continued)
Honneur
Honte .
Honteux
Hors .
Hote
Huile
Vhomme meme or le style est DE I'homme vieme. In
most editions after that of Didot (1843) ^^ latter form
will be found, whilst in editions from 1800-1843 the
phrase is absent altogether. In the Recueil de V Acadd-
mie it is printed le style est I'hotnme incme, and of this
the proofs were probably corrected by Buffon himself.
There is a small pamphlet, Discours prononcd dans
r Acaddmie fran^aise, par M. de Buffon, le samedi
25 aoUt 1753, which is probably earlier still, in which
it is also printed thus. However this may be, the
phrase " le style c'est I'homme," which Buffon as-
suredly did Jiot write, has become a French proverb,
and is in everyday use.]
JVous jouons pour P honneur = We are playing
for love.
* Un homme ^honneur n^a que sa parole = An
honest man's word is as good as his
bond.
Jl fait honneur a ses affaires (comm.)=He
meets all his engagements.
// ne pretend a votre fille qu'en tout Men tout
honneur =Yie. has honourable intentions
towards your daughter.
Nous lui avonsfait honte = i. We caused him
to feel ashamed of himself. 2. He was
ashamed of us.
* Jamais honteux n^eut belle amie = Faint heart
never won fair lady.
*// nty a que les honteux qui perdent — Nothing
ask, nothing have.
Hors //^//^ = Standing out from the rest; Out
of the common run; Beyond comparison ;
Incomparable.
Ce peintre est hors concours = That artist is no
longer a competitor (having already re-
ceived the highest award).
*Qui compte sans son hote cofnpte deux fois =
He who reckons without his host must
reckon again.
Sentir rhuile = To smell of the lamp (of
poetry, etc.).
144
FRENCH IDIOMS AND PROVERBS
Huile .
{continited)
Huis
// tirerait de V huile d'un 7nur=He would
skin a flint, get blood from a stone. (See
Cheveux and (Euf.)
[Aquam a pumice postulare. — Plautus.]
Be r huile de bras = Elbow grease.
A huis clos — With closed doors ; in camera.
I.
Image . . Cette petite fille est sage comme u?ie image ^
That little girl is very quiet, is as good as
gold.
Importance Faire rhomme d' importance = To play the
consequential ; To give oneself airs ; To
be pompous.
Importer . QuHmporte ? = No matter ! It is of no con-
sequence.
Que mHmporte 1 = What is that to me ?
Peu importe ^ It does not much matter.
Venez nHmporte quand = Come at any time,
no matter when, whenever you please.
Impossible *^ V impossible ?iul n^est tenu = There is no
doing impossibilities ; No living man all
things can.
Index . . Les grevistes mirent cette boutique a V index =
The strikers boycotted that shop.
[The Index Expurgatorius is a list of books compiled
for the Pope which Roman Catholics are forbidden to
read.]
Injure . • lis se sent dit milk injures = They abused
one another like pickpockets.
Vous lui/aites injure == You wrong him.
Inscrire . Je fn' inserts en faux contre cette assertion =
I emphatically deny the truth of that
assertion.
Insu . . // sortit a mon insu = He went out without
my knowing it.
FRENCH IDIOMS AND PROVERBS
145
Intelligence Vivre en bonne intelligence avec quelqu'un =■•
To live on good terms with some one.
Intention . ''' LHntention est reputce pour le fait = The will
is taken for the deed.
J^ai mis ce livre de cote a voire intention = I
put that book on one side especially for
you (to read, to see).
Jamais
Jambe
Jaune
Jean
Jeter
Au grand jamais = Never, no never.
// court a toutes Jambes = He is running as
fast as his legs will carry him.
[Compare : a toute bride, a toute vapeur, a toute
vitesse. ]
// a pris ses jambes a son cou = He took to
his heels.
II a joue des jambes = He took to flight.
// a des jambes de quinze ans = He still walks
well.
Ce/a ne lui rend pas la jambe mieux faite I
(ironic.) = And a lot of good that will do
him !
Cela vous ferait une belle jambe (ironic.) = A '
fine lot of good that will do you.
// a ks jambes en manche de veste (fam.) = He
is bow-legged.
// le /era par dessous la jambe = He will do
it with the greatest ease {or, carelessly).
// a des fourmis dans les jambes =■■ He is
fidgety, restless.
Jaune conwie un coing= As yellow as a guinea.
Etre gros Jean conmie devant = To be no
better off than one was before, in spite of
all one's efforts.
[Rabelais, Pantagruel, iv. second prologue, and La
Fontaine, Fables, vii. 10.]
Iljette son argent par les fenetres = He plays
ducks and drakes with his money.
146 FRENCH IDIOMS AND PROVERBS
Jeter . . Cest jeter de Vhuile siir le feu = It is adding
[continued) fuel to the fire (flames).
Jeu . . . '^Jeu qui trop dure ne vaut rieti (Charles
d'Orleans) = Too much of a good thing
is bad.
Cest vteuxjeu = That is quite old-fashioned.
Ne me mettez pas en jeu = Do not mix me up
in it.
Cela passe le jeu = That is beyond a joke.
*feu de mains ^ jeu de vilains = i. Horse-play
is not gentlemanly. 2. Rough play often
ends in tears.
II fait bonne mine a mauvais jeu — He puts a
good face on the matter ; He makes the
best of a bad job.
*A beau jeu beau retour = One good turn
deserves another.
Nous sommes a deux de jeu = We are even ;
We are a match for each other ; Two can
play at that game.
Je vous dofine beau jeu = (lit.) I give you good
cards; (fig.) I give you a good oppor-
tunity ; I play into your hands.
fouer grosjeu = (lit.) To play for high stakes ;
(fig.) To risk very much in an attempt.
Ce/a n' est pas du jeu = i. That is not fair,
not cricket ; You are not playing the
game. 2. That was not agreed upon.
Jeune . . * Qui jeune n'apprend^ rien ne saura = An old
dog will learn no tricks, {^ee. Jeunesse.)
Jeunesse *Si jeunesse savait^ si vieillesse pouvait = If
only the young had experience and the
old strength ; If things were to be done
twice, all would be wise.
Ce que pou/ai?i prend en jeunesse, il le continue
en vieillesse =
" 'Tis education forms the common mind.
Just as the twig is bent the tree's inclined."
[Pope, Moral Essays, i. 149.]
FRENCH IDIOMS AND PROVERBS
147
Jeunesse . Youth and white paper take any im-
[cuntirnied] pression.
[Also : Vieil arbre mal aise a redresser. Compare
the English, "Old dogs are hard to train." (See/<?««^.)
' ' Train up a child in the way he should go, and when
he is old he will not depart from it," — Proverbs
xxii. 6.]
// faut que jeunesse se passe = Boys will be
boys.
Joie . . . I7n rabat-joie = A mar-joy ; A wet blanket.
Jouer . Iljoua de son res^e^He played his last card;
He was on his last legs.
[Carefully distinguish this from Joiilr de son reste=
To make the most of one's remaining time.]
11 joue au plus sur = He plays a safe game.
Jouer de malheur ^ To have a run of ill-
luck.
Jouer serre = To act cautiously ; To leave
nothing to chance.
Jour . . Ces gens vivent au jour le jour ^ Those
men live from day to day, from hand to
mouth.
*^ chaque jour suffit sa peine = Sufficient unto
the day is the evil thereof.
Je sut's a jour = I am up to date ; I am not
behind in my work.
*Tdt ou tard la verite se fait jour = Sooner or
later the truth will come out.
Cest lejour et la null = They are as different
as chalk and cheese.
// n'est si long jour qui ?ie vienne a vepres =
" Be the day weary, be the day long,
At length it ringeth to evensong."
[From a poem by Stephen Hawes, a poet of the reign
of Henry VII.
Compare :
" Come what come may,
Time and the hour runs through the roughest day."
Macbeth, i. 3.
And
Come day, go day,
God brings Sunday.]
148
FRENCH IDIOMS AND PROVERBS
Jour . . *^ bon jour^ bonne oeuvre = The better the
[continued) day, the better the deed.
*CV n^ est pas tons tes Jours fete = i. Christmas
comes but once a year. 2. One cannot
always have "a high old time," but must
work as well. 3. Life is not all beer and
skittles.
D^aujourd^hui en huit = This day week.
II y a aujourd'hui huit jours = This day last
week.
En plein jour = In broad daylight.
II y a quinze ans jour pour jour — It was
fifteen years ago to the very day.
Prendre jour = To agree upon a day for an
appointment.
Juge . • "^ De fou juge brieve {brhe) sentence = A fool's
bolt is soon shot.
Juger . . Juger sur Vetiquette du sac = To judge by
appearances, by the exterior.
Au juger = At a guess.
Jurer . . le vert jure avec le jau7ie = Green does not
match with yellow ; Green clashes with
yellow.
Jurer comme un templier {charretier^ paien) =
To swear like a trooper.
Juste . . Au plus juste prix = At the lowest price.
Coffime de juste = Rightly enough.
[Littr6 condemns this expression as ungrammatical,
giving the correct form as : comme 'il est juste. It is,
however, almost universally used.]
Justice . Passer a pleines voiles a travers les mailles de
la justice = To drive a coach - and - four
through an Act of Parliament.
[Also : II est facile de donner une entorse a la lot.]
La justice ne connait personne = Justice is no
respecter of persons.
FRENCH IDIOMS AND PROVERBS
149
Lk . . . Je jette la mon soufflet avec depit = I fling
a§ide my bellows in disgust.
[E. SOUVESTRE, Le Philosophe sous les ioiis.]
Laine . . JVous sommes alles chercher de la laine ei nous
sommes revenus tondus = We went out to
shear and returned shorn ; The biter bit.
Laisser . Cela laisse a desirer = There is room for im-
provement; It is not quite the thing.
Je lie laisse pas d^etre inquiet = In spite of all
that, I am anxious.
[Here we have the old meaning of laisser (=]axare)
to leave off. Hence, I do not leave off being anxious.]
C'esl a prendre ou a laisser = You must take
it or leave it ; It's a case of Hobson's
choice.
II se laissafaire ^ He offered no resistance.
■*"y^ vis de bonne soupe et non de beau langage "
= " Fair words butter no parsnips."
[The French is found in Moliere, Les Femmes
Savantes, ii, 7, and the English equivalent in
Wycherley, Plain Dealer, v. 3.
Also : C'est un be I instrument que la langue.'\
lis tiraient la langue = (lit.) They put their
tongues out; (fig.) They showed signs of
distress.
// a la langue trop longue = He cannot hold
his tongue.
// a la langue bien pe?tdue = He has the gift
of the gab.
Jeter sa langue aux chiens = To give up
guessing (conundrums, etc.). (See Chat.)
La langue lui a fourche = He made a slip of
the tongue.
Lanterne . // 7Jeut nous faire prendre des vessies pour des
lanternes = He would have us believe
that the moon is made of green cheese.
Langage
Langue
15°
Large .
Larron
Latin
Lettre
Lever
Levre
Liard
FRENCH IDIOMS AND PROVERBS
Prendre le large = To run for the offing
(nav.) ; To run away.
Au large = In the open sea. (See P/ein.)
lis s'entendent corHme larrons en foire = They
are as thick as thieves.
'''L occasion fait le larron = Opportunity makes
the thief; Keep yourself from oppor-
tunities and God will keep you from
sins.
[" How oft the sight of means to do ill deeds
Makes ill deeds done."
Shakespeare, King John, iv. 2.]
Latin de cuisine = Dog Latin.
/y perds mon latin = I cannot make it out;
1 am nonplussed; I can make neither
head nor tail of it.
Eire au bout de son latin (or, rouleau^ = To
be at one's wits' end ; Not to know what
to do, or say, next.
Je lui ai dit la chose en toutes lettres = I
told him the matter plainly.
Ne prenez pas ce que je dis au pied de la lettre
= Do not take what I say literally.
J' en leverais la main = I would swear to it ;
I would take my oath to it.
[The oath in courts of justice is taken in many
countries with the right hand raised, palm outwards.
In England we kiss a Bible.]
Le president leva la stance = The chairman
dissolved the meeting ; The Speaker left
the chair.
*A qui se leve ?natin Dieu prete la main = It
is the early bird that catches the worm.
J' avals le mot sur le bord des levres (or, au
bout de la langue) = I had the word at the
tip of my tongue.
// n'a pas un rouge liard = He has not a
brass farthing. (See Radis.)
FRENCH IDIOMS AND PROVERBS
151
Lievre . Oest la que git le lievre = That is the main
point; There's the rub.
*// ne faut pas courir deux lievres a la fois =
You must not have too many irons in the
fire.
// a une memoir e de lievre = He has a
memory Hke a sieve.
[Also : // est comme les litvres, il perd la mcmoire en
courant]
II veut prendre les lihjres au son du tambour
= He makes a great noise about what
should be kept secret ; He divulged a plan
which to succeed had to be kept secret.
Oest un homme hors ligne = He is a first-rate
man. (See Hors.)
II est en premiere ligne = He is in the front
rank.
// a une tete de linotte =-- He is a hare-brained
fellow.
Traduire a livre ouvert = To translate at
sight.
Revenir de loin ^ i. To come back from a
distant place. 2. To recover from a very
severe illness.
De loin en loin = At long intervals.
*Tout s'use a la longue = Everything wears
out in time.
[Tout passe, tout casse, tout lasse.']
II se promenait de long en large = He was
walking up and down, to and fro.
// en sail trop long= He knows too much.
// m^a raconte la chose tout au long = He told
me every detail of the affair.
// etait etendu tout de son long = He was
lying at full length.
Longer . Longer la cote = To hug the shore.
Longueur Ce proces traine en longueur = That lawsuit
is dragging on slowly.
Ligne . .
Linotte
Livre . .
Loin . .
Long . .
152 FRENCH IDIOMS AND PROVERBS
Louer . . ^^/^/^^ /^«^jVw<^^/^f = Self-praise is no recom-
mendation.
Loup . . // viarche a pas de loup = He walks stealthily.
// es^ connu comme le loup blanc = He is
known to every one.
*Quand on park du loup^ on en voit la queue
(or, il sort du bois) = Speak of angels and
you hear their wings ; Talk of the devil,
he is sure to appear.
"^Le loup mourra dans sa peau = A bad thing
never dies; A bad man will die a bad
man.
[Lupus pilum mutat non mentem. Erasmus
(Adagia 989) gives the Greek origin of this saying,
6 \\)Ko% TTjv Tpixa ov TTjv yvcofiT]!' dXXctTTei, but he
quotes no author.]
Tem'r le loup par la queue = To have hold
of the sow by the wrong ear.
On fait toujour s le loup plus gros qu'il n^est =
A tale never loses in the telling.
*Il faut hurler avec les loups = When we are
at Rome we must do as Rome does ;
You must do as others do; He who
kennels with wolves must howl.
["Evil communications corrupt good manners"
(i Cor. XV. 33). Paul quoted this iambic line form
Menander's "Thais," " ^0eipov(nv ijdri XPW^^ ofJiiXlai
KaKai."
The proverb about Rome is said to have originated
with St. Ambrose, who, when he was asked by St.
Augustine whether he should fast on Saturday or not
when he was at Rome, although he was not accustomed
to do so when at home, replied : " When I am at home
I do not fast on Saturday ; but when I am at Rome I
do, and I think you should follow the custom of every
city you visit, if you would avoid scandal." From this
reply originated the hexameter : Cum Romae fueris
Romano vive more = When you shall be at Rome, live
after the Roman fashion.]
Tenir le loup par les ore tiles = To be in a
critical situation ; To have caught a
Tartar.
['* Auribus lupum teneo." — Terence, Phormio, iii.
2, 21.]
FRENCH IDIOMS AND PROVERBS
153
Loup .
{continued)
Lundi
Lune
II fait unfroid de loup = It is terribly cold.
*Z(?^ loups ne se mangent pas entre eux = Dog
does not eat dog ; There is honour among
thieves. (See Corsaire.)
Renfermer le loup dans la bergerie = To set
the fox to keep the geese.
lis se sont mis dans la gueule du loup ^ They
rushed into the lion's mouth.
C^est U7t vieux loup de mer = He is an old
sea dog.
Faire la Saitit-Lundi ) ^^ •, 1
' 77^-« V • * T J- ( I o do no work on
Feter Saint Lundt > = tv/t ^i
Faire le Lundi ) ^'
Faire un trou a la lune = "To shoot the
moon"; To flee from one's creditors.
(See Cloche.)
Vouloir prendre la lune avec les dents = To
attempt impossibilities.
[" Prendre la lune aux dents seroit mains difficile."
La Fontaine, Le Roi Candaule.l
M.
Macher . Je ne lui ai pas mdche la chose = I did not
mince matters with him.
Je lui ai donne sa besogne toute mdchee = I gave
him his work all ready cut out ; I made
his work as easy as possible for him.
Madame . Elk fait la Madame = She gives herself airs
(of little girls).
Mai . . . Mi-mai, queue d^hiver = The middle of May
has usually three cold days (called Les
saints de glace, May 11, 12, and 13^).
Maigre . Faire maigre = To abstain from meat.
Faire maigre chere = To have poor fare.
Maigre comme un clou = As thin as a lath.
154 FRENCH IDIOMS AND PROVERBS
Maille . . // n\i ni sou ni maille = He has not got a rap,
a brass farthing.
Avoir maille a partir avec quelquhm = To
have a bone to pick (a crow to pluck) with
some one.
{Maille ( = mite) was the smallest coin in France,
and therefore could not be divided. Hence the saying
means to have a quarrel with some one. Notice the
old meaning oi partir in this idiom = to divide (Lat.
partiri).]
Maille a maille se fait P liaubergeon = Many a
httle makes a mickle. (See Goutte and
Petit.)
Main . . £>onnez-moiunepoign^edemain = ^h2ikQh?cndiS
with me.
Donnez-77ioi un coup de main = Give me a
helping hand.
Vous rCy allez pas de main morte = You hit
with a vengeance; You don't do things
by halves.
Avoir un poll dans la 7nain = To be very lazy
(so that hair grows on the palm of the
hand).
Avoir la main heureiise — 'Yo be lucky at cards
(or, at other things).
Avoir la main rompue a quelque chose = To be
well versed at something.
Je le connais de longue main = I have known
him for a long time.
// disparut en un tour de main = He dis-
appeared in an instant, in a twinkling.
// a une chambre grande co7?ime la main = He
has a room not big enough to swing a
cat in.
En venir aux 7nains = To come to blows.
Bas les mains = Hands off.
Zes deux armees en sont aux mains = The two
armies are in close combat, have come to
close quarters.
/e meperds la main = I am getting rusty.
FRENCH IDIOMS AND PROVERBS
155
Main . . Je tirais au pistolet pour me fair e la main = I
{contitiued) practised pistol-shooting to get my hand in.
II y a mis la derniere main -= He put the
finishing touch to it.
Ilafaitcela haut la main =■■ He did it with
the greatest ease.
Mettre la main a la pate = To put one's
shoulder to the wheel; To set to (a
special piece of) work oneself.
Les voleurs firent mai?i basse sur tous mes
eJ^els = The thieves laid hands on all my
things.
Pour cela je vous baise les mains = As for that
I will not do it ; " No, thank you ! "
yV« mettrais la main au feu = I would swear
to it ; I would stake my life on it ; I would
take my dying oath about it.
[A reference to trial by ordeal.]
Mais . . Je n'en peux mais / = I cannot help it !
[Mais is here an adverb, and shows its derivation from
the Latin magis. The phrase literally means : " I can
do no more."]
Maison . Faire maison neuve (or, nette^ = To change-
all one's servants.
II fait des demandes par dessus les maisons =
He makes most unreasonable demands.
Maitre . *Tel f^iattre, tel valet =\j^it. master, like man.
[Or : Tel cotdeati, tel fourreau.
German : Wie der Herr, so der Knecht.']
C^est une maitres'se femme = She is a superior
woman.
[One who manages her business or subordinates
capably, makes her servants obey her and do their
work well, and is respected by them,]
Mai . . ^A qui mal veut, mal arrive = Harm watch,
harm catch ; Curses, like chickens, come
home to roost.
[This proverb is said to be of Turkish origin. The
Spanish equivalent is : " Who sows thorns, let him not
walk barefoot." Comp. Psalms cix. 17.]
iS6
FRENCH IDIOMS AND PROVERBS
Mai . . /"ai ma/ au cceur= I feel sick,
(continued) Vous pretiez tout en 7nal = You put a wrong
construction on everything.
Elk s'est trouvee mal^ She fainted.
Elle est au plus 7nal= She is past recovery.
Sa sceur ainie ti est pas mal= Her elder sister
is not bad-looking.
*Aux grands maux les grands remldes =
Desperate diseases require desperate re-
medies.
Malheur . *yi quelque chose malheur est bon = It is an
ill wind that blows no one any good.
[" A quelque chose sert le malheur."
Montaigne, Essais, ii. 17.]
Pour surcroit (or, comble) de fnalheur il tomba
malade = To crown his misfortunes he
fell ill.
"''■ Un malheur ne vient jamais seul= Misfortunes
never come singly ; It never rains but it
pours.
[Ital. Benedetto e quel male, che vien j<7/<?= Blessed is
that misfortune which comes alone,]
' // n^est qu'heur et malheur = Th2it's the way
of the world.
Manant . C'est un manant= He is a coarse, ill-educated
boor.
[From manens=one remaining fixed to the soil, a
villein, serf.]
"M-SLnche (m.) /I branle dans le manche (or, au manche) =
He is no longer firmly established in his
post ; He is irresolute.
'''Jeter le manche aprls la cognee = To throw
the rope after the bucket ; To give up in
despair.
Manche (/)y<? ne me ferai pas tirer par la manche = I
shall not require much pressing.
C^est une autre paire de manches = That is
quite another thing; That is a horse of
another colour, another pair of shoes.
FRENCH IDIOMS AND PROVERBS
57
Manche {/•)/'at gag?te la previiere 7iianche = I won the
{continjied) first game (out of two or more).
^e Vai dans ma manche = I have h
disposal.
je
have him at mv
Manger
Maniere .
Manquer .
Marchand
March^
He eats like an
// 77iange comme quatre
ogre.
// a mange son pain blanc le premier = He
had the happiest part of his life first.
(See Fain.)
Manger son ble en herbe = To anticipate one's
revenue.
// a 7nange de la vache enragee = He has
suffered many privations.
// est tres ifiquiety il en perd le boire et le
manger = He is very anxious, he has lost
his appetite.
Je Vai rosse de la belle maniere (fam.) = I gave
him a sound thrashing.
Vous me manquez = I miss you.
Je vous ?nanque = You miss me.
// a manque d^etre pris = He was nearly
caught.
C'esl un avocat manque = He is a would-be
barrister ; He is a failure as a barrister.
C^est un gargon manque = She is a tomboy.
Ce yerail manquer d'usage = That would be a
breach of good manners.
// ne manquait plus que cela / — That crowns
all ! That is the last straw !
Cest un marchand de soupe = He is a regular
Squeers.
[This is said of a private schoolmaster who, far from
regarding his profession as an honourable one, follows
it solely with a view to profit, by having few and inferior
assistants and by feeding his pupils cheaply and badly
(thus making a profit on the soup). He looks upon
teaching as the least important part of his work. Of
course, this race of men is now entirely extinct.]
Far dessus le marche = Into the bargain ;
Over and above.
158
FRENCH IDIOMS AND PROVERBS
Marchd
{continued)
Marde .
Marine
Marmite
Marotte
Mars .
Marteau
// vCa ?nis le marche a la main = He told me
I could take it or leave it ; He made me
decide one way or the other.
Est-ce marche fait 2 =\^ it a bargain ?
Vous en etes qui tie a bon ??iarche = You came
off cheaply.
Vous aurez bon marche de lui = You will
easily get the better of him.
/e fais bon marche de cela — I hold that very
cheap.
Oti n^a jamais bon marche d'une mauvaise
marchandise — A bad thing is dear at any
price ; The best is the cheapest in the
end.
■*C^ qui vient de flot s^en retourne de marie —
Fortune is as quick in going as in coming.
(See Fiate.)
II se plaint que la mariee est trop belle = He
complains that he has got too good a
bargain.
Faire bouillir la marmite = To keep the pot
boiling.
Chacun a sa marotte = Every one has his
hobby.
[Marotte is a kind of sceptre or rattle with a head on
the end, furnished with bells, which jesters carry.]
*Mars venteux et Avril pluvieux
Font le Mai gai et gracieux =
March winds and April showers
Make way for May flowers.
*Mieux vaut etre marteau qu^enclufue = ^Qtier
be striker than struck.
Etre entre renclume et le tnarteau = To be in
a dilemma ; To be between the devil and
the deep sea.
Graisser le ?narteau = To tip the porter.
[There is the same idea in " Palm oil."]
FRENCH IDIOMS AND PROVERBS
59
Martel .
Massacrer
Mati^re .
Matin . .
Maure
// sest mis ??iartel eti fe^e = 'He made himself
very uneasy.
// es^ (Tune hwieur niassacrante = He is as
cross as two sticks.
// est bien enfonce dans la ma/iere=He is
very coarse, very prosaic.
La tabk des inatieres = The table of contents
(of a book).
// partira un de ces quatre matins = He will
start one of these fine days.
Traiter quelqu'un de Turc a Maure = To
treat a person brutally.
[As the Turks treated the Moors when they conquered
the north of Africa.
cules, lo.
See Moliekp:, Prdcieuses Ridi-
*A laver la tete d'un Maure (or, d'un dne, or,
d'un negre) on y perd sa lessive = To en-
deavour to teach a fool is a waste of time.
Meche , . II a events (or, vendii) la vieche = He has let
the cat out of the bag ; He has blown
the gaff.
// «jv a pas meche (pop.) = " It's no go " ;
There is no doing it.
Medaille . Cest le revers de la medaille = 'Y\\dX is the
dark side of the picture.
Medard . '''S'il pleut le jour de St. Medard,
II pleut quaraftte Jours plus tard,
S'il pleut le jour de St. Gervais^
II pleut quarafite jours apres^
" St Swithin's day, gif ye do rain
For forty days will it remain."
[Le jour de St. Medard = June 8.
Le jour de St. Gervais=June 19.
St. Swithin's Day^^July 15.]
Mddecin . Voila trois medecins qui ne vous trompent pas:
Gatte^ doux exercice et modeste repas =
The best physicians are Dr. Diet,
Dr. Quiet, and Dr. Merriman.
i6o
FRENCH IDIOMS AND PROVERBS
M^fiance . *La mefiance est mere de la surete = Safe bind,
safe find.
[La Fontaine, Fables, iii. i8.]
M^me . . // buvait a mhne la bouteille = He was
drinking out of the bottle itself.
[This is an inversion for a la bouteille mime. Boire a
mime is not usually used of cups or glasses, but of
bottles, jugs, streams, etc. For it implies that the
containing vessel itself is being used to drink out of,
and not any smaller vessel. Thus boire a mime le
verre would suggest that a spoon or smaller receptacle
was not used.]
// est a meme de vous comprendre = He is able
to understand you.
Ce/a revient au meme = ThsLt comes to the
same thing.
Cest cela meme = That is the very thing.
Fat'tes de meme = Do the same.
Manage . lis font bon menage = They live happily to-
gether.
£lle fait le fnenage = She is doing her house-
work.
Manager . * Qj^I veut voyager loin menage sa monture =
Who wishes to go far spares his horse;
He who wishes to live long avoids excess.
[Racine, Plaideurs, i. i.]
Mentir . *^ beau mentir qui vient de loin = A traveller
may lie with impunity; Travellers tell fine
tales.
Quasi et presque empechent les gens de mentir =
Almost and very nigh save many a lie.
M^prendre Quebec, c'est Saint- Malo a s'y tniprendre (Max
O'Rell) = You could easily mistake
Quebec for St. Malo.
Mer . . *Cf n^ est pas la mer a boire = It is not an impos-
sibility; It is not so very difficult after all.
'''Porter de Veau a la mer = To carry coals to
Newcastle.
FRENCH IDIOMS AND PROVERBS
i6i
M^rite .
Merle . ,
Merveille
Messe . .
Metier
Mettre
Midi
Mien .
Remplir son merite = To act aip to one's
reputation.
*(9// tie pr end pas les vieux merles a la pipee^-
Old birds are not to be caught with chaff.
// se porte a merveille = He is in splendid
health.
*Prh du moutier, a messe le dernier = The
nearer the church, the farther from God.
// nous a servi un plat de son metier (or, de
safapn) = He played us one of his tricks.
* '■^ A chacun son metier et les vaches seront bien
gardees" (Florian, i^a^/<?j-, i. 12) = Let the
cobbler stick to his last.
[" Ne sutor ultra crepidam " (judicet).]
Mettez cent francs = Make it ^£4.
J I se mettrait en quatre pour ses amis =-- He
would do anything for his friends.
// se met bien = He dresses well.
On veiit nous mettre dedans (fam.) = They
want to entrap us, to take us in.
Chercher midi a quatorze heures=^To make
(<7r, seek) difficulties where there are none;
To look for grapes on thorns.
[This expression has its origin in the old custom,
still in use in some parts of Italy, of reckoning the hours
of the day consecutively from i to 24, beginning at
sunset. Hence, noon may vary from the i6th to the
20th hour, but is never the 14th. Voltaire's epigram
for a sun-dial is very well known , but may bear repe-
tition : —
" Vous qui vivez dans ces demeures,
fetes-vous bien? tenez-vous y,
Et n'^allez pas chercher midi
A quatorze heures."]
Chacun connait midi a sa porte = Each one
knows his own business best.
jy ai mis du mien, mettez-y du votre = I have
given way a bit, meet me half-way ; I have
done my share at it, now it's your turn.
L
l62
FRENCH IDIOMS AND PROVERBS
Mieux . . *Le mteux est Vennemi du Men = Leave well
alone.
lis criaient a qui mieux inieux — Each
was trying to shout louder than the
other; Each tried to drown the others'
voices.
Je ne demande pas mieux = Nothing would
give me greater pleasure.
Elk est mieux que sa soeur ^ She is prettier
than her sister.
Fauie de mieux =^ For want of something
better.
Tant mieux = So much the better.
// est au mieux avec son jncdecift = He is on
the best terms with his doctor.
On ?ie peut mieux = As well as possible ; It
could not be better.
Vous arrivez 07i ne peut niieux = You could
not have come at a more opportune
moment.
Milieu . . Le Juste milieu = The golden mean.
Au beau milieu = In the very midst.
Vertu git au milieu = Do not rush into ex-
tremes.
[In medio tutissimus ibis = Allez par le milieu et
vous ne tomberez pas. Compare the English : When
slovenly girls get tidy, they polish the bottoms of
saucepans.]
Mine . . Faire bonne mine a mauvais jeu = To put a
good face on the matter ; To make the
best of a bad job.
If fait mine de ne pas comprendre = He pre-
tends not to understand.
// nous a fait mauvaise (or, grise) ffiine =■ He
looked black (sour) at us ; He did not
receive us well.
Cet homme a tres mauvaise mine = i. That
man looks a regular ruffian. 2. That man
looks very ill.
FRENCH IDIOMS AND PROVERBS
163
Mine . , II ne paye pas de mine = His appearance is
{contimied) against him.
Ne jugez pas sur la fnine = Do not judge by
appearances.
[" Garde-toi, tant que tu vivras,
Dejuger des gens sur la mine."
La Fontaine, Fables, vi. 5.]
Elk fait la mine = She is sulking.
Mode . . Elle est ma tante a la mode de Bretagne ^
She is my father's {pr^ mother's) first
cousin ; She is my first cousin once re-
moved.
Elle est ma niece a la mode de Bretagne = She
is the daughter of my first cousin.
[These phrases are used of any very distant relation-
ship.]
Moindre . Cest Id son moitidre dcfaut = That is not a
great weakness of hers {or, his) ; That is
the last thing you can reproach her (or,
him) with.
[La Fontaine, Fables, i. i.]
Moineau . Deux moineaux sur mime ipi ne sont pas long-
tefnps amis = Two of a trade seldom
agree.
['' Kal Kepa/xevi Kepafiei Koreei Kai tcktovi t^ktuv
Kat TTTOJX^s TTTOJXV <p0ovi€i Kal doi86s AotStiJ."
Hesiod, Opera et dies, 25.]
// tire sa poudre aux inoineaux = He wastes
his trouble for nothing.
Mois .
. Tous les 36 du mois = Once in a blue
moon.
Monde
. Cest vieux comme le monde = It is as old as
the hills.
Vous dites des choses de V autre monde = You
say most out-of-the-way things.
// y a un 7nonde fou = There is a terrible
crowd. (See Fou.)
164 FRENCH IDIOMS AND PROVERBS
Monde . Vous moquez-vons du mojide de ^arler ainsil
[conthudcd) — Are you making fun of people (are you
serious) in speaking thus ? Do you take
people for a pack of fools ?
Si vous obtefiez cinq francs^ (fest le bout du
monde = If you get five francs, it is the
utmost; You will get five francs at the
very outside.
Si elle a trente ans <^est tout le bout du
monde = She may be thirty at the very
outside.
On ne peut contenter tout ie 7iwnde et son pere
= One cannot satisfy everybody, all the
world and his wife.
[" Parbleu, dit le meunier, est bien fou du cerveau
Qui pretend contenter tout le monde et son pere."
La Fontaine, Fables, iii. i.]
Monnaie • H lui a rendu la inonnaie de sa piece = He
paid him back in his own coin.
Mont . . Par monts et par vaux = Up hill and down
dale.
Montde . A grande month grande descente = The higher
the rise, the greater the fall; He who
climbs too high is near a fall.
[" Vaulting ambition which o'erleaps itself."
Shakespeare, Macbeth, i. 7.
Also : La Roche Tarpt'ienne est p res du Capitole.]
Montrer . Montrer le soleil avec un fla7nbcau = To paint
the lily ; To hold a farthing rushlight to
the sun.
Mordre . Se mordre les doigis = To repent what one
has done.
Se mordre la langue = To repent what one
has said.
Mort . . // est mort de sa belle mort = He died a
natural death.
// est a r article de la mort= He is at the
point of death, at death's door.
FRENCH IDIOMS AND PROVERBS
65
Mort . . Quand on compte sur les Soulier s d'un mort on
[continued) risquc de marcher pieds nus = It's an ill
thing to wait for dead men's shoes; He
pulls with a long rope that waits for
another's death.
[Also: Qui s' attend a r dcuelle d autrui risque fort
de mat diner.']
Avoir la mort dans Vdine = To be grieved
to death ; To be overwhelmed with grief.
Morveux . '''Qui se sent tnorveux se mouche (pop.) = If the
cap fits, wear it. (See Galeux.)
Mot . . . lis en sont venus aux gros mots = They came
to high words.
'''Qui ne dit mot consent = Silence gives con-
sent.
// a toujours le mot pour rire = He is ever
ready with a joke ; He is full of fun.
// a 40,000 francs de rente au has mot = He
has ^1600 a year at the very least.
*^ bon entendeur de?ni-mot suffit (or, salut) =
A word to the wise is enough; Verbum
sap.
II entend a demi-mot = He can take a hint.
lis se sont donne le mot = They have passed
the word round ; They have agreed before-
hand what to say.
Tranchons le mot = In plain English ; Not
to mince matters ; To put it plainly.
C'est mon dernier mot — That is the last
concession I can make ; I will not take
less.
// salt le fin ?not de tout cela = He under-
stands the upshot of all this.
A^e soufflez pas mot f = Do not breathe a
word !
En deux mots = To cut a long story short.
Des mots longs d'une toise = Words as long as
your arm.
[Racine, Plaideurs, i, i.]
i66
FRENCH IDIOMS AND PROVERBS
Mot . . Je ne mdche pas mes tnots = I don't mince
{continued) matters ; I call a spade a spade.
Mouche . Les grosses mouches passent a travers la toile
de la justice^ mats les petites y sont prises =
One man may steal a horse, while another
dare not look over the hedge; Justice
will whip a beggar, but bow to a lord;
One does the scath, another has the harm ;
The crow gets pardoned, and the dove
has the blame.
[" Ou laguepe a passd, le moucheron demeure."
La Fontaine, Fables, ii. i6.
" Quidquid delirant reges, plectuntur Achivi."
HoR., Ep., i. 2.
Italian : Un fa il peccato, I'altro la penitenza,]
* Vous faites (Tune 7nouche un elephant = You
make a mountain out of a molehill.
[" Parturiunt monies, nascetur ridiculus mus."
Horace, Ars Poetica.']
Quelle mouche vouspiquel = What irritates you?
What whim have you got into your head ?
/la pris la mouche == He is in a huff; He
got offended.
*0n prend plus de mouches avec du miel qu!avec
du vinaigre = More is done by kindness
than by harshness.
Cesl une fine mouche = He is a sly dog, a
deep one.
Cest la mouche du coche = He is a regular
busybody ; The worst wheel makes the
most noise. (See Coche and Bruit.)
Faire ?nouche = To hit the bull's eye.
Moudre . // viendra moudre a notre moulin = He will
be in want of us some day.
Moulin . Cest un vrai moulin a paroles = She is a
regular chatterbox ; He is a regular wind-
bag.
Moutarde // m'a fait monter la moutarde au 7iez = He
irritated me; He made me lose my
temper.
1
FRENCH IDIOMS AND PROVERBS
167
Moutarde Cest de la moutarde apres diner = It comes
[continued] too late to be of any use ; It is a day
after the fair.
[" Depugnato proelio venire." — Plautus, Men-
aechmi, v, 6, 30.
"KaTOTTti/ T97S €opTT]s 7//ceis " = You have come after
the feast. — Plato, Gorgias.']
Mou tardier // se croit le premier moutardier du pape =
He thinks no small beer of himself.
Mou ton
Moyen
Mur
Muraille
Musique
^Revenons a nos moutons = But to return to
our subject.
[From an old farce of the fifteenth century, Maistre
Pierre Pathelin, verse 1191, attributed without founda-
tion to Pierre Blanchet. M. F. G^nin in his edition
(1854) gives 1460 as the date, and Antoine de la Sale
as the author. It was adapted in 1706 by Brueys and
Palaprat, under the title of VAvocat Patelin. See
also R^GNIER, Sat. , ii.]
// n^y a pas fnoyen = It cannot be done.
II fait valoir ses moyens = i. He makes the
best of his talents. 2. He boasts of his
talents.
Cet enfant a pen de moyens = That child is
not clever.
Je Vai mis au pied du mur = I drove him
into a corner; I made him decide one
w?y or the other.
*Murai/ie blanche^ papier defou = Fools write
their names on walls.
[Late Latin : Stultorum calami, carbones moenia
chartae,]
// est regie comme un papier de musique = He
is as regular as clockwork.
N.
Nage . . Jc suis tout en nage = I am in a thorough
perspiration ; I have not a dry thread on
me.
i68
FRENCH IDIOMS AND PROVERBS
Navette • Faire la navette = To go to and fro between
two places several times.
N^fle . . Avoir quelque chose pour des nefies (fam.) =
To buy something for a mere song.
Nerf . . Vous me donnez sur les nerfs = You get on
my nerves ; You rile me (fam.).
Net . . • Mettez cela au net= Make a fair copy of that.
// a les mains nettes (fig.) = He is honest;
His hands are clean.
Refuser net = To refuse point-blank.
Nez . . . II a un pied de nez (fam.) = He pulls a long
face, looks foolish.
[Also : II fait un nes.]
II a fait un pied de nez (fam.) = He put
his fingers to his nose; "He cut a
snook."
Ce coup Va fait saigner du nez = That blow
made his nose bleed.
// a saigne du nez = (lit.) His nose bled;
(fig.) His heart failed him.
A vue de nez = By rule of thumb.
// veut toujours fourrer son nez partout (fam.)
= He wants to have his finger in every
pie. (See Fourrer.)
On voulait lui tirer les vers du nez = They
wished to pump him.
Fous vous y casserez le nez = i. You will fall
on your face. 2. You will knock up
against something. 2. You will fail in
that.
Porter le nez au vent = To stare about aim-
lessly.
// me regarda sous le nez = He stared me in
the face.
// me I'a jeti au nez = He cast it in my
teeth.
// a le nez fin = i. He has a good nose. 2.
He is far-sighted, sagacious.
FRENCH IDIOMS AND PROVERBS
169
Nez. .
{continued)
Nid
Nitouche .
Noce .
Noel
Noir
*Qui coupe son nez degarnit son visage = It is
an ill bird that fouls its own nest; He
who cuts off his nose spites his own face.
[Also : S'arracher le nez pour faire depit a son
visage. ]
// me ferma la porte au nez = He shut the
door in my face.
// hci en pend autant au nez = He may expect
as much (something unpleasant) ; He will
fare no better.
On fCa plus trouve que le nid = They found
the birds flown.
Jllle fait la sainte Nitouche = She plays the
innocent; She looks as if butter would
not melt in her mouth ; She looks very
demure.
\Sainte Nitouche is derived from sainte n'y touche,
shortened from une sainte qui n'y touche pas. See
Toucher. ]
Je n^ai Jamais etc a pareille noce (or, fete) = I
never had such a time of it.
// a fait la noce toute la semaine = He has
had a high old time of it all the week;
He has been on the spree all the week.
[Literally, to enjoy oneself as if one were a guest at a
weddi.g, where there is plenty of merriment, food, and
drink.]
Je ne suis pas a la noce = I am not enjoying
myself at all.
* Tant crie Von Noel qu'il vient (Villon) = Long
looked for comes at last ; That is coming
— like Christmas.
Quand Noel est vert^ les Pctques seront blanches
= When the winter is mild, the spring
will be wintry.
Voir tout en noir = To look on the black side
of things ; To have the blues.
[Opposite to : voir tout en rose, or, voir tout couleur
de rose.]
170
FRENCH IDIOMS AND PROVERBS
Noir . . Broyer du noir = To have the blues ; To feel
{continued) VCry Sad.
Nom . . Nom d^un petit bonhomme 1 (fam.) = By
Jingo !
Voila un nom a coucher dehof's {avec un billet
de logement dans la poche) = That's a name
too ugly for words ; That's an outlandish
name if you like.
N ombre . Tout /ait nombre = Every little helps.
Normand C'est ripondre en Normand = That is an
evasive answer.
Nourrice . Elk dit qu'elle a vingt ans. — Et les mois de
nourrice ! (fam.) = She says she is twenty.
— And the rest !
Nouvelle . Goutez-moi ce vin; vous nCen direz des noiwelles
(fam.) = You just taste this wine, you don't
get wine like that every day ; What do you
think of that for wine, my boy ?
Nue . . Toniber des nues = To be astounded.
Nuire . . *Ce qui nuit a Pun sert a V autre = What is
one man's meat is another man's poison.
Nuit . . *Za nuit porte conseil = Time will show a
plan ; Sleep upon it ; Seek advice of your
pillow.
CEil . . . Se fourrer le doigt dans Voeil (pop.) = To
deceive oneself blindly.
[Sometimes /«j^//'az^ coude is added.]
// a les yeux au beurre noir (pop.) =,He has
a couple of black eyes ; He has his eyes
in mourning.
[Also : // a les yeux pochisJ\
Je ne vois pas cela d^un ban ceil = I do not
look favourably upon that.
FRENCH IDIOMS AND PROVERBS T71
CEil . . . Cela saute aiix yeux = That is evident,
{continued) obvious ; It is as clear as noonday.
Je Pat regarde entre les deux yeux = I looked
him straight in the face; I stared at
him.
Entrer a Vmil dans un theatre (fam.) = To get
into a theatre on the nod {i.e. gratis).
Avoir le co7iipas dans Poeil = To have a good
eye for distances.
JS//e a des yeux a la perdition de son ante =
Her eyes are so lovely that they will be
her ruin.
Vous ne voyez point votre chapeau ? Mais il
vous crlve les yeux I = You do not see
your hat? Why, it stares you in the
face ! (it's just under your nose).
^ La lumilre me tire les yeux = The light hurts
my eyes.
// ne le fera pas pour vos beaux yeux = He
will not do it for you for nothing.
Nous convin?nes de cela entre quatre yeux
= We agreed to that between ourselves.
Je m'en bats /W/(pop.)^ I don't care a straw
for it.
// a les yeux battus = He has a tired look
about his eyes.
// a les yeux cernes = He has dark circles
round his eyes.
Des yeux a fleur de tete = Goggle eyes. (See
Eleur.)
Ouvrez Voeil^ et le bon ! (fam.) = Look out !
Cela lui a tape dans Voiil (pop.) = That took
his fancy ; He was much struck by that.
CEuf . . *Don?ier un ceuf pour avoir un boeuf- To give
a sprat to catch a herring {pr^ mackerel).
[Also : Supporter fete pour avoir tout.'\
*Faire d^un oeiif un hceuf = To make a moun-
tain out of a molehill.
// tondrait sur un oeuf= He would skin a flint.
(See Huile and Cheveux.)
172 FRENCH IDIOMS AND PROVERBS
CEuvre . *Z« fin couronne Voeuvre = The end crowns
all ; All's well that ends well.
Mettez la main a Pceuvre = Put your shoulder
to the wheel.
*yi Voeuvre on connait V artisan = A carpenter
is known by his chips ; The proof of the
pudding is in the eating.
[La Fontaine, Fables, i. 21, Les frelons et la
mouche a miel.'\ •
Oindre . * Oignez viiain, il vous poindra :
Poignez viiain^ il vous oindra.
[An old saying used by the French nobles during the
middle ages, and found in a collection of proverbs of
the thirteenth century. — Rab. , i^ 21. The Due de Bour-
bon, in speaking before the Etats-G6n6raux in 1484,
said : " Je connais le caract^re des vilains. S'ils ne sont
opprim^s, il faut qu'ils oppriment."
Comp, ' ' Tender -handed stroke a nettle,
And it stings you for your pains ;
Grasp it like a man of mettle,
And it soft as silk remains."
— Aaron Hill, VerseswrittenofiawindowinScotland.']
Oiseau . Jl a battu les buissons^ un autre a pris Voiseau
= He did the work and another had the
profit.
[Donatus in his ' ' Life of Virgil " quotes the famous
line : "Sic vos non vobis nidificatis aves." Hesiod says
of drones : ' ' oXKbTpiov Ka.iia.rov atper^prjv is yaarep'
d/xa;yrat=Into their own bellies they scrape together
the labour of others," The Talmud says : " One says
g^ace and another eats " ; the New Testament : " One
soweth, another reapeth." Henry V. is reported to
have said : "Shall I beat the bush and another take
the bird? " when it was proposed to him to give up the
Duke of Orleans to the Burgundians.]
^A tout oiseau son nid est beau — Home is
home, be it ever so homely. (See
Ckez.)
" Aux petits des oiseaux il donne leur pdture"
= He that sends mouths sends meat.
[Racine, Athalie, ii. 7.]
A^ vue d"* oiseau = A bird's-eye view.
A vol d" oiseau = As the crow flies.
FRENCH IDIOMS AND PROVERBS
173
Oisivete . * " Voisivete est la mere de tous les vices " =
" For Satan finds some mischief still for
idle hands to do." — Watts, Divine Songs ^
XX. (See Fille.)
[CoLLh^, La Partie de Chasse de Henri IV., iii. i.
Also : Negligence mcne ddcMance = Idle men tempt
the devil.]
On . . . On esf un sot= " They-say-so " is half a liar.
[Note that there is no liaison after On here.]
Ongle . . II a de r esprit jusqu! an bout des angles = He
is witty to the tips of his fingers ; He is
extremely witty.
// a bee et ongles = He will fight with beak
and claw, tooth and nail.
Onguent . "^Dans les petites boites les bons onguents =
Small parcels hold fine wares. (See Aune.)
Opiner . // opine du bonnet = He agrees with the
previous speakers without saying a word.
[From the custom of judges who agreed with the
decision of a brother judge, taking off their caps and
saying nothing. It is also said of a subordinate who
always agrees with his superior.]
Oreille. . // se /era tirer Voreille = He will require
pressing.
// se retira Voreille basse = He went away
crestfallen.
J''ai les oreilles rebattues de cela = I am tired
of hearing that.
// dort sur les deux oreilles = (lit.) He sleeps
soundly; (fig.) His mind is quite easy.
// n^ecoute que d'une oreille = He pays very
little attention to what is being said.
Ne venez pas ainsi me corner aux oreilles = Do
not come and din it into my ears in that
way.
II fait la sourde oreille = He turns a deaf ear ;
He pretends not to hear.
Je n^entends pas de cette oreille-la = I will not
listen to that.
174 FRENCH IDIOMS AND PROVERBS
Oreille. . Par dessus les oreilles = Over head and
{continued) ears.
Autant lui en pend a Poreille = He may
expect the same (something unpleasant).
(Compare Nez.)
Les oreilles 07it du vous corner {tinier) = Your
ears must have burned.
/e lui frotterai les oreilles = I will twist his
tail for him.
Orf^vre . *" Vous etes orfevre^ Monsieur Josse P^ = That
is a bit of special pleading ; That is not
disinterested advice ; There's nothing like
leather !
[MoLiERE, L' Amour MMecin, i. i. This quotation
refers to Sganaxelle's daughter who suffers from an in-
curable lowness of spirits. All his neighbours give him
advice aS to how to cure her ; among them, Monsieur
Josse, a jeweller, suggests that a fine necklace of dia-
monds or rubies would undoubtedly cure her. The
father, distracted though he be, is not so far gone as
not to see through this remark, and he replies in the
words that have since become proverbial.]
Orgueil . *Il n^est orgueil 'que de sot enrichi = Set a
beggar on horseback, he'll ride to the
devil.
Orme . . * Attendez-moi sous Vorme = You may wait for
me till doomsday.
Ortie . . Rabelais jeta le froc aux orties = 'R^hQ[2i\s yf2iS
an unfrocked priest.
Oter . . Ute-toi de la que je niy mette = You get out
and let me get in.
[Origin unknown ; probably le Vicomte de Sdgur first
used it. Comp. Sancho Panza, " Imitando al juego de
los muchachos que dicen ' Salta tu y damela tu' doy un
sal to del gobierno."]
Oublier , Oub lions le passe = 'Let bygones be bygones.
Ours . . C'est un ours nial leche = He is an ill-licked
cub; He is an ill-bred \or^ ill-shapen]
fellow.
[La Fontaine, Fables, xi. 7.]
FRENCH IDIOMS AND PROVERBS
175
Ours .
{continued)
Save me from my
Ouvrier
Ouvrir
C^est le pave de Fours
friends.
[" Rien n'est si dangereux qu'un ignorant ami
Mieux vaudrait un sage ennemi."
La Fontaine, Fables, viii. 10.
An old gardener, feeling lonely, had adopted a bear
as a companion. One day, when his master was asleep,
he sees a fly on his face ; he tries to drive it away, but
it declines to move, so he takes up a huge paving-stone
and kills the fly — and his master too.]
*Mauvais ouvrier n'a jamais bons outils = A
bad workman always blames his tools.
// traduit a livre ouvert = He translates at
sight.
Paille
Pain
Tout y va^ la paille et le ble = He spends all
he has.
// mourra sur la paille = He will die in the
gutter.
// est sur la paille = He is exceedingly
poor.
Tirons a la courte paille =■- Let us draw
lots.
*Cela • enleve la paille = '"That takes the
cake."
[The French is hardly as popular an expression as
the English, which might be rendered in French by
dicrocher la timbale. Quitard derives paille from patle,
a kind of rich cloth given as a prize in athletic contests.
Littrd imagines it originated with amber, which has the
property of raising light objects, such as straw. Madame
de Sdvign^ writes (13th Jan. 1672) : " Racine a fait une
comddie qui s'appelle Bajazet et qui enleve la paille."
The English expression is said to come from the custom
of negroes, when giving a ball, to provide a cake to be
given to the best-dressed couple. The competitors
walk round and are judged by the other guests. Hence
■ the term cake-walk.]
Cet hom?ne est bon comme le pain
man is goodness itself.
That
176 FRENCH IDIOMS AND PROVERBS
Pain , , II a mange son pain blanc le premier = He
{continued) had the best of his life first; His happiest
days are over.
[In many parts of the Continent white bread is not
the matter of course that it is in England ; brown or
black bread is the usual fare of the poorer classes. ]
*Telgrain^ tel pain ^^\\2X you sow, you must
mow.
On lui a fait passer le gout du pain (fam.) =
They killed him.
C est pain benit=\t serves you (him, her,
them) right.
J I a du pain sur la planche = He has saved
money ; He has enough to live upon ;
He has put something by for a rainy day ;
There is plenty of work for him to do.
*De tout s'avise a qui pain faut {manque) =
Necessity is the mother of invention.
*Pain tant quHl dure, vin a mesure = Y^2X at
pleasure, drink by measure.
*// ne vaut pas le pain quHl mange = Iie is not
worth his salt.
// sail son pain manger = He knows on which
side his bread is buttered.
^Cest un long jour qu^un jour sans pain = 'Tis
a long lane that has no turning.
*Pain derobe reveille appetite Stolen joys are
sweet.
[' ' Pain qu'on derobe et quon mange en cachette,
Vaut mieux que pain qu'on cuit et quon achHe. "
La Fontaine, Les Troqueurs.]
Je ne mange pas de ce pain-la = I don't go in
for that sort of thing.
Pair . . Hors depair = Beyond all comparison ; Above
the level of others.
Trailer quelqithin de pair a compagnon — To
be hail-fellow-well-met with any one : To
treat any one on an equal footing.
Paire . . *Les deux font la paire (fam.) = They are well
matched \ Arcades ambo.
FRENCH IDIOMS AND PROVERBS
177
Paitre . . V^ Vai etivoye pattre (fam.) = I sent him about
his business.
Paix . . Paix ^//^/^ = Anything for a quiet life.
Panier . . * Adieu paniers, vendanges sont faites = You
come too late, it is all over.
[The chorus of an old glee sung by the grape-pickers
when their labours were finished. Comp. Rabelais,
Gargantua, xxvii.]
Vous me donnez le dessus du panier = Yo\i
give me the best, the pick.
\_Le dessous du panier=\he refuse.]
Oesi un panier perce = He is a spendthrift.
Panneau . Donner dans le panneau = To fall into the
trap.
Panse . . // n'a pas fait une panse d'a aujourd^hui=
He has not done a stroke all day.
[Panse d'a=\.ht round part of an a.]
Papier . . // n^est pas dans mes petits papier s = He is not
in my good books.
[" Oh ! pourvu que je sois
Dans les petits papiers du Mercure Francois.''
Rostand, Cyrano de Bergerac , ii. 8.]
Paquet . Je lui at donne son paquet=\ gave him the
sack.
Faire un paquet = To make a parcel.
Faire son paquet = To pack up and go.
Par . . . De par le roi= By the king's command.
[" De par le roi, defense a Dieu
De faire miracle en ce lieu."
A cynical couplet that arose when Louis XV. pro-
hibited pilgrimages to the tomb of Fran9ois de Piris,
behind the Church of St. M^dard in Paris, because of
the Convulsionnaires.]
Paraitre . Sans qu'il y paraisse, c'est un homme fort
instruit=\^\\}[iOw\. making any show he
is a very well-informed man.
A ce quHl me parait = As far as I can
judge, see.
M
178 FRENCH IDIOMS AND PROVERBS
Paraitre . Le livre vient de paraifre^'Vho. book is just
{cojitinued) out, just published.
// n'y parati plus = T\\Qre. is no trace of it.
// ny paratt pas = One would not have
thought it.
Pareil . . J^ai le pared ^ I have one like it.
Je VGus rendrai la pareille =1. I will pay
you out. 2. I will do the same for
you.
On n'a jamais vu chose pareille ^ One never
heard of such a thing.
Paresseux * Ce sont les paresseux qui font le plus de chemin
= Lazy people take the most pains.
Parier . . II y a cent (or, gros) a parier qu'ils ne revien-
dront pas = The odds are that they will
not come back.
Paris . . II prend Paris pour Corbeil^ le Piree pour U7i
homtne = " He does not know a hawk
from a handsaw."
[Hamlet, ii. 2, where "handsaw" is a corruption of
hernshaw= heron. This was an old proverb, corrupted
before Shakespeare's day.
' ' Pour grain ne prenant paille ou Paris pour Cor-
beil." — Rp^GNiER, Sat. xiv.]
Le Tout-Paris de ce temps-la = The fashionable
world of Paris of that day.
Parier . . A^ous parlions de la pluie et du beau temps =
We were not talking of anything import-
ant or confidential ; We were talking of
indifferent matters.
Parier de bouche I _ Lip worship does not
Au cQiur ?te louche j ~ reach the heart.
Oest a vous a parier = It is your turn to
speak.
Cest a vous de parier = It is your duty to
speak,
Qu'il vienne, il trouvera a qui parier = Let
him come, he will find his match.
FRENCH IDIOMS AND PROVERBS
179
Parler .
{continued)
Parole .
Part .
Partager
Parti .
"^Trop gratter cuit, trop parler nuit = Least
said, soonest mended ; Speech is silvern,
silence is golden.
[Italian : Chi parla semina, chi tace raccoglie=Who
speaks sows, who keeps silence reaps.
Qui d' autruy parler voiidra
Regarde soi et il iaira.]
* Jamais beau parler u'ecorcha la langue =
Fair words never did harm; Civility costs
nothing.
// a son franc parler =^ He is free-spoken.
"^ Vous avez la parole = It is your turn to speak;
You are allowed to speak (I.e. you have
caught the Speaker's eye). See Avoir.
Je lui coupai la parole = I interrupted him.
'''Un homme (Vhonneur n'a que sa parole = kn
honest man's word is as good as his bond.
Eire de parole = To be as good as one's word.
Manquer de parole (or, manquer a sa parole) ^
To break one's word.
Tenir parole = To keep one's word.
En bonne ou mauvaise part=\n a good or
bad sense.
Hous le Savons de bonne part ^ We know it on
good authority.
// est bien partage = The Fates have been kind
to him.
// a pris son parti = i. He has made up his
mind. 2. He has resigned himself to it.
De parti pris = Deliberately.
Cest un parti pris = His mind is made up ;
It is a foregone conclusion.
Oest un parti pris chez lui de toujours con-
tredire= He 7£77/ always contradict.
A parti pris point de conseil=Kdyice is use-
less when a man's mind is made up.
// tire parti de tout = He makes a profit out
of everything.
i8o
FRENCH IDIOMS AND PROVERBS
Parti . . // sait tirer parti de la vie = He knows how
{continued) to make the best of life.
// a epouse un bon parti = He made a good
match.
// vous fera un fjiauvais parti = He will try
and pick a quarrel with you so as to ill-use
you, to do you harm.
Partie . . // w'^ pris a partie = He took me to task ;
(legally) He summoned me.
[^Parfie is literally a man who pleads against any one
in a lawsuit. Compare :
' ' Va, je suis ta partie et non pas ton bourreau. "
CORNEILLE, Cid, 839.]
Cetait tine partie nulle = It was a drawn game.
Pas . . . Marcher a pas de geant = To put on one's
seven-league boots.
Se tirer d^u?i mauvais pas = To get out of an
awkward fix (scrape).
*// ny a que le prettiier pas qui coute = In
everything the beginning is the most
difficult part; The first step downward
makes the others easier.
[" // n'y a que le premier obstacle qui co^te a vaincre.''
— BOSSUET, Pensdes chrdtiennes, 9.]
// prend le pas sur moi = He takes pre-
cedence of me.
jy vais de ce pas = I am going there directly.
Je le mettrai au pas = I will put him on his
good behaviour.
Marquer le pas = (Ht.) To mark time ; (fig.)
To wait for a post to which one has a
right.
Marchez au pas = Drive slowly ; Walk in
step.
Passe . . // est en passe de devenir ministre = He is in
a fair way (he stands a good chance) to
become a Cabinet Minister.
Passer. . II faut Men que fen passe par Id == \ must
submit to that ; I must put up with it.
FRENCH IDIOMS AND PROVERBS
l8l
Passer . . Nous ne pouvons nous passer de cela = We
[continued] cannot do without that.
*Fassons au deluge = We know all about that,
let us come to the point ; Don't let us go
over all that again, we will take it for
granted.
[Racine, Plaideurs, iii. 3; where L'lntim^, the
lawyer, wishes to relate the history of the world from
the creation, and Dandin, the judge, begs him to skip
all until the flood,]
Cette couleur passera = That colour will fade.
*Passe-moi la casse {rhubarbe), je te passerai le
sene = Claw me and I'll claw thee ; One
hand washes the other, and both wash
the face.
Passez-moi ce mot-la = Excuse the expression.
fen passe . . . et des meilleurs = Some of
the best I pass over.
[Victor Hugo, Hernani, iii. 6.]
On ne passe pas = No thoroughfare.
[Rue darr^e=Rosid stopped.]
Patte . . Vous faites des pattes de mouche = You have
a small, ill-formed handwriting.
// marche a quatre pattes = He walks on all-
fours.
Pauyre . Aux pauvres la besace = The back is made
for the burden.
Lhomme pauvre est toujours en pays etranger
= The poor are never welcomed ; All bite
the bitten dOg.
Pauvrete . ^Pauvrete n! est pas z;/<r^ = Poverty is no crime.
Pave . • Les paves le dtsent = It is in every one's
mouth.
// est sur le pave = He is out of work.
Prendre le haut du pave = To take the wall.
Payer . . Payer de sa personne = To bravely expose
oneself to danger; To risk one's skin.
82
FRENCH IDIOMS AND PROVERBS
Payer . . Etre paye pour savoir = To know a thing to
[continued) One's COSt.
Payer (Taudace = To put on a bold face ; To
brazen a thing out.
Payer les violons = To pay the piper.
/e ne me paye pas de mauvaises raisons =
I will only be satisfied with good
reasons.
Vous vous payez de mots = You are the dupe
of words ; You are taken in by empty
words.
// me la pay era = I will make him smart
for it.
Qui paye ses dettes s'enrichit = Debt is the
worst kind of poverty.
Payer son ecot = To pay one's share (scot).
// veut se payer ma tete = He wishes to have
the laugh of me.
Pays . . '''Pays ruine vaut mieux que pays perdu = Half
a loaf is better than no bread.
Je lui ferai voir du pays = I will lead him a
pretty dance.
Peau . . '^Il ne faut pas vendre la peau de Pours avant
de r avoir tue = Do not count your chickens
before they are hatched ; First catch your
hare.
[" // ma dit qu'il ne faut jamais
Vendre la peau de Vcrurs qu'on ne I' ait mis par terre."
La Fontaine, Fables, v. 20.]
// creve dans sa peau (fam.) = (lit.) He is
extremely fat ; (fig.) He is bursting with
pride, spite.
Faire peau neuve = To turn over a new
leaf.
Pdchd . . '''Pechk avoue est a demi pardonne — A fault
confessed is half redressed.
Elle est laide comme les sept peches capitaux =
She is as ugly as sin.
FRENCH IDIOMS AND PROVERBS
183
Pecher . On est punt par oic Von a piche =
" The Gods are just, and of our pleasant
vices
Make instruments to scourge us."
{King Lear, v. 3.]
Peine . . Cela ne vaut pas la peine = It is not worth
the trouble ; It is not worth while.
Mourir a la peine = i. To die in harness.
2. To work oneself to death.
Peinture . Je ne peux pas le voir meme en peinture = I
hate the very sight of that man.
Pele . . II y avait quatre peles et un tondu = There
were only a few people and those of no
importance ; Only the tag, rag, and bob-
tail were there.
Pelle . . *^^ pelle se moque du fourgon = It is the pot
calling the kettle black.
[Another English variant is : - " The kiln calls the
oven: Burnt house." The Italians say: " La padella
dice al pajuolo, ' Fatti ni la che tu me tigni ' " = The
pan says to the pot, " Keep off or you'll smutch me."
The Germans: " Ein Esel schimpft den andern
Langohr=One ass nicknames another Longears.]
Remuer l^ argent a la pelle = To have plenty
of money.
Pelote . . II a fait sa pelote = He has feathered his
nest.
Pendant . Cet homme n^a pas son pendant (or, pareit)
= That man has not his match.
Pendre . // a dit pis que pendre de vous = He said
everything that was bad of you ; Accord-
ing to him, hanging is too good for you.
Penser . A ce que je pense = To my mind.
Sans penser a mal = Without meaning any
mischief.
Rien que d''y penser fen ai le frisson = The
bare thought of it makes me shudder.
Cela donne furieusement a penser = That is
very suggestive.
i84
FRENCH IDIOMS AND PROVERBS
Penser . Sans arriere-pensee = Without reserve ; With
{continued) no after-thought.
Perdre . *Un de perdu, deux de retrouves = When one
door shuts, another opens.
Je my perds = I am getting bewildered ; I
cannot make head or tail of it.
Jl perd la carte = He is getting confused.
C'esf du Men perdu = It is casting pearls
before swine.
* Qtn perd pec/ie = Ide who loses sins ; Nothing
succeeds like success.
Perdrix . *Toujours des perdrix = The best things pall
in time.
Perle . . Nous ne sommes pas id pour enfiler des perles
= We are not here to trifle our time away.
P^rou . . Cen^est pas le Perou (fam.) = It's no great
catch.
Personne . C^est la bonte en personne = He {or. She) is
kindness itself.
Perte . . A perte de vue = As far as the eye can reach.
Je suis en perte = I am out of pocket.
/'ai fait cela en pure perte = What I have
done is completely useless ; All I have
done is to no purpose.
Pesant . // vaut son pesant d^or = He is worth his
weight in gold.
Petit . . Elles sont aux petits soins pour leur vieille
rn^re = They are all attention to their old
mother.
*Les petits ruisseaux font les grandes rivieres =
Many a little makes a mickle.
* Petit a petit Voiseau fait son nid — Little
strokes fell great oaks. (See Maille and
Ruisseau.)
[Also: Grain a grain amasse la fourmi son pain.
Peu d peu la vieille file sa quenouille.
Latin: Adde parvum parvo tandem fit magnus
acei-vus.
Italian : A passo a passo se va lontana.
Little and often fills the purse.]
FRENCH IDIOMS AND PROVERBS
i8s
Petit . . En petit ^ On a small scale.
{continued) '''Petit mercier, petit punier = A small pack
becomes a small pedlar.
[" Little boats should keep the shore,
Larger ships may venture more. "
Latin : Pauper agat caute.]
* Petite cervelle^ prompte colere = A little pot is
soon hot.
P^trin . . /e suis dans le petrin (fam.) = I am in a
mess, fix.
Les finances sont en ce mometit dans un petrin
impossible = The finances are in horrible
disorder just now.
Peu. . . Si peu que rien = Next to nothing..
Imaginez un peu I = Just fancy !
Pour peu gue cela vous ennuie = However
little it annoys you.
Tant soit peu meilleur = Be it ever so little
better ; A shade better.
'A peu de chose prh = Not far off.
Peur . . Elk etait mise a fairs peur = She looked a
fright.
// a eu plus de peur que de mal = He was
more frightened than hurt.
Phrase . Eaire des phrases = To speak affectedly.
Pie . • . *// a trouvS la pie au nid = He has found a
mare's nest.
Ellejase comme une pie borgne = She chatters
like a magpie.
Piece . . J^ai fait cela de toutes pieces = I have done
that entirely {i.e. every part of it).
Je lui ai donne la piece = I gave him a trifle,
tip.
C'est la pilce de resistance = It is the principal
dish (of a meal).
Pied . ' 11 a bon pied, bon ceil= He is hale and hearty.
Sur le pied oil en sont les choses = Considering
how matters stand.
l86 FRENCH IDIOMS AND PROVERBS
Pied . . *Il ne sail sur quel pied danser = He does not
^continued) know which way to turn.
Partir du bon pied = To put one's best foot
foremost.
Je ferai des pieds et des mains pour vous etre
utile = I will do my utmost (strain every
nerve) to serve you.
Ar7ne de pied en cap = Armed from head to
foot, cap-a-pie.
Le pied m\i manque = My foot slipped.
Mettre (quelqu' un) a pied = (fam.) To dismiss
(a functionary) ; To deprive a cabman of
his licence.
// a trouve chaussure a son pied = He has
found just what he wanted ; He has found
his match.
Lacker pied = i. To lose ground. 2. To
scamper away.
Lever le pied=To decamp (of a dishonest
banker, etc.).
Vous m'avez tire une epine du pied = (fig.)
You have got me out of a difficulty. (See
^pine.)
J'ai fait mon travail d'arrache pied = I did
my work straight off, without stopping.
De plain pied = On the same level (of rooms
on the same floOr, or on a level with the
ground).
// a le pied marin = He has got his sea-legs ;
He is a good sailor.
Sauter a pieds joints sur quelqiiun = (fig.)
To ride rough-shod over any one.
// ne se mouche pas du pied (pop.) = i. He is
a man of importance; He gives himself
airs. 2. He is no fool.
[A favourite trick of a tumbler in olden times was to
take one of his feet in his hands and pass it quickly
under his nose. Hence the expression would be equi-
valent to : he is no tumbler or common fellow. ' ' N'est
pas un homme, non, qui se mouche du pied."
MoLii^RE, Tartufe, iv. 5.]
FRENCH IDIOMS AND PROVERBS
187
i . Pierre .
Pied . . Aller du pied (or, Courir) comme un chat
[continued] maigrc = To be a good walker.
// seche sur pied = He is pining away.
La mort Va pris au pied leve = Death took
him without a moment's notice.
[Literally, just at the moment he was starting to go
out.]
'''Faire d'une pierre deux coups = To kill two
birds with one stone.
'^Pierre qui route ?i\imasse pas mousse = A
rolling stone gathers no moss.
[The Greek form was : \idos KvXivdofievos to (pvKOi ov
Cela ferait rire un tas de pierres = That
would make a cat laugh.
Sa niontre est au tnont de piete = His watch
is at the pawnbroker's. (See Accrocher.)
Avoir pignon sur rue = To have a house of
one's own.
Jouer a pile ou face = To play pitch and
^ toss, heads or tails.
// n'a ni croix ni pile = He has not a rap.
, ["Sans croix ne pile." — La Fontaine, Coutes, ii.
" Whacum had neither cross nor pile," — Butler,
Hudibras, ii. 3. Pile is literally the reverse of a coin.]
Pilier . . Oest un pilier d'estaminet (or, de cafe) =■■ He
is a pubHc-house lounger, a pub loafer.
Pilule . . Dorer la pilule = To gild the pill.
Pipe . . Casser sa pipe (pop.) = To kick the bucket;
To hop the twig ; To die.
Piquer. . Piquer la curiosite de quelqu^un = To rouse
some one's curiosity.
// se pique d\in rien = He takes offence at
the slightest thing.
Jl s'est pique d^hontieur = He made it a
point of honour; He was put upon his
mettle.
Pidtd .
\ Pignon
Pile. .
1 88
FRENCH IDIOMS AND PROVERBS
Piquer.
(contmued)
Piquer des deux = (lit.) To spur a horse with
both heels ; To gallop off at full speed ;
(fig.) To run very fast.
Piquer une tete (fam.) = To take a header.
Voila un discours qui ri'est pas pique des vers
= That's a fine speech if you like [lit. not
worm-eaten.]
Se piquer au jeu = (lit.) To continue obsti-
nately to play although losing ; (fig.) To
go on in an enterprise in spite of all
obstacles.
Place
. *Qtn va a la chasse perd sa place = If you
leave your place, you lose it.
Plaider . " Accordez-vous si voire affaire est bonne^
Si voire cause est mauvaise^ plaidez.''^
[J. B. Rousseau, Epigrammes, ii. 19] =
If you've a good case, try and com-
promise ; If you've a bad one, take it
into court.
Plaie . . II ne demande que plaie et bosse = He seeks
quarrels only to draw profit from them.
// ne cherche que plaie et bosse = He is always
hankering after a black eye.
Plaisanterie Une bonne plaisanteHe mirite les honneurs du
bis = A good tale is none the worse for
being told twice.
Plan '. . Releguer {ifieitre) au second plan = To put
into the background.
Planche . Paire la planc/ie = i. To show others the
way; 2. To float on one's back.
C'est sa planche de salut =lt is his last hope,
his sheet-anchor.
Plancher . Le plancher des vaches (fam.) = Dry land;
Terra firma.
Dibarrasse-moi le plancher (fam. ) = Get out of
my way.
Planter . Vous niavez plante la = You left me without
any warning ; You left me in the lurch.
FRENCH IDIOMS AND PROVERBS
189
Plat . . . 11 nous a servi un plat de son metier (or,
de sa fapn) = He played us one of his
tricks.
On mit les petits plats dans les grands pour le
Men recevoir (fam.) = They spared neither
trouble nor money to receive him well ;
They received him with much fuss.
// a mis les pieds dans le plat (fam.) = He put
his foot in it.
Platre . . Ce inari bat sa femme comme pldtre = That
husband beats his wife like a dog.
Essiiyer les platres = To live in a newly-
built house (and therefore damp). (See
jEssuyer.)
Plein . . Baitre son plein = To be in full swing.
Plein comme un osu/{f2im.) = Chock-full.
En pleine rue = In the open street.
En pleine mer = On the high seas.
Pleurer . La niaise / pleurer a chaudes larmes pour une
vetille = The silly girl ! to cry her eyes
out for a trifle.
Pleuvoir . Pkuvoir des hallebardes = To rain cats, dogs,
and pitchforks.
Pli . . . Cela ne /era pas un pli = There will not be
the slightest difficulty.
Si vous n^y prenez {pas) garde, il prendra un
ifiauvais pli = If you are not careful he
will get into bad habits.
Pluie . . '''Apres la pluie le beau temps = Every cloud
has a silver lining.
Nous parlions de la pluie et du beau temps =
We were talking of indifferent matters.
II fait la pluie et le beau teitips dans cette maison
^- His will is law in that house ; He is
the boss of that show (fam.).
Plus . '''Plus on a, plus on veut avoir =■- Much would
have more.
IQO FRENCH IDIOMS AND PROVERBS
Poche . . II connalt Paris comme sa poche = He knows
Paris perfectly; He knows all the ins and
outs of Paris ; His knowledge of Paris is
extensive and peculiar.
Poil ... Un brave a trois polls = The bravest of the
brave ; A hero of the first water.
[This expression is derived from three-piled velvet.
See MOLIERE, Les Prdcieuses Ridicules ^ 12.]
Monter a poil='Vo ride barebacked.
Point . . "^Un point a temps en epargne cent = A stitch
in time saves nine.
[Spanish : Quien no adoba gotera adoba casa entera
=Who repairs not his gutter repairs his whole house.]
Cela viefit a point = That comes opportunely.
La viande est cuite a point = The meat is
done to a turn.
Vous venez a point nomme = You come in the
nick of time, at the necessary moment,
just when you are wanted.
Mettez les points sur les /=Be precise, clear
(in speaking or writing); Cross your t's
and dot your i's.
// vous rendrait des points = He is more than
a match for you ; He could give you
points.
// vous rendra des points = He will give you
odds (at a game).
II y a un point noir a V horizon = There are
breakers ahead.
Poire . . * Coupons la poire en deux = Let us split the
difference.
Ellefaisait trop s a poire (pop.) = She needed
pressing; She played the prude (^r, dis-
dainful).
[" II ^tait trop homme pour faire sa poire."]
Nous en causerons entre la poire et le frontage
= We will talk it over at dessert.
Garder une poire pour la soif—To lay up
something for a rainy day.
FRENCH IDIOMS AND PROVERBS
191
Poisson . On ltd a fait un poisson d!avril = They made
him an April fool.
/e suis conime un poisson sur la paille = I am
like a fish out of water.
Polichinelle Cest le secret de Polichinelle = It is an open
secret ; Every one knows it.
// a avale la pratique de Polichinelle = He is
very hoarse.
\L.a pratique de Polichinelle is the squeaker that a
Punch-and-Judy man puts in his mouth during a
performance.]
Politesse . '^ Force politesse^ trop de finesse = Full of courtesy,
full of craft.
Pont . . II se porte comme le Pont Neuf= He is in
splendid health.
Cest vieux comme le Pont Ahuf ^ Queen
Anne is dead ; It is as old as the hills.
[The Pont Neuf was finished in 1604 during the
reign of Henry IV., and is now the oldest bridge in
Paris. The statue of Henry IV. in the middle of the
bridge was erected originally in 1635, but the present
one dates only from 1818.
Another expression is :
Henri Quatre est sur le Pont Neuf= That's stale news.]
Pontoise . // a Pair de revenir de Pontoise = He looks
down in the mouth ; He answers in a
silly fashion.
[The origin of this expression is said to be that in 1720
and in 1753 the Parlement was exiled to Pontoise, about
twenty miles north of Paris, for its rebellion to the King.
Perhaps from the fact that when they returned they
were besieged with questions, to which they gave con-
fused answers, the saying arose and was applied to
anyone that had a simple, idiotic appearance.]
Porte . . lis ont mis la clef sous la porte = They ab-
sconded.
// faut qu'une porte soit ouverte ou fermee =
You must decide one way or the other.
[The title of one of Alfred de Musset's Proverbes.]
On I'a mis a la porte = They turned him out.
// a ete mis a la porte par les oreilles et les
deux ^paules=Yie was turned out igno-
miniously, neck and crop.
192
FRENCH IDIOMS AND PROVERBS
Porte . . On a condamne la porte = The door is nailed
{continued) up, blocked Up. *
Port^e . . A sa portk (or, a portee de sa main) = Within
his reach.
A {la) portee de la voix = ^\\}i\vs\ call.
A {une) portee de fusil =^'\\}ci\n gunshot.
Porter . . Oest elk qui porte la culotte = '^he is mistress
in this house (not her husband) ; The
grey mare is the better horse.
On le porte aux nues = They praise him to
the skies.
Ses plaisanteries portent coup = His jokes hit
the mark.
Poseur . Cest un poseur =1^^ is a prig (lit. attitudin-
iser).
[There are several varieties of prigs, e.g. —
un savantasse—z. learned prig.
un collet inontd=-z. stiff-and-starched prig.
un cafard=z. Pecksniff.
unfat=Q. conceited ass.
unfreluqjiet=a. whipper-snapper.
^e& Journal of Education, March 1896.]
Possession *-£"« fait de meubles possession vaut litre =
Possession is nine points of the law.
Possible . Pas possible f-^YoM don't say so ! " Well, I
never ! "
Pot , . , II decouvrit bientot le pot aux roses = He soon
found out the secret.
* Un pot file dure longtemps = A creaking door
hangs long ; Ailing folk live longest.
*// n'y a si viechant pot qui ne trouve son cou-
vercle = YjVQry Jack must have his Jill.
[Also : A tin boiteux , femme qui cloche.'\
Jl a re^u un pot-de-vin = He received a bribe,
an illicit commission.
[A pot-de-vin is a gratuity given to B by A because B
obtained for A an order from C. It implies the idea of
a bribe, for if everything had been fair A would not have
obtained his order from C, either because his terms were
too high or his wares not good enough.]
FRENCH IDIOMS AND PROVERBS
193
Pot. .
[cotitinued]
Potasser
Potin
Pouce
Poudre .
Poule . .
Pourpoint
Pouvoir
Payer les pots casses = To stand the racket ;
To pay the damage ; To face the music.
Tourner autour du pot ^To beat about the
bush.
Cest le pot de terre contre le pot de fer = Vi is
a most unequal combat.
Je vais potasser {piocher) tin brin (students'
slang) = I'm going to swot (mug up) a bit.
Faire du potin {chambard^ boucan) (pop.) = To
kick up a row, a shindy.
Manger sur le pouce = ^0 take a snack.
Mettre les pouces = To give in, to knuckle
under.
Lire du pouce (or, doigt) = To skip in reading
{i.e. to do more work with the thumb
than the brain).
*// n^a pas invente la poudre = He will never
set the Thames on fire.
Cest une poule mouillee^YiQ is a milk- sop.
Mettre un homme en pourpoint ^To pull a
man's cloak off; To ruin a man.
Se mettre en pourpoint = To be ready to fight;
To roll up one's sleeves.
Tirer un coup {de pistolet^ etc.) a brule-
pourpoint = To fire point-blank.
Un argufnent a brtUe-pourpoint = A convincing
argument.
Donner a guelqu^un un pourpoint de pierre =
To give any one a stone doublet ; To im-
prison any one.
Je n'y puis rien = I cannot help it ; I can do
nothing in the matter.
Si faire se peut= If possible.
/e n'en puis plus = I am done up, exhausted.
Je Ji^en puis ?nais = I cannot help it ; It is no
fault of mine. (See Mais.)
Cela se peut =Tha.t may be.
N
194
FRENCH IDIOMS AND PROVERBS
Pouvoir
{continued)
Precher
Premier
Prendre
Ce/a ne se peut pas = It cannot possibly be ;
It cannot be done.
On fait comme on pei/t = \Ne must do the best
we can ; We have done the best we could.
// est toiijours on ne peiit plus aimable— He is
always as nice as can be.
II preche dans le desert = {\\\.,) He preaches to
empty benches ; (fig.) All his talking will
not convince any one.
Chacun preche pour son saint = Every one has
an eye to his own interest.
A^ous somnies au premier = V^q are on the
first floor.
Nous somnies en premiere = We are in a first-
class railway carriage.
Le premier 7Jenu = (fig.) No matter who (or,
whom) ; The man in the street.
*Zes premiers vont devant= First come, first
served.
["Whoso first Cometh to the mill, first grint." —
Chaucer.]
// prend sur son sommeil pour etudier — He
works far into the night.
Oest autant de pris sur rennemi= So much
saved out of the fire; So much to the good.
Bien lui en prit d'' avoir ferme sa porte = It
was lucky for him that he shut his door.
II prend le chemin de rhdpital= He is on the
highway to ruin.
Je m^en prends a vous = I lay the blame at
your door.
Je vous y prends = I catch you at it.
f^a ne prend pas (fam,) = "That's no go."
Je sors d^en prendre (fam.) = I had rather be
excused ; You will not catch me again so
soon.
Qu'est-ce qui vous prend 1 = What is the matter
with you ?
[This is said to persons doing something suddenly
without any apparent reason, or suddenly becoming
bad-tempered, etc. , not to invalids.]
FRENCH IDIOMS AND PROVERBS
195
Prendre . Je vais vous montrer comment ilfaut s'y prendre
{continued) = I am going to show you how to set
about it.
*Ce qui est bon a prendre est ban a garder =
What is worth taking is worth keeping;
" Findings, keepings."
Prenez-vous-en a vous-meme = You have your-
self to thank for it.
A tout prendre = On the whole; Everything
considered.
Pres . . A cela prh il est bon enfant = Except for that
he is a good fellow.
Presse . // n^y a pas presse^ThexQ is no hurry !
*Pl7is on se presse, moins on arrive = The
more haste, the less speed.
Fendre la presse = To make one's way through
the crowd.
Pretentaine Courir la pretentaine = To gad about.
Prater . . // prete de V argent a la petite semaine = He
lends money for a short time at a high
rate of interest.
Un prete pour un rendu = A Roland for an
Oliver.
Preter le flam a . . . = To lay oneself open
to . .
Preter serment= To take the oath.
Ce drap prete =^ This stuff gives, stretches.
Primer . Elle prime par sa laideur = She takes the cake
for ugliness.
Princesse Aux frais de la Princesse = At another's ex-
pense (chiefly of the State Government).
Prise , . /Is etaient aux prises = They had closed;
They were at close quarters.
/e les ai mis aux prises = I have set them one
against the other.
Je leur ai donne prise sur moi= I gave them
a handle on me.
Lacker prise = To let go one's hold.
196 FRENCH IDIOMS AND PROVERBS
Proems . Sans autre forme de /r^r<?j = Without any
more ado.
Promener Je Pai envoy e promener (or, pattre) = I sent
him about his business.
Va te promener! (fam.) = Go to Jericho!
Get along with you !
[Compare : " BctW ets ii.a.Ka.pla.v" = Go to — Glory. —
Plato, Hipp. Major, 293A — a euphemism for BctXX'
Promettre * Chose promise^ chose due = VxomisQs should be
kept.
Promettre et tenir sont deux = It is one thing
to promise, another to perform.
Propos . // est venu fort a propos^Ho. came very
opportunely.
A propos^ viendrez-vous ce soir ? = By the way,
shall you come this evening ?
Ua-propos fait le merite = Seasonableness
^ gives everything its price.
A propos de bottes = ^\\h reference to nothing
in particular; With no reference to the
subject in hand.
II le dit a tout propos = 'He, says it on every
occasion, at every turn.
// r a fait de propos delibere= He did it of set
purpose; He had made up his mind to
doit.
// Pa fait fort mal a propos = He did it
very unseasonably, just at the wrong
time.
Propre . C'estdupropre (ironic.) = A fine thing indeed.
// n^a rien en propre = He has nothing of his
own.
Un propre-a-rien = A good-for-naught.
Propre a tout et bon a rien = Jack of all trades
and master of none.
Propre comme un sou neuf = As clean as a
whistle ; As neat as a new pin.
FRENCH IDIOMS AND PROVERBS
197
Prune . . Je ne le ferai pas pour des prunes i^z.V(v.) = \
shall not do it for nothing.
[Also : Je ne le ferai pas pour le roi de Prtisse.
This latter saying is said to have originated with
Voltaire, who, after having been exceedingly intimate
with Frederick the Great, King of Prussia, finally
quarrelled with him. Both this King and his father,
Frederick William I., were known to be exacting and
miserly.]
Puce . . Je lui ai mis'la puce a roreille = \ made him
feel uneasy (by rousing his suspicions,etc.);
I sent him away with a flea in his ear.
Puits . . Cet homme est un putts de science = He is a
man of deep learning.
Q.
Quand . . Je le ferai quand meme= I shall do it just the
same ; I shall do it whatever it may cost.
Quant . . Se tenir sur son quant-a-soi = To stand on
one's dignity.
Quart . . J^e quart d'heure de Rabelais = The moment
of payment, {^qq Heure.)
Passer un inauvais quart dheure = To have
a bad time of it.
Quatorze . Avoir quinte et quatorze = To have the game
in one's own hand.
[This phrase refers to terms used in the game of
piquet. Quinte is to have five cards of the same colour,
which counts fifteen. Quatorze is to have four cards of
the same value {i.e. four knaves, aces, etc.), and counts
fourteen. ]
Quatre . J I se mettrait en quaire pour un ami= He
would go through fire and water for a
friend.
Faire le diable a quatre = To kick up a terrible
noise ; To exert oneself to the utmost.
[This expression originated in the time of the miracle
plays, when four performers represented la grande
diablerie, and less than four la petite diablerie.^
198
FRENCH IDIOMS AND PROVERBS
Quatre . Entre quatre-z-yeux (fam.) = Between our-
{contituted) SelvCS.
On le tenait a quatre = It needed four men
to hold him down.
// se tenait a quatre pour ne pas lui dire des
injures = It was as much as he could do
not to abuse him.
Travailler comme quatre = To work like a
nigger.
Que . . *Ce que c'est que la vie ! = What a strange thing
life is ! What poor mortals we are ! (See
Ce)
Ses louanges ne laissent pas que de me faire
plaisir = I cannot help feeling pleased at
his kind words.
Quelconque La pike tHest que quelconque = The piece {i.e.
the play) is quite an ordinary one.
Quenouille CUst une famille oil Vesprit est tombe en
quenouille = In that family only the women
are clever ; In that family the brains are
on the distaff side.
Querelle . PPepousez pas sa querelle=^T>o not take up
his quarrel.
lis veulent vider leur querelle = They want to
fight it out.
Qudrir . . // serait bon a aller querir la mort = He is
very slow.
Question . Mettre en question -= To call in question ;
To doubt.
Mettre a la question = To put to the torture.
QuHl n^en soit plus question = Y)o not bother
me about it any more; Let bygones be
bygones. (See Oublier.)
Queue . . J^ai fait queue au thiatre pendant une heure
= I waited outside the theatre for an
hour (before I could get in).
On fait queue au theatre = There is a crowd
at the door of the theatre (waiting for ad-
mittance).
FRENCH IDIOMS AND PROVERBS
199
Queue . . *A ia queue git le venin = The sting is in the
[continued) tail.
Aller a la queue leu-leu = To go in Indian
file.
\Leu was the old French form of loup, so the phrase
means to walk as wolves do, one after the other. J
Tenir la queue de la poele = To be the leading
spirit in an affair.
Qui . . . Pour qui connait = To any one who knows.
lis s'echapplrent qui par la porte^ qui par les
fenetres = Some escaped through the door,
others through the windows.
*Qui s' excuse s^ accuse = A guilty conscience
needs no accuser.
Cest a qui le /era = They all wish to do it ;
They vie with one another to do it. (See
Mieux.)
Quia . . ^tre riduit a quia = To be reduced to
" because ...."; To be nonplussed.
Quitte . . Afe voila quitte envers lui = I owe him noth-
ing now.
Vous en etes quitte a bon marche = You come
off cheap.
J^en ai ite quitte pour la peur = I escaped
with a good fright.
JHrai^ quitte a etre gronde = l shall go, even
if I am scolded ; I shall go, and chance
the scolding.
Quoi . . J^ai de quoi payer = I have enough to pay.
// n'y a pas la de quoi pleurer=lX. is not worth
crying about.
// n'y a pas de quoi rire = It is no laughing
matter.
// n'y a pas de quoi (fam.) = Pray don't men-
tion it ; There is no necessity to apologise.
(See Avoir.)
De quoi vous melez-vous ? = What business is
that of yours ?
200 FRENCH IDIOMS AND PROVERBS
Quoi . . Ufije 7ie sais quot = K " something" (I know
{continued) nOt what).
[^Elle avait je ne sais quoi de charmant=S\iQ had a
vague, indescribable charm.]
C^est un filou, quoi/ (pop.) = In a word, he's
a scamp.
R.
Rabais . Vente au raifais = SaXQ at reduced prices;
" Selling off."
Rabattre . Rabattre le caquet a quelqu^un (pop.) = To
take a person down a peg; I'o stop his
jaw ; To cut his cackle.
Radis . // «'^ pcis un radis (fam.) = He has not a
brass farthing. (See Liard.)
Raillerie . Cela passe la rai7/erte = Th2Lt is beyond a
joke. (See JSnfendre.)
Raison . // n!entend pas raison ia-dessus = Hq will not
listen to reason on that point.
Se /aire raison a soi-meme = To take the law
into one's own hands.
Comme de raison = Rightly enough ; As might
be expected.
J^/us que de raison = More than is reasonable.
• Raison de plus = All the more reason.
Avoir des raisons avec quelqu^un = To have
words with any one ; To quarrel with any
one.
// faut se faire une raison = We must be
guided by reason ; We must look at things
from a reasonable point of view.
{_E.g. not go on worrying after a great loss.]
Donner raison a quelqu'un = To say any one
is right ; To give satisfaction to any one
(either legally or by a duel).
FRENCH IDIOMS AND PROVERBS
20I
Rancart
Rang .
Ranger
Rare .
Raseur
Rat. .
, Rate
Ratelier
On Va mis an rancart = He has been put on
the shelf.
[Also : // est sous la remise J\
''Tel qui brille au second rang s^ eclipse au pre-
7nier = A good subordinate often makes a
bad leader.
// s'esl range = He has settled down (after
sowing his wild oats).
Vous devenez Men rare = Yo\i are quite a
stranger.
Oest un raseur (fam.) = He is a bore.
\Une bassinoire=z. passive bore.]
// est gueux comme un rat d'eglise = He is as
poor as a church mouse.
// ne se foule pas la rate (pop.) = He does
not overwork himself; He takes things
easily.
[Also : // ne se foule pas le poignet.'\
Cela lui desopilera la rate = That will cheer
him up.
// mange a plus d\in ratelier = He has more
than one string to his bow; He gains
money from different sources.
Rattraper "^Bien fin qui nie rattrapera = Once bit, twice
shy; They won't catch me doing that
again.
Rebours . Ilprend les choses a rebours = He misconstrues
everything.
Rebrousse A rebroussepoil= Against the grain ; (To rub)
the wrong way.
Reconnaitrey^ vous reconnais bien /^ = That is just like
you.
Je ne m^y reconnais plus = \ don't know where
I am, what I am about ; I am quite at
sea.
FRENCH IDIOMS AND PROVERBS
Reculer . II a recule pour mieux sauter= i. He waited
for something better. 2. (ironic.) He
avoided a small evil to fall into a greater.
[Compare : Mieux reculer que tnal assaillir.']
Marcher a reculons = To walk backwards.
Redire . // trouve totijours a redire = He is always
finding fault.
// n'y a rien a redire a r^/<;z =^ There is no
fault to be found with that ; That is quite
all right.
Reflexion Reflexion faite = Aiiex due reflection; On
second thoughts.
Refrain . C^est le refrain de la ballade = \\. is the old
story over again.
[" C'est toujours le refrain qu'ils font k leur ballade."
— RteNiER, Sat. i.]
Refus . . Cela 71^ est pas de refus (fam.) = That is very
acceptable ; I won't say no to that.
Refuser . '''Qui refuse muse =
" He who will not when he may,
When he will he shall have nay."
Regarder ISTy regardez pas de si prh = Do not be so
particular.
Cela ne me regarde /^i' = That is not my
business ; That does not concern me.
J^y regarderai a deux fois = l shall think
twice before doing it.
Rdgler . II est regie comme un papier de musique= He
is as regular as clockwork.
Rein . . Nous poursuivtmes Vennemi fepee dans les
reins = \We followed the enemy close at
his heels.
// s'est donne un tour de reins — He sprained
his back.
// a les reins solides = {\\t.) He is strong;
(fig.) He has a long purse.
R^jouir . Cest un gros rijoui=l^Q. is a big jolly fellow.
FRENCH IDIOMS AND PROVERBS
203
Remede . *A cJwse faite point de rcmede = ^\\2X is done
cannot be undone.
["Factum est illud : fieri infectum non potest."—
Plautus.
Remontrer Gros Jeati qui en reviofttre a son cure = Hodge
tries to teach the Parson how to preach ;
He teaches his grandmother to suck
eggs.
Remporter // a remporte la victoire = l{e carried the
day.
Renard . *Renard qui dort la matinee
N^a pas la gueule emplumee =
Tis the early bird that catches the
worm.
Rencherir // rencMrit sur tout ce qu'il entend dire — He
caps every story he hears told.
Rencontrer Les beaux esprits se rencontrent = G1Q2X wits
jump together.
[When two persons happen to say the same thing at
the same time.]
Renfort . Pour renfort de potage = Into the bargain ; In
addition.
[MoLifeRE, Le Bourgeois Gentilhomme, iii. 3.]
Reng"aine Oest toujour s la meme rengaine (fam.) = It is
always the same old story.
Renommee ^ Bonne renommee vaut mieux que ceinture
doree = A good name is better than riches.
(See Ceinture.)
R^pandre Cest un homffie tres repandu = He is a man
who goes into society a great deal.
Repentir . *Ze repeniir vient ordinairement trop tard=
Do a thing in haste and repent at leisure.
R^pondre Je vous en reponds / = I will be bound it is ;
I should think so, indeed ! You take my
word for it.
Reprise . J'aiappele?Jion do?nestique a plusieurs reprises
= I called my servant several times.
204
FRENCH IDIOMS AND PROVERBS
Reprocher // me reproche les morceaux = He grudges me
the very food I eat.
Rdsoudre /e ne puis nCy resoudre = I cannot make up
my mind to do it.
Ressort . Ce liest pas de mon ressort =^T\idX is not
within my province, "not in my line."
// a fait jouer tous les ressorts — He used all
the means in his power.
Ce tribunal juge en dernier ressort =T\i\s
court tries without appeal; There is no
appeal from the findings of this court.
Reste . . Je ne veux pas etre en resie avec vous = I do
not want to do less for you than you have
done for me.
J^en ai de reste = I have more than
enough.
// n^a pas deinande son reste / = He soon took
himself off, I can tell you ! He soon shut
up, I can tell you !
Retour . // est perdu sans retour= He is past all hope.
// demeure d Vitranger sans esprit de retour =
He is living abroad without thinking of
returning.
// 7ne paie de retour = He loves (<?r, hates) me
as much as I love {or hate) him.
[E.g. "Vous dites que vous aimez votre m6re, mais
elle vous paie bien de retour."]
RetOlirner Je sais de quoi il retourne = I know how
matters stand.
Retraite . Battre la retraite = To beat tattoo {or, the
retreat.)
Battre en reti'aite = To retreat.
Retrouver Je le retrouverai bien = He will not escape me.
Revendre Avoir d^une chose a revendre = To have more
than enough of a thing.
Revenir . *Revenons a nos moutons = But to return to
our subject. (See Mouton.)
FRENCH IDIOMS AND PROVERBS
205
Revenir
[contitiued)
Rever .
Revers
. Revoir
Richesse
Rien .
Vous en revenez toujours la = You are always
harping on that string.
Je rCen reviens pas = \ cannot get over it
(astonishment).
[Or, pop., "j'en suis baba."]
Ny revenez pas = {\.\t.) Do not come here
again ; (fig.) Do not do that again.
Cela revient a dire = That amounts to saying.
Ce/a revient au meme = That is just the same
thing.
/e reviens de /<5>/« = (ht.) I come from a long
distance; (fig.) I am recovering from a
long illness.
Son nom ne tne revient pas = I do not recollect
his name.
Sa figure me revient =\ like his face.
Je suis Men revenu sur le compte de votrefrhre
= I have lost all the illusions I had of
your brother.
Cet homme reve tout eveille = That man
dreams with his eyes open.
*Toute medaiile a son revers = There is a dark
side to every picture.
A revoir = To be revised.
Au revoir / = Till we meet again.
La richesse rend honnete = Rich men have no
faults.
[The bishop's pun may be repeated: "Get on, get
honour, get honest."
" Quand on est couronn^e, on a toujours le nez bien
fait."— Perrault, Les Souhaits ridicules.']
" Dans le siecle oil nous som?nes,
On ne donne rien pour rien "
= At the present day people give nothing
for nothing, and precious little for six-
pence.
[MoLifeRE, ^cole des Femmes, iii. 2. Rien here shows
itsj derivation from rem (a thing)
used with ne.]
It was not always
2o6
FRENCH IDIOMS AND PROVERBS
Rien
[continued)
Rincer
Rire
Nefaites semblant de rien = Look as if nothing
were the matter.
Comme si de rien n^^tait=hs if nothing were
the matter.
*Qui ne risque rien n^a rien = Nothing venture,
nothing win.
[" Qui ne s'aventuve perd cheval et mule."]
*Qui ne de?nande rien n^a rien = Lose nothing
for want of asking ; If you do not ask,
you will not get.
// ne sait rien de rien=i. He knows abso-
lutely nothing. 2. He is quite in the
dark.
En un rien de temps = In a trice.
En moins de rien = In less than no time.
Pas plus gros que rien = l>iext to nothing.
// n'esf rien moins que courageux = He is any-
thing but courageous.
Pour rien au inonde = Not for the life of me.
Se rincer la dalle (pop.)
whistle.
To wet one's
*Rira bieji qui rira le dernier = They have
most to laugh at who laugh last; Let
them laugh that win.
*Tel qui rit vendredi dimanche pleurera =
Sorrow treads on the heels of mirth ;
Laugh to-day and cry to-morrow.
*Marchand qui perd fie peut rire = Let those
laugh who win.
// a toujours le mot pour rire = He is ever
ready with a joke ; He is full of fun.
// m!a ri au nez = He laughed in my face.
Rire aux eclats = To roar with laughter.
Je me tordais de rire (fam.) = I was splitting
my sides with laughter.
// riait a gorge deployee = He was roaring with
laughter.
Rire dans sa barbe (or, sous cape) = To laugh
in one's sleeve. (See Cape.)
FRENCH IDIOMS AND PROVERBS
207
Risde
Roche
Rire . . Rire du bout des dents = To force a
{continued) laugh.
J^ire jaune = To laugh on the wrong side of
one's mouth.
Rire aux anges= 1. To laugh immoderately ;
2. To laugh to oneself.
Cest un pince- sans -rire = He is a dry
joker.
// est la risee de tout le monde = He is the
laughing-stock of every one.
Cest un homme de la vieille roc/ie=lie be-
longs to the good old stock ; He is a man
of the old school.
Clair comme de Veau de roche = As clear as
crystal.
Roi . . . O est la cour du roi Fetaiid = Th,\s is bedlam
let loose ; Dover Court — all speakers, no
hearers.
[Le roi P^taud (Lat. peto — \ ask) was the chief that
beggars used to choose for themselves. As he had no
more authority than his subjects, the name is given to
a house where every one is master. Comp. Moli^re,
Tartufe, i. i. —
' ' On n'y respecte rien, chacun y parle haut,
Et c'est tout justement la cour du roi Pdtaud."
A variant is : " C'est une vraie p^taudi^re."]
Le rd/i n^est pas son cousin = He is very
haughty (so that he would not acknow-
ledge the king as his cousin).
Rompre . Applaudir un acteur a tout rompre = To
applaud an actor so as to bring the house
down (to lift the roof).
Rondement // jl' va rondement=-YiQ acts frankly and
quickly.
II miner a cette affaire rondement ■= He will not
dally about that matter.
Rose . . // n^est point de rose sans epines = Every
rose has its thorn ; No rose without a
thorn.
208
FRENCH IDIOMS AND PROVERBS
Roti . . II ne faut pas s'endormtr sur le roti^ We
must keep our wits about us ; We must
not neglect our work ; We must not be
too slow over it; We must not rest on
our laurels.
[Literally, to go to sleep whilst cooking the meat.]
Roue . . II fait la roue = He shows off.
Rouge . . Sefacher tout rouge = 1lo get into a passion.
Voir rouge = To be seized with a sudden thirst
for blood.
Roulette . Cela marche comme sur des roulettes = That is
getting on swimmingly.
Royaliste ^tre plus royaliste que le roi {plus catholique
que le pope) = To out-Herod Herod.
Royautd . *'Z« royaute^ place noyee de luffiiere oil toute
tache parait unefange sordide " =
" In that fierce light which beats upon a
throne
And blackens every blot."
[Tennyson, /^//^ (/M^ A'm^, Dedication.]
Rubis . . Faire (or, payer) ruhis sur Vongle = To pay to
the last farthing.
[This expression means literally to drain a tumbler so
completely that there just remains in it one drop of
wine, which being put on the nail looks like a ruby.
" Je sirote mon vin, quel qu'il soit, vieux, nouveau ;
Je fais rubis sur I'ongle, et n'y mets jamais d'eau."
Regnard, Folies Amoureuses, iii. 4.]
Ruisseau . *Les petits ruisseaux font les grandes rivieres =
Many a little makes a mickle.
Sac . . . *Autant peche celuiqui tient le sac que celui qui
met dedans = The receiver is as bad as the
thief.
[ Wer die Leiter halt ist so schuldig wie der Diet.']
Tu sais que je n^ai plus le sac = You know I
have no more money.
FRENCH IDIOMS AND PROVERBS
209
Sac . , , Un homme de sac et de corde ^ A regular
{cofitinugd) ruffian.
Prendre quelqu'un la main dans le sac=To
catch any one in the very act.
// m^a laisse voir le fond du sac=l guessed
his intentions in spite of him.
Juger sur V etiquette du sac =■ To judge by
appearances.
^^ Dans les petits sacs sont les fifies epices = \a\\\^
fellows are often great wits ; Small parcels
hold fine wares. (See Aune and Onguent.)
Saint . . Tout le saint-frusquin (fam. ) = The whole jolly
lot (referring to money or clothes).
Toute la sainte jonrnee = The whole blessed
{or^ livelong) day.
Salut . . *A bon entendeur salut=A word to the wise
is enough. Verb. sap. (See Avis.)
Sang . . Cela fait /aire du mauvais sang =Th2i\. Q3MSQS
one to worry.
Suer sang et eau (fam.) = To strain every
nerve.
*Bon sang ne peut nientir = Good breeding
always shows itself; Like father, like son.
Sapin . . Sa toux sent le sapin = He has a churchyard
cough.
{Sapin — di^dX, of which coffins are made.]
Sauce . On ne salt a quelle sauce le mettre = There is
no knowing what to do with him.
*Trop de cuisiniers gdtent la sauce = Too many
cooks spoil the broth.
[Although this may be but a translation of the
English proverb, it is of constant use in France.]
Saut . . // fait tout par satits et par bonds = He does
everything by fits and starts.
Sauter . . // s'estfait sauter la tete (or, la cervelle, more
fam. le caisson) = He blew his brains out.
Paire sauter la banque = To break the bank
(gambling).
o
2IO FRENCH IDIOMS AND PROVERBS
Sauver . *Sauve qui pent ='EvQry one for himself; Run
for your lives.
Je f?ie sauve = I must be off.
Savoir . /e ne sais comment cela est arrive = I am at a
loss to explain how it happened.
Pas queje sae/ie = 'Not to my knowledge.
/e suis tout je ne sais cotnment = I am out of
sorts.
Cest i savoir =^T\\2ii remains to be seen.
II en sait plus {Tune (fam.) = He knows more
than one trick ; He knows a trick or two.
// a beaucoup de savoir /aire = He has his
wits about him ; He knows how to manage
people.
II a du savoir vivre = He knows how to
behave ; He is well bred.
Un je ne sais quoi= A " something " (I know
not what).
*De savoir vient avoir = Knowledge is power.
*Qui plus sait plus se tait = A still tongue
shows a wise head.
* Qui rien ne sait^ de rien ne doute = Who knows
nothing, doubts nothing; Ignorance is
bliss.
Savon . . Je lui donnerai un savon (fam.) = I will blow
him up.
[German : Ich werde ihm den Kopfwaschen.']
Sc^ne . . Je lui ai fait iine scene = i. I had a row with
him. 2. I reproached {pr^ abused) him
violently.
Scie . . Quelle scie ! (fam.) = What a bother !
Stance . Seance tenante = Forthwith ; There and then.
Sec . . . Cest un grand sec= He is a tall, spare man.
Sec cotmne un pendu = As thin as a lath.
Boire sec=l^o drink hard.
// est a sec (pop.) = He is hard up, broke, in
low water.
S^cher. . »S<?^/^^rj?/r//(?^/= To pine away.
FRENCH IDIOMS AND PROVERBS
211
Secours . Crier au secours = To cry for help.
Secret . . '^Secret de deux, secret de Dieu,
Secret de trois, secret de tous = No secret but
between two.
Seigneur . *A tout seigneur tout honneur = Honour to
whom honour is due.
Sel . . . Mettre du set sous la queue d'un oiseau = To
put salt on a bird's tail.
Sellette . Mettre sur la sellette = To cross-question ;
To haul over the coals (fam.).
[Z(2 sellette was the small wooden seat on which a
culprit sat during his trial.]
Semaine . Cet officier est de semaine = He is officer of
the week.
II depensa toute sa semaine =1^0. spent all his
week's wages {or, pocket-money).
Je le ferai la semaine des trois {quatre) jeudis
= I shall do it in a week of Sundays (i.e.
never).
[Also : /e le ferai quand les poules auront des dents.]
Preter a la petite semaine = To lend money
at high interest for a short time.
Semblable A-t-on jamais vu rien de seinblable ? = Did you
ever see such a thing ?
J^ien de semblable == Nothing of the sort.
Sembler . Comme bon vous semble = Just as you please.
Si bon vous semble = If you think fit.
Semelle . Lever la semelle devant quelqu'un = To show
any one a clean pair of heels.
Sens . . Cela tombe sous le sens = That is self-evident,
obvious.
Sens dessus dessous = Upside down ; Topsy-
turvy.
Sens devant derriere -= Wrong side first.
A contresens = Contrary to the meaning ; In
the wrong way.
Seul
Si .
212 FRENCH IDIOMS AND PROVERBS
Sentir . . Cela ne sent pas bon = (fig.) I don't like the
look of that,
Je ne nie sens pas de joie = \ am beside myself
with joy.
Service . Qu^y a-t-il pour voire service ? = What can I
do for you ?
Servir . . Madame est servie = Dinner is served.
^ A quoi sert de vous mettre en colere ? = What
is the use of getting angry ?
Cela va tout seul = That is no trouble ; That
works of its own accord.
. Jl n^y a pas de si qui fasse = There is no
excuse for it.
Avec un si on mettrait Paris dans u?ie bouteille
= Such suppositions are idle; If wishes
were horses, beggars would ride.
// n'est pas riche. — Ohl que si = He is not
rich. — Isn't he, though !
. *Chacun le sien n'est pas trop = Let each have
his own, then all is fair.
II fait des siennes = He is up to his old tricks
again.
// en sera du sien = He will be a loser by it.
On n'' est jamais train que par les siens = It is
always one's friends (or, confederates) who
betray one.
Singe . . I^ singe est toujours singe, fiit-il vetu de
pourpre =
An ape's an ape, a varlet's a varlet,
Though they be clad in silk or scarlet.
// Va paye en monnaie de singe = He paid
him with promises ; He jeered at him
instead of paying him.
[This expression originated in the ordinance of St.
Louis regulating the payment of the tolls at the gates
of Paris. Showmen were exempted from payment on
causing their apes to skip and dance in front of the toll-
keeper. Comp. EsTiENNE BoiLEAU, Establissements
des mdtiers de Paris, Chapitre del p^age de Petit
Pont : — " Li singes au marchant doibt quatre deniers,
se il por vendre le porte : se li singes est a homme qui
Sien
FRENCH IDIOMS AND PROVERBS
213
Singe .
[continued)
Soif.
Solide
Soleil
I'aist achet6 por son ddduit, si est quites, et se li singes
est au joueur, jouer en doibt devant le pdagier, et por
son jeu doibt estre quites de toute la chose qu'il achfete
k son usage et aussitdt le jongleur sont quite por un ver
de chanson."]
"^On ne saurait /aire boire un dne sHl rHa
soif = One man can take a horse to
the water, but twenty cannot make him
drink.
// songe au solide = He has an eye to the
main chance.
Montr er le soleil avec un flambeau = To hold
a farthing rushhght to the sun ; To paint
the lily.
Somme (w.)yi? n^ai fait qu'un somme = I never woke all
night.
Somme (/.) Somme toute = After all ; Taking everything
into consideration ; To conclude.
En somme = On the whole; In the main.
Songe . . " Puisqu'en vous il est faux que songes sont
mensonges " = Since with you, it is untrue
that dreams go by contraries.
[MOLIERE, j^tourdi, iv, 3.]
*Mal d'autrui n^est que songe = Other people's
woes do not affect us much.
C'estt n songe-creux = He is full of idle fancies
(or, day dreams) ; He is a wool-gatherer.
Sonner . Elle a quarante ans bien sonnes = She is
over forty.
II est trois heures sonnees=lt has struck three.
Payer en bonnes especes sonnantes (et tre-
buchantes) = To pay in hard cash.
Sornette . // nous berce de sornettes = He puts us off
with silly tales.
Sort . . L^ sort en est jete = The die is cast ; Alea
facta est.
Elle lui a fete un sort = She cast a spell over
him ; He is infatuated with her.
Tirer au sort = To draw lots (for the army, etc. ).
214 FRENCH IDIOMS AND PROVERBS
Sorte . . Je lui ai parle de la bonne sorte = l gave it
him soundly ; I gave him a piece of my
mind.
Sortie . . II a fait une sortie = He flew into a passion.
Sot . . . C'est un sot en trois httres = He is a thorough
fool.
Quelque sot leferait = One would be a fool
to do that.
*A sotte question point de riponse = Answer a
fool according to his folly ; A silly ques-
tion needs no answer.
Un sot trouve toujours unplus sot qui V admire
= Even a fool will always find admirers.
[BoiLEAU, Art PoMqne, i.]
// n^y a pas de sots metiers^ il n^y a que de
sottes gens = People may be petty, but
work never is.
Sou. . . II a fait de cent sous quatre Hvres^ et de quatre
livres rien = He has brought his noble to
ninepence, and his ninepence to nothing.
[Livre here has nothing to do with our English
pound sterling. It is practically the equivalent of the
modern franc. Hence the proverb means : He reduced
loo sous to 80 sous.]
Une affaire de deux sous = A twopenny-half-
penny affair.
Cela vaut viille francs comme un sou = It is
worth £,\o if it is worth a penny.
Souche . Oest une vraie souche^ He is a regular log.
Faire souche = ^0 found a family.
Soufiflet . Donner un souffiet a Vaugelas = To murder
the King's English; To offend Lindley
Murray.
[Vaugelas (1585-1650) was a celebrated writer on
French grammar, one of the first members of the Aca-
d^mie Fran9aise, and one of the chief contributors to
its Dictionary, Comp. MOLlfcRE, Les Femmes Savantes,
ii, 7 : " Elle y met Vaugelas en pieces tous les jours."
Donner un soujiet a Ronsard\\2iS also used, and, in the
Middle Ages, Casser la tete de Priscien, from the
famous grammarian of the fourth century.]
FRENCH IDIOMS AND PROVERBS
215
Souhait . *Si souhaits fussent vrais,
If wishes were
horses,
Beggars would
ride.
Pastoureaux rots seraient.
[Compare 5/.]
Souhaiter Je fen souhaitel (pop.) = I wish you may
get it.
Souhaiter la bonne annee a quelqu^un = To
wish some one a happy new year.
Soul . . *^ merle soul cerises sont amlres = Plenty
makes dainty.
Parler tout son soul (pop.) = To speak to
one's heart's content.
Soulier . J^tre dans ses petits Soulier s = To be uneasy in
one's mind ; To be on pins and needles.
Soumettre II faut se soumettre ou se demettre = One must
knuckle under or clear out.
[Gambetta said this to Marshal MacMahon during
the crisis of i6th May 1875.]
Soupe . • S^emporter comtne une soupe au lait = To fly
into a passion without warning; To be
of a very hasty temper.
Trempe comme une soupe = Wet to the skin ;
Dripping wet.
C'est un marchand de soupe. (See Mar-
chand.)
Sourd . . Sourd comme un pot = As deaf as a post.
■^ Vous faites la sourde oreille = None so deaf
as those who will not hear.
Frapper comme un sourd = To beat unmerci-
fully.
// court un bruit sourd = A rumour is being
whispered.
lis ont recours a des inenees sourdes = They
have recourse to underhand dealings.
Sourdine . // fait ses coups a la sourdine = He acts
secretly, in an underhand manner.
Sourire . Cela me sourit assez = I rather like this.
i2l6
FRENCH IDIOMS AND PROVERBS
Souris . . * Sour is qui na qu^un trou est bicntdt prise = It
is good to have more than one string to
one's bow.
*0n entendrait trotter une souris (or, voler une
mouche) = One could hear a pin drop.
Elk est iveilUe comme une petite souris (or,
co?nme une potee de souris^ = She is as
brisk as a bee.
Souvenir . Autant que je puisse m^en souvenir = To the
best of my recollection.
Cest du plus loin qu'il me souvienne = i . I can
barely remember it. 2. It is as far back
as I can recollect.
Souvent . Plus souventf (fam.) = Not if I know it!
Twice !
Sucre . . Casser du sucre sur la tete de quelqu'un (pop.)
= To speak ill of any one in his absence.
Suite . . Cette maladie peut avoir des suites = That ill-
ness may have serious consequences.
// n'a pas d^ esprit de suite = He is not con-
sistent ; He keeps at nothing long.
Suite (of a serial story or article) = Continua-
tion; Continued.
[Also : Suite etjin = Conclusion.
A suivre=To be continued.
La suite au prochain numdro=-To be continued in
our next.]
Sujet . . Etre su/et a Vheure = To be tied to time.
J^tre sujet a caution = Not to be rehed upon.
(See Caution.)
Cest un mauvats sujet = He is a scamp, "a
bad lot."
[This is used in speaking of tiresome children, of
flighty young men, and of real rogues.]
Petit mauvais sujet ! = Little rascal ! (to
children).
Supplice . ^tre au supplice = To be on thorns.
Sur . . . Pour sur I (fam.) = I should think so, indeed!
FRENCH IDIOMS AND PROVERBS
217
Table . . Tenir table ouverte = To keep open house.
Faire table rase = To make a clean sweep and
begin again ; To start everything afresh.
Jouer cartes sur table = To act frankly, above
board.
Tache . . Prendre a tache = To make it one's business.
Travailler a la tache — To work by the piece.
Taillable • Vilains taillables et corveables a merci = Serfs
taxable and workable at their lord's will
and pleasure.
Taille • . // est ae taille a se defendre = He is big
enough to defend himself.
" lis nous ont fait une France a leur taille "
(Beranger) = They have brought France
down to their level.
Se tenant par la taille =-- With their arms
round each other's waists.
Frapper destoc et de taille = i. To cut and
thrust. 2. To hit right and left ; To lay
about one.
Talon . . II a r esprit aux talons = He shines at the
wrong end ; He is not witty.
La bande se dispersa^ les talons aux epaules =
The gang took to their heels.
fai restomac dans les talons = I am very
hungry.
Tambour . On Va metie tambour battant — They led him
with a high hand ; They played the
martinet with him.
// sortirent tambour battant^ nieche allumie =
They went out with all the honours of
war.
Tant . . Tous tant que nous sommes = Every one of us.
Eire tant a tant = To be even (in a game).
2l8
FRENCH IDIOMS AND PROVERBS
Tant . . St cela vous ennuie tant soit peu, ne le faites
(continued) pas = If that is the least trouble, do not
do it.
EUe n^est pas jolie^ tant s' en /au^= She is not
pretty, far from it ; She is anything but
good-looking.
Vous m^en direz tant = That alters the case ;
Ah ! now I understand. (See Dire.)
Est-ce qu'elle est belle ? — Elle est comme il y en
a tant = Is she beautiful ? — Nothing to
stare at ; Nothing out of the common.
Vous Vavez fait tant Men que vial = You did
it in a casual (off-hand) way.
Je Vai fait tant bien que mal = I did it as
well as I could, though I know it is not
well done.
Si tant est que .... = If it be true that ....
Tapis . . Etre sur le tapis = To be the subject of
general conversation ; To be broached.
Amuser le tapis (or, la galerie) = To amuse
people by talking the time away.
Tapisserie Eaire tapisserie (fam.) = To be a wall-flower
at a ball.
Tard . . * Mieuxvauttard que jamais = ^e\Xex\2Xe\}cL2Ln
never.
[This is first found in Dionysius of Halicarnassus
(ix. ii) : " It is better beginning late doing our duties
than never."]
Tarder . // me tarde deparler = I am anxious to speak.
// ne tardera pas a venir = It will not be
long before he comes.
Tarte . . Cest sa tarte a la crime = It is his one con-
stant objection.
[MoLiERE, ^cole des Feimnes y \. i.]
Tel ... * Tel maitre, tel valet = Like master, like man ;
Like well, like bucket.
["Selon le clerc est deu le maistre." — Villon,
Grand Testament, 568.]
'''Telle vicy telle fin = Men die as they live.
FRENCH IDIOMS AND PROVERBS
219
Tel .../<? vous le rends tel quel = I return it to you
{continued) just as it was lent to me.
Je la prendrai telle quelle = I will take it
just as it is.
Ce sont des gens tels quels (fam.) = They are
" no great shakes," just ordinary people,
humdrum people.
Tel est pris qui croy ait prendre = It is a case
of the biter bit.
Monsieur un tel = Mr. So-and-so.
Temps . // se donne du bon te?}ips = He does not work
too hard; He enjoys himself; He has a
good time of it.
// prend le temps co?nfne il vient = He takes
things easily.
Cela a fait son temps = That has had its day.
"^Du temps que Berthe filaii = When the world
was young ; When Adam delved and Eve
span.
Si le temps le permet = Wind and weather
permitting.
Le temps est a la pluie = It looks like
rain.
Le temps perdu ne se ripare (or, rattrape) pas
= Time wasted is gone indeed.
*Qui a temps a vie = While there is hfe, there
is hope ; Du7n spiro spero.
Far le temps qui court = Nowadays ; As times
go.
*Autres temps, autres moeurs = Manners change
with the times.
Au temps I = As you were! (military com-
mand).
[This is sometimes incorrectly written " Autant," but
military movements were formerly divided into temps.
When the drill-sergeant makes a mistake in giving the
word of command, he says, " Au temps pour moi" =
" My mistake, as you were ! "]
Tendre . // vaut mieux tendre la main que le cou = It
is better to beg than to steal.
220
FRENCH IDIOMS AND PROVERBS
Tendre
(continued)
Tendresse Tendresse maternelle
"^Larc toujours tendu se gate = All work and
no play makes Jack a dull boy.
[" Neque semper arcum tendit Apollo." — Horace,
Carm, ll. x. 20.]
{ A mother's truth
^ . 77 c = \ Keeps constant
Toujours se renouvelle. ^ ,
[Archbishop Trench quotes the French and German
forms as rhyming equally well in both languages ; the
English, he confesses, is not such a good translation.
The German is :
Mutter treu'
Wird taglich neu.]
Tenir . . // ne tint a rien quHls ne se battissent = They
were within an ace of fighting.
Quand on est bien^ on ne sy peut tenir = The
love of change makes us give up even a
comfortable position.
Un tiens vaut mieux que deux tu Vauras = A
bird in the hand is worth two in the bush.
[Also : Un bon aujourdhui vaut tnieux que deux
demain.']
II tient de son pere = He takes after his father.
// tient a ce livre = He treasures that book.
Je ne tiens plus a rien = I no longer care for
anything.
// ne tiendra pas a moi quHl ne reus sis se = It
will not be my fault if he does not succeed.
Je le tiens de bonne source = I have it on good
authority.
Tenir le loup par les oreilles = To be in a
critical situation, dilemma.
On le tient a quatre = It needs four men to
hold him down.
Je me suis tenu a quatre pour ne pas lui dire
ses verites = It was almost more than I
could do not to tell him what I thought
of him.
// n'y a pas d'amitie qui tienne = Friendship
has nothing to do with the question ; It
must be done in spite of friendship.
FRENCH IDIOMS AND PROVERBS
221
Tenir . . Qu'a cela ne tienne= Do not let that be any
(continued) objection ; Never mind that.
Je n'y Hens pas = I am not particular about
it ; I am not keen on it.
Je fiy Hens plus = I cannot stand it any
longer.
Je n'y at pas tenu = I could not contain
myself.
Je ne sais a quoi nUen tenir =1 do not know
what to believe.
Tenir comme teigne (pop.) = To stick like
wax.
A quoi cela //m/-/7 ? = What is that owing to?
// 7ie Hent qu^a lui de commencer = It rests
entirely with him to begin ; He can begin
when he likes.
Cela lui Hent au coeur = He is anxious
about it.
// n'a pas ddS^ il a tenu bon = He did not
give away, he stuck to it.
Tenez-vous-le pour dit = Take it for granted ;
Bear that in mind.
Jl en tient = i. He is smitten. 2. He is
caught.
Tenez-vous-en la = Stop there, go no further
in the matter ; Be satisfied with what you
have already obtained.
Tiens ! dest vous 1 = Hullo ! is that you ?
Tiens, tiens /= Indeed, you don't say so !
Terme . *Jl y a terme a tout = There is an end to
everything.
[A German proverb says : '• Everything has an end —
a sausage two."]
'''Qui a terme ne doit rien = No one is obliged
to pay before a debt is due.
Le terme vaut I' argent = Time is money.
Menagez un peu vos termes = Moderate your
expressions a little ; Be a little careful in
what you say.
222 FRENCH IDIOMS AND PROVERBS
Terrain . En fnathematiques il est sur son terrain = He
is quite in his element at mathematics.
Tdter le terrain = To feel one's way (fig.)-
Terroir . // sent k terroir = He is racy of the soil ; He
savours of his country.
Tete . . II a la tete pres du bonnet = He is hasty, hot-
headed.
*Ce sont deux tetes dans un bonnet = They are
hand and glove together.
Cet homme y va tete baissee = That man rushes
blindly into it ; That man sets to work
energetically.
C'est ufi homme de tete = He has a head on
his shoulders ; He is a man of resource.
// s^est fuonte la tete = He got excited over
fancied or exaggerated wrongs.
C^est une tete carree = He is an obstinate
fellow.
fen ai par-dessus la tete=i. I am sick and
tired of it. 2. I am head over ears in it.
Je lui laverai la tete (pop.) = I will give it to
him ; I will give him a sound drubbing.
// ne sait oil donner de la tete = He does not
know which way to turn.
{^Donner here has the meaning of heurter, f rapper de
la tete.']
Donner de la tete contre le mur = To hit one's
head against a stone wall.
Za tete me tourne = I feel giddy; my head
swims.
// a mauvaise tete = He is a wrong-headed
fellow.
II fait a sa tete = He will have his own way.
Cet homme a mauvaise tete et bon cceur = That
man is quick-tempered, but kind-hearted.
Vous lui avez tenu tete = You did not give in
to him.
Cet homme a de la tete = Tha.t man has his
head screwed on the right way.
FRENCH IDIOMS AND PROVERBS
223
Tiers . . II ne faut pas dire vos affaires au tiers et au
quart =You must not tell your business
to all the world, to everybody.
Le tiers et le quart = Tom, Dick, and Harry.
Timbre . II a le timbre f He (fam.) = He is cracked ; He
has a screw loose.
Tirer . . II se fera tirer Voreille = He will require
pressing.
// tire le diable par la queue = He leads a
struggling existence.
Vous ne me tirerez pas les vers du nez = You
will not pump me {i.e. make me tell
secrets).
Cet ho?nme se tirerait d'un puits = That man
would get out of any difficulty, is full of
resource.
Je me ferais tirer a quatre avant de parler
= Wild horses would not make me
speak.
// tire (louche) a sa fin = He is on his last
legs.
/e saurai en tirer parti =\ shall be able to
turn it to account.
*Tirez le rideau, la farce estjouee= Ring down
the curtain, the play is over.
[Words reported to have been said by Rabelais just
before his death.]
Titre . . On m^ a donnece la d litre gratuit {or, gracieux)
= They gave me that for nothing.
Cet or n' est pas au titre legal = This gold is
not up to the standard.
A ce titre {compte) fyperds =^ At that rate I
am a loser.
Toit . . Crier par-dessus les toils = To proclaim from
the housetops.
Tomber . Je tombe d' accord avec vous sur ce point = I
am at one with you on that head.
Je tombe des nues = I am astounded.
224
FRENCH IDIOMS AND PROVERBS
Tomber . Cet homme-la est Men tombe = That man has
(continued) fallen on his feet ; That man has applied
to the right person {or^ ironic), to the
wrong person.
U enfant tombe par terre^ mais le fruit tombe a
terre = A child falls on the ground, while
fruit falls to the earth.
[Par terre = from one's own height; a terre ={rom
any height.]
Tordre . /^ me tor dais de rire (fam.) = I was splitting
my sides {pr^ convulsed) with laughter.
Tort . . Vous vous etes 7tiis dans votre tort = You put
yourself in the wrong.
A tort ou a raison = Rightly or wrongly.
A tort et a travers = At random, thought-
lessly.
T6t . . . *J^e plus tot sera le mieux = The sooner, the
better.
Toucher . Elle a Pair de ne pas y toucher = S\\q looks as
if butter would not melt in her mouth ;
She is very sarcastic without appearing to
mean anything. (Comp. Nitouche.)
Oest un touche-a-tout = He is a Jack of all
trades ; He meddles with everything.
Ce/a touche a la folie = That is but one re-
move from madness ; That borders on
lunacy.
Touchez-la = Here's my hand on it.
Tour . , Faire ses quinze (or, trente-six) tours = To do
a hundred useless things.
*A chacun son tour = Every dog has his day ;
Now it is 7ny turn.
Elle estfaite au tour (or, moule) = She has a
splendid figure.
// fit cela en un tour de main = He did that
in a moment.
Un tour de faveur = Permission to go {pr^ do
anything) before one's turn.
Trac . . Avoir le trac (fam.) = To be funky.
FRENCH IDIOMS AND PROVERBS
225
Train
Trait
Traite .
Traiter
Traitre
Mettre une affaire en tram = To put a thin^
in hand.
Pas dans le train = Not up-to-date ; Of an
older school.
// k mine bon train dans cette affaire = He
drives him hard in that matter.
// nous a fnenes bon train = He brought us
along at a great rate.
Alkz toujour s votre train = Go on as usual.
// est en train d'ecrire = He is in the act of
writing ; He is just writing.
Je ne suis pas en train ce matin = I do not
feel myself this morning.
// est en train (pop.) = He is slightly intoxi-
cated.
Faire du train (pop.) = To kick up a dust.
// mene grand train = He lives like a lord.
A fond de train = At full speed.
Ce que vous dites n'a pas trait a la question =
What you say has nothing to do with the
question.
Ce sent la de vos traits = That is just like
you.
Avaler d'un trait = To drink oif at one gulp,
at a draught.
Tout d^une traite = At a stretch, without
stopping.
// 7n^a traite defat= He called me a fop.
// m'a traite en roi = He treated me like a
lord.
// n^a pas dit un trattre
spoke a single word.
mot = He never
Tramontane Perdre la tramontane = Not to know which
way to turn ; To lose one's head.
[Literally, to lose one's bearings. Tramontane is
derived from the Italian tramontana, and originally
meant the pole-star, which was the star seen from the
Mediterranean across the mountains (the Alps). Com-
pare s'orienter. See Boule. ]
P
226
FRENCH IDIOMS AND PROVERBS
Trancher . Cet homme tiest pas tres honnete, tranchons le
7not, c'est un coquin = That man is not
very honourable, in plain English, he is
a rascal. (See Mot. )
Trancher la question., la difficulte = To cut
the Gordian knot; To solve the diffi-
culty.
Trancher du grand seigneur =To try and play
the lord.
Trancher dans le vif= (lit.) To cut to the
quick ; (fig.) To set to work in earnest.
Travers . // a r esprit de travers = He has an awkward
temper ; He does not see things as they
are ; He is cross-grained.
// me regarda de travers = He looked black
(askance) at me.
Ilprend tout de travers = He takes everything
amiss.
Trdfonds . /'en sais le fonds et le trefonds = I know the
ins and outs of it, the long and the short
of it.
[Also : Je connais les tenants et aboutissants de
P affaire.']
Tremper . Nous fmfies trempes jusqu'aux os = We were
wet to the skin.
Trente . &tre sur son trente-et-un (fam. ) = To be dressed
up to the nines.
Tricherie . *Tricherie revient a son maitre = Curses, like
chickens, come home to roost.
Trier . . Les soldats de la Garde etaient tous tries sur
le volet == The soldiers of the Guard were
all picked men.
[I^otet is a gardener's board on which lie sorts seeds.]
Triste . . C'est un triste sire= He is a despicable, dis-
honourable fellow.
Tromper . // n'y a pas a sy trofnper = ThQYQ is no mis-
take about it. .
FRENCH IDIOMS AND PROVERBS
227
Trop . , Je ne sais trop = I don't exactly know.
*Qui dii trop ne dit rien = He who wants to
prove too much proves nothing.
Trou . . Faire un trou a la lune (fam.) = To shoot the
moon ; To fly from one's creditors.
Troubler . Oest un trouble-fete = He is a mar-joy, a wet
blanket.
Trousse . Le voleur fuyait^ mats nous etions a ses
trousses — The thief made off, but we were
at his heels.
Trouver . Cela se trouve Hen = That is lucky.
Tu . . . Mre a tu et a tot = To be on very familiar
terms with.
Tuer . . Crier a tue-tete = To shout at the top of one's
voice.
u.
Un . . . Ne faire ni une ni deux = To m2i\iQ no honQS
about it; To make up one's mind
quickly.
Cest tout un = It is all the same.
Union . . L'union fait la force = United we stand,
divided we fall.
Usine . . Ce ne sont que des usines a bachot (pop.) =
They are mere cramming shops.
\Bachot=baccalaurdat=^v(\2L\x\Q.v\2L\\ow. The French
equivalent for our B.A. is rather licencU-es-lettres , al-
though the examinations in the two countries are so
different that any comparison is very^difficult.]
Vache . . Parler francais comnie utie vache espagnole =
To talk horribly bad French. (See
Francais.)
" Un homme qui n a jamais mange de la vache
enragee 71' est Jamais qu^une poule mouiUee "
(Mme. DE Girardin) = A man who has
never roughed it is always a milksop.
228
FRENCH IDIOMS AND PROVERBS
Vache .
(continued)
Vaincre
Valet
Valeur .
Valoir .
Veine .
Velours
Ces^ le grand chemin des vaches = That is the
beaten track.
Le plancher des vaches (fam.) = Terra firma.
■*"^ vaincre sans perils on triomphe sans
gloire, " =-- Where there is no danger, there
is no glory.
[CoRNEiLLE, Cid, ii. 2. Compare: " Scit eum sine
gloria vinci qui sine periculo vincitur." — Seneca, De
Providentia, iii.]
// ny a pas de grand homme pour son valet
de chambre = No man is a hero to his
valet.
On ne'prend pas de valet pour se servir soi-
w^w^=What! keep a dog and bark thy-
self!
" Aux dfnes Hen nies
La valeur n^ attend pas le nombre des ann^es"
CORNEILLE, Cid^ ii. 2.
= Really brave men show their valour when
quite young.
Cela vaut/att^ThsLt is as good as done.
Vaut bien que mal= Vaille que vaille = AX. all
events ; For better, for worse.
LI se fait trop valoir— He brags too much.
Je suis en veine de le faire = I am just in the
humour to do it.
J^ai de la veine (pop.) = I am in luck.
Faire patte de velours = To speak smoothly ;
To draw in one's claws.
*LLabit de velours^ ventre de son = Silks and
satins put out the kitchen fire.
[Compare :
" Dress drains our cellar dry,
And keeps our larder lean."
CowPER, Task, ii. 614.
An old French dicton says :
' ' Ne sois paon en ton parer,
Ny perroquet en ton parler,
Ny cicogne en ton manger,
Ny oye aussi en ton marcher."]
FRENCH IDIOMS AND PROVERBS
229
Vendre
Venir .
Vent
7
I
Ventre
* Chose qui plait est a moitie vendue = Good
wares make quick market ; Please the eye
and fill the purse.
["Chose qui plaist est a demy vendue." — Charles
D'ORLltANS, Rondeau 194.]
'''Tout vient a point a qui sait attendre =
Everything comes to the man who waits.
[The older form of the proverb omitted a ; for qui—
si on.]
C'est un beau venir y voir = A pretty sight
indeed !
Oil voulez-vous en venir 1 = What are you
driving at ? What is your drift ?
// se vante d'en venir a bout = He says he is
sure to succeed.
// fait un vent a decorner (or, ecorner) un
^a^«/= There is a wind enough to blow
one's head off.
Autant en emporte le vent = That is but so
much breath spent in vain ; It is not of
the slightest consequence.
* Vent au visage rendun homme sage — Adversity
makes a man wise, not rich.
Celui qui seme le vent ricolte la tempete = He
who sows the wind reaps the whirlwind ;
Those who live in glass houses should not
throw stones.
* Ventre affame prend tout en gre =
" They that have no other meat,
Bread and butter are glad to eat."
* Ventre affame n'a point d'oreilles = A hungry
man will not listen to reason ; A hungry
man is an angry man.
Cela luiremetdu coeurau ventre (fam.) = That
gives him courage again.
Savoir ce que quelqu^un a dans le ventre (fam.)
= To know what a person is- worth, what
he thinks ; To know the stuff a man is
made of.
230
FRENCH IDIOMS AND PROVERBS
Ventre . II n' a pas trois mois dans le venire (fam.) = He
(continued) cannot livc three months.
Le cheval courait ventre a terre = The
horse was running as hard as he could tear.
// ^fait a plat ventre = He was flat on his face.
Ver . . . Nil comme un z'^/'= Stark naked; As naked
as when one was born.
V^rit6 . . *0n dit souvent la virite en riant = There is
many a true word spoken in jest.
Toute verite n^ est pas bonne a dire = AW truths
are not to be spoken at all times.
La viriti co?nme Vhuile vient au-dessus = Truth
will out ; It takes a good many shovelfuls
of earth to bury the Truth.
[The Spaniards say : La verdad es hija de Dios =
Truth is the daughter of God,]
C'est une veriti de Monsieur de la Palisse =
It is an evident truth.
[M. de la Palisse is the hero of a lengthy poem, one
of the verses of which runs as follows :
" M. de la Palisse est mort
Mort de maladie
Un quart d'heure avant sa mort
II 6tait encore en vie."]
Verrier . 11 court comme un verrier decharge= He runs
like a lamplighter. (See Chat.)
[Glaziers, when carrying glass, have to walk carefully
and slowly. When they have got rid of their load they
make up for lost time.]
Vers . . " Les plus beaux vers sont ceux qu'on ne peut
pas dcrire" — (Lamartine, Voyage en
Orient) =
" Ah ! the best prayers that faith may
ever think
Are untranslatable by pen and ink."
Bishop Alexander.
Vert . . Vous ne le prendrez pas sans vert =Y on will
not catch him napping.
[An old game that used to be played in May was for
two people to undertake to be able always to show a
green twig : failure to do so lost the game.]
i
FRENCH IDIOMS AND PROVERBS 23 T
Vert . . Unevertevieillesse = K\i2\Qo\di2i'gQ.
{continued) lis sofit trop ver/s = The grapes are sour.
[La Fontaine, Le Renard et les Raisins, iii. 11.]
Mettre un cheval au vert=To send a horse
to grass.
Vessie . . // veut nous /aire prendre des vessies pour des
lanternes = He wishes us to believe the
moon is made of green cheese.
[" Me voulez vous faire entendant
De vecfes que ce sont lanternes?"
Maisfre Pierre Pathelin, Sco.]
Vie. . . Faire vie ^m dure = To live tempersLtely ; To
husband one's resources.
Avoir la vie dure= i. To have a hard time.
2. To have nine Hves.
Vieux . . yieux cofume les rues, com me le monde^ As
old as the hills.
C^est un ho7nnie de la vieille roche = He is a
man of the old school ; he belongs to the
good old stock.
Un vieux de la vieille = A veteran of the
old Imperial Guard ; One of the old
brigade.
Vieil ami et vieux vin sont vrai?neni deux bons
vieux, mais vieux ecus sont encore mieux
= Old friends and old wine are good, but
old gold is better than both.
[" Alonzo of Arragon was wont to say in commen-
dation of Age, that Age appeared to be best in four
things : Old wood best to burn, old wine to drink, old
friends to trust, and old authors to read."— Bacon,
Apophthegtns, loi,]
Vif . . . Trancher (or, couper) dans le vif=(^\\..) To
cut to the quick; (fig.) To set to work
in earnest.
Ce reproche Va pique au vif = T\\2X reproach
stung him to the quick.
// est vif comme la poudre= i. He is quick-
tempered. 2. He is bustHng, quick at
work.
232
FRENCH IDIOMS AND PROVERBS
Vif . . , De vive voix = By word of mouth ; Orally.
(continued) Ce sont des descriptions prises sur le vif =
Those descriptions are life-like.
Les pay sans dans ce tableau sont pris sur le vif
= The peasants in that picture are life-like.
Vigne . . // est dans les vignes du Seigneur = He is in
his cups.
Vin . . . -Du vin a faire danser les chhvres = Sour wine
not fit to drink.
*A bon vin point d'enseigne = Good wine needs
no bush.
[It was a Roman custom to hang out a branch of ivy
at the doors of taverns in honour of Bacchus. Branches
of green stuff may still be seen at the doors of wine-
shops along the Loire and in Burgundy. Kelly traces
the word " bosky " {i.e. drunk) to this bush.]
Atre entre deux vins = To be half seas over
(pop.).
*Ze vm entre., la ratson sort = When ale is in,
wit is out.
On ne connatt pas le vin aux cercles = You
can't judge cigars by the picture on the box.
Tremper son vin = To water one's wine.
\Tremper=tempdrer, not to wet, but to moderate.]
Vous mouillez trop votre vin = You are drown-
ing the miller.
Violent . Cela est un pen violent = That is too bad.
Violon . . Payer les violons = To pay the piper.
Visi^re . /e lui ai rompu en visilre = I attacked (or,
contradicted) him openly.
[" Je n'y puis plus tenir, j'enrage ; et mon dessein
Est de rompre en visiere a tout le genre humain."
MOLIERE, Le Misanthrope, i. i.
Literally the phrase meaps : to break one's lance
against the visor of one's enemy.]
Vite . . . Plus vite que fa (fam.) = Look sharp about it.
Vivre . . Je n^ai pas trouve dme qui vive = I did not
find a soul.
*Qui vivra verra = 'ile who lives longest will
see most ; Time will show (tell).
FRENCH IDIOMS AND PROVERBS
233
Vivre .
{continued)
Voie
Voila
Voir
Monsieur vit de ses rentes = The gentleman is
independent (i.e. has an income of his
own).
Apprendre a vivre = To learn manners.
Je lui apprendrai d vivre = I will teach him
better manners (as a threat).
Comme c'est vku ! = How true to life !
//s en sont venus aux votes de fait = They
came to blows.
// est toujours par votes et par chemins = He
is always on the move, rambling.
Zes affaires sont en voie de hausse = Things are
looking up.
^tre sur la voie = To be on the scent.
Je suis en voie de le finir=\ am in a fair way
to finish it.
Comme le voild sale! = Just see how dirty
he is!
Ne voild-t-il pas quHl est revenu = Who should
come back but he ?
Voild comme vous ites = That is just like
you.
Voild comme je suis = You must take me as
I am ; That's my way.
On ny voit goutte = OnQ can see nothing.
Jy vols trouble = 1 see dimly; My sight is
dim.
Vous n'avez rien d y voir = That is no busi-
ness of yours.
Au vu et au su de tout le village = Openly,
before the whole village.
Je vous vols venir = I see what you are
driving at.
Jai voulu voir par moi-meme = I wish to see
with my own eyes.
// nous en a fait voir de toutes les couleurs =
He told us all sorts of tales ; He worried
us beyond all bearing.
234
Voix .
Vol6e .
Voler ,
(to fly)
Voler .
(to steal)
Voleur
Volenti
V6tre .
Vouer .
Vouloir
FRENCH IDIOMS AND PROVERBS
/e rHai pas voix au chapitre = {\\\..) I have no
right to speak ; (fig.) My opinion is not
listened to.
// a obtenu cela entre bond et volee = He ob-
tained that at a lucky moment.
A toute volee = W. random ; At full swing.
// est de la haute voUe= He is a tip-top swell,
of the first water, of the upper ten.
On pouvait entendre voler une ffiouche = One
could hear a pin drop.
'''Jlne ra pas voU=^ He richly deserves it.
"^Quand les voleur s se battent, les larcins se
de'couvrent=\VhQn thieves fall out, honest
men get their own.
*La bonne volonte est reputee pour le fait = The
will is as good as (is taken for) the deed.
/e serai des votres = I shall be one of your
party ; I shall be on your side.
Vous avez fait des votres = You have com-
mitted follies yourself; You have played
pranks too.
Je ne sais a quel saint me vouer = I do not
know which way to turn.
^ Vouloir c'est pouvoir = Where there's a will
there's a way.
[Also : La volonU rend tout possible.
"Impossible est un mot que je ne dis jamais." —
Collin d'Harleville, Malice pour Malice, i. 8.
Napoleon I., in a letter to Lemarois, 9th July 1813,
wrote: " Ce n'est pas possible, m'dcrivez vous, cela
n'est pas Fran^ais."
" Mirabeau disait un jour a son secretaire : ' Impos-
sible ! ne me dites jamais ce bete de mot.* " — Dumont,
Vie de Mirabeau, quoted in Carlyle's French Revolu-
tion, vol. ii. p. 118.]
Que voulez-vous ? = i. What do you want ?
What can I do for you? 2. What was to
be done ? 3. What can you expect ?
FRENCH IDIOMS AND PROVERBS 235
Vouloir . * Vous Vavez voulu / = It is your own fault ;
[continued) YoU WQuld havC it.
[" Vous I'avez voulu, George Dandin ! "
MOLI^RE, George Dandin, i. 9.]
On ne pent lui en vouloir =OnQ cannot be
angry with him, blame him.
En veux-tu 1 efi voild I = h.^ much as ever
you like.
// y en avait a douche que veux-tu = There
was an abundant supply of it ; There was
plenty for every one.
// sait ce que purler veut dire = H e understands
the hidden meaning ; He takes the hint.
Je le veux Men = With pleasure ! I have no
objection.
Vrai . . *"Z(? vrai peut quelquefois n^etre pas vrai-
semblable " = Truth is stranger than fiction.
[BoiLEAU, Art Poitique, iii. 48.]
Z.
Z^le . . Surtout^ messieurs^ pas de zUe I — Above all,
gentlemen, don't be too anxious ! Don't
try to hurry things on.
[Words attributed to Talley/and on receiving the staff
of ihe Minist^re des Affaires Etrang^res.]
1
" Trop gratter cuit^
Trap parler nuit^
Trop tnanger ii est pas sage.
A barbon gris
Jeune souris :
V Amour est de tout age.
Enfants de Paris., quel temps fait-il ?
11 pleut Id-basj il neige ici
Pendant la nuit
Tous chats sont gris.
Pour faire route sure
Si r amour va
Cahin-caha
Menage ta inonture^
Charles Colle (1709- 1783).
INDEX
INDEX OF ENGLISH PROVERBS
Absents always wrong, 2
Ace, within an, 220
Adam delved and Eve span, when,
123, 219
Adversity makes man wise, 229
Against the grain, 201
Akimbo, to put one's arms, 17
Ale is in, wit is out, 232
All is not gold that glitters, 49
All men are not alike, 114
All's well that ends well, 124, 172
All work and no play, 220
Almost and very nigh, 160
Ambush, 8
Among the blind, one-eyed is king,
44
And the rest ! 170
Answer a fool according to his folly,
214
Appearances, for the sake of, 17
Appetite, good, i8
April fool, 191
Arm in arm , 47
As you make your bed, 41, 81
At first sight, 2
Average, on an, 15, 129
Awkward fix, to get out of an, 180,
B
Background, to put in, 188
Back made for burden, 181
Bad day, bad night, 75
Bad thing never dies, 152
Bag and baggage, 106
Band-box, come out of a, no
Bark worse than bite, 69
Bay, to be at, 2
Beak and claw, 173
Beat about the bush, to, 24, 33, 65,
193
Beat black and blue, 84, 99
Beat hollow, to, 86
Bedlam let loose, 207
Bee in one's bonnet, 19
Beer, no small, of oneself, 167
Beggars cannot be choosers, 106
Beginning not everything, 74
Behind the scenes, 55
Bell the cat, to, 22, 137
Best cheapest in the end, 158
Best of friends must part, 75
Be the day short, 147
Better dry bread at home, 38
Better late than never, 218
Better the day, better the deed, 42,
148
Between devil and deep sea, 107
Between ourselves, 198
Between two stools, 63
B from a bull's foot, not to know, i
Bigwig, 43
Billingsgate, 140
Bird fouls its own nest, an ill, 169
Bird in hand, 220
Birds flown, to find the, 51, 169
Birds of a feather, 22, 140
Bird that catches the worm, 150, 203
Bird told me so, a little, 99
Bit by bit, 9
Biter bit, the, 139, 149
Black eyes, a couple of, 170
Blood from a stone, to get, 67
Blow brains out, 50, 58, 209
Blues, to have the, 169
Boat, to be in same, 108
Bone to pick, to have a, 154
Bore, 201
Born to be hanged, never drowned,
94
Borrowing sorrowing, 21
Bow to circumstances, 32, 50
239
240
INDEX
Boycott, to, 144
Boys will be boys, 147
Brand new, 33
Bread is buttered, which side, 176
Bred in the bone, what is, 54, 63
Broken reed, 19
Broom sweeps clean, a new, 30, 96
Bull by the horns, to seize the, 22
Burn candle at both ends, 60
Burnt child dreads the fire, 63
Business, to mind one's own, 5
Business is business, 7
Butter would not melt in mouth, 169
Bygones be bygones, to let, 174, 198
Cake and eat it, to have one's, loi,
112
Cake, to take the, 19, 104, 175
Candles away, all cats grey, 64
Cap a story, 203
Cap fits, wear it, if the, 134, 165
Carpenter known by chips, 172
Carry coals to Newcastle, 102
Cart before horse, to put the, 62
Cast in the teeth, to. 168
Castles in the air, 64
Cat after kind, 69
Cat and dog life, to lead a, 3
Catch it, to, 6, 28
Cat may look at a king, 69
Cat on hot bricks, 64
Cat's away, mice will play, 64
Caught a Tartar, to have, 152
Chaff, to catch with, 17
Chalk and cheese, 147
Chalk it up, 66
Change not a clout, 28
Charity begins at home, 62
Chatterbox, a regular, 36, 166
Cheats never prosper, 4
Chip of the old block, 63, 124
Christmas comes but once a year^
121, 148
Civility costs nothing, 104, 179
Claw me, and I'll claw thee, 181
Clean as a whistle, 196
Clean sweep, 217
Clear as noonday, 71
Clear as crystal, 207
Clockwork, like, 54
Cloud and a silver lining, 189
Clover, to be in, 78
Coach - and - four through Act of
Parliament, 148
Coat does not make gentleman, 139
Cobbler stick to last, let, 161
Cock and bull story, 78
Cock of the walk, 78
Cold shoulder, 33
Come off cheap, 199
Come to blows, 233
Come to the point, 117, 181
Coming — like Christmas, 169
Comparisons are odious, 72
Confession good for soul, 26
Cost what it may, 86
Count chickens before hatched, 70,
76, 182
Cram, 43
Cramming-shop, 227
Creaking door hangs long, 47, 192
Cream of the army, 125
Crown his misfortune, to, 74, 156
Crumb and crust, 10
Cry out before hurt, 16
Cry over spilt milk, 115
Curses come home to roost, 20, 155
Cut coat according to cloth, 45
Cut ground under feet, 141
Cut long story short, 165
Daggers drawn, at, 86
Dance attendance to, 88, 138
Dark as pitch, 130
Dark side of picture, 159, 205
Daub yourself with honey, 48
Day after the fair, 167
Dead man, he is a, 6
Dead men's shoes, 165
Dead men tell no tales, 37
Deaf as a post, as, 215
Death's door, at, 22, 99
Devil and deep sea, between, 107,
158
Devil not so black as painted, 96
Devil's own luck, 79
Devil was sick, 96
Diamond cut diamond, 63, 92, 125
Die in the gutter, 175
Die is cast, 213
Dine with Duke Humphrey, 73
Dirt cheap, 3
INDEX
241
Discretion better part of valour, 43
Disgorge ill-gotten gains, 136
Distance lends enchantment, 99
Do a thing yourself, 5
Dog at a wedding, 69
Dog bad name and hang, 68
Dog better than dead lion, a living,
90
Dog does not eat dog, 80, 153
Dog has his day, every, 224
Dog in manger, 69
Dog's-ear a book, 80
Dog will learn no tricks, an old, 146
Done cannot be undone, 117
Doomsday, to wait till, 174
Door with creaking hinge, 120
Down in the mouth, 191
Down to the ground, 4
Do your duty, 95
Dover Court, 207
Draught, to be in a, 11
Draught, to drink at a, 225
Dra\^' in one's horns, to, 78
Dreams go by contraries, 213
Drink at one gulp, 225
Drink cup to dregs, 41
Drink like a fish, 40
Drop in the ocean, 136
Drop too much, to have a, 82
Dropping water wears away a
stone, 103
Drowning man catches at a straw, 3
Drown the miller, 232
Ducks and drakes, to play, 145
Dull as ditchwater, 44, 133
Early to bed and early to rise, 23
Easier said than done, 39
East, west, home best, 68
Edged tools, to play with, 122
Edge off one's appetite, to take, iii
Eel, as slippery as an, i6
Elbow one's way, 66
Elbow-room, 81
End crowns all, 124, 172
End justifies the means, 42
End to everything, 46, 221
English, in plain, 221
Englishman's house his castle, 61
Enough is as good as a feast, 78
Errors excepted, 75
Even money, 76
Ever drunk ever dry, 40
Everybody's business, 16
Every dog has his day, 58
Every inch a republican, 88
Every Jack must have his Jill, 192
Every little helps, 170
Every man for himself, 58, 210
Everything comes man who waits , 23
Extempore, to speak, 2 .
Extremes meet, 113
Eye to main chance, 213
Face the music, 193
Face is her fortune, 27
Faint heart never won fair lady, 143
Fair and softly goes far, 12
Fair words butter no parsnips, 149
Fair words never did harm , 179
Fall between two stools, to, 59
Familiarity breeds contempt , 3
Far fetched, 13
Fault confessed, half redressed , 182
Feather one's nest, to, 44, 126
Findings keepings, 195
Fine clothes do not fill stomach, 52
Fine feathers make fine birds, 35
Finishing stroke, 83
Finger in every pie, 168
First catch your hare, 182
First come, first served, 95, 194
First in the field, 95
Fish, flesh, nor fowl, 58
Fish in troubled waters, 102
Fish out of water, like a, 191
Fish to fry, other, 63
Fit to a T, 134
Fits and starts, to work by, 33, 43,
209
Fix, to be in a, loi, 185
Flash in the pan, 122
Flesh and blood, in, 58
Flesh creep, to make one's, 58
Fool's bolt is soon shot, a, 148
Fools have the best luck, 129
Foot foremost, to put one'sbest, 186
Foot in it, to put one's, 189
Forewarned, forearmed, 26
Fortune knocks once, 129
Fox to keep the geese, to set, 153
Free and easy, 3, 135
Q
242
INDEX
French leave, to take, 123
Friend at court, 14
Friend in need is a friend indeed,
13. 37
Frying-pan into the fire, to fall from,
47, 64, 122
Fuel to the fire, to add, 146
Funky, to be, 224
Game not worth candle, 60
Gentlemanly, 11
Get blood from a stone, 144
Get out of bed the wrong side, 43
Gift-horse in the mouth, to look at,
49, 66
Gift of the gab, 149
Gild the pill, 187
Give any one the slip, 75
Give him an inch, 48
Give the devil his due, 95
Give fmce who gives quickly, 99
Glass houses throw stones, 229
God helps those who help them-
selves, 9
God sends thread for begun web,
123
God tempers the wind, 48
Go halves, 76
Golden mean, 162
Good as done, 6, 23
Good as gold, as, 144
Good books, to be in one's, 177
Good breeding always tells, 209
Good name better than riches, 57
Good wine needs no bush, 42, 232
Gordian knot, to cut, 226
Gospel, to take anything for, 21
Go to Jericho, 196
Grandmother to suck eggs, 18, 203
Grapes are sour, 231
Grasp all, lose all, 106
Great cry, little wool, 50
Great wits jump together, in
Greek to him, it is, 11
Grey mare the better horse, 109,
192
Grist to the mill, 103
Grudge the food he eats, 76
Grudge, to have a, 28
Guilty conscience needs no accuser,
113. 199
H
Habit is second nature, 40
Hackneyed, 79
Hail-fellow-well-met, 75, 176
Hairs, to split, 9
Hale and hearty, 42
Half a loaf is better than no bread,
138, 182
Half in jest, half in earnest, 123
Half seas over, 232
Hall marked, 78
Hand and glove together, 44, 99,
116
Hands make light work, many, 9
Hand to hand, 80
Hand to mouth, to live from, 147
Hanged for a sheep as a lamb, 34,
69. 134
Happen what may, 4, 133
Hard up, 21, 210
Harm watch, harm catch, 155
Harp on same string, 60, 107
Haste makes waste, 141
Haul over the coals, 211
Hawk from handsaw, not to know,
178
Heads or tails, 113
Hear both sides, 71
Helping hand, to give a, 84, 154
Helve after hatchet, 19
He who will not when he may, 202
Hiding, to give a good, 3
High winds blow on high hills, 137
Hint, to take a, 108
Hit the mark, 122
Hit with a vengeance, 154
Holloa before out of wood, 69
Home, no place like, 68, 172
Home, to make oneself at, 3
Honest man's word, 143, 179
Honesty is the best policy, 126
Honour among thieves, 153
Honour to whom honour is due, 59,
211
Hook or crook, 43
Hooligan, 17
Hope, the last, 188
Horse of another colour, 25, 156
Horse to g^ass, to send a, 231
Horse, to ride the high, 66
Host, to reckon without, 76, 143
House nor home, 121
H's, to drop one's, 89
Hue and cry, 78
INDEX
243
Hunger is the best sauce, 18
Hunger tames the lion, 115
Hungry as a hunter, iii
Hungry man is an angry man, 7
Hurry the less speed, the more, 50
Idle brain the devil's workshop,
123
If wishes were horses, 212, 215
111 bird fouls its own nest, 169
lU-lIcked cub, 174
111 news flies fast, 18
111 weeds g^ow apace, 141
111 wind blows no one good, 42, 156
Image of his mother, the very, 87,
107
Improve upon acquaintance, to, t]
Indian file, 199
In for a penny, in for a pound, 34,
40
Ins and outs, to know, 129, 226
In vino Veritas, 40
Irishman's gun, 86
Irons in fire, too many, 63, 151
Jack has his Jill, every, 192
Jack of all trades, 196, 224
Jerry-built house, 55
Joke, to be beyond a, 146, 200
Joker, a dry, 207
Judge by appearances, 163
Justice no respecter of persons, 148
K
Keep a dog and bark thyself, 228
Keep open house, 217
Keep the ball rolling, 139
Keep the pot boiling, 158
Key of the street, 59
Kick the bucket, 187
Kill by inches, to, 121
Killed on the spot, 55
Kill two birds, to, 82" 187
Know from Adam, not to, "jj
Know, in the, 55
Knowledge is power, 210
Know nothing, doubt nothing, 210
Knuckle under, to, 215
Lady, a great, 89
Last straw breaks camel's back, 46,
103
Laugh best who laugh last, 206
Laugh in forced manner, 46
Laughing-stock, 207
Laugh in one's sleeve, 31, 53
Laugh on wrong side of face, 207
Laugh to-day, cry to-morrow, 206
Lazy people take most pains, 178
Least said soonest mended, 179
Leave no stone unturned, 71,
106
Leave well alone, 38, 162
Leave without beat of drum, 92
Legal tender, 86
Let cat out of the bag, 159
Let sleeping dogs lie, 64
Let those laugh who win, 206
Lie unblushingly, 21
Life and soul of party, 47
Life in the old dog yet, 43
Light as air, 106
Lightly come, lightly go, 126
Like as two peas, as, 102
Like master, like man, 155, 218
Like sire, like son, 69, 209
Like will to like, 58
Lion had need of the mouse, 129
Lion's mouth, to rush into, 153
Little fellows are often great wits,
209
Little pitchers have long ears, 64
Little pot soon hot, 185
Little rain lays much dust, i
Little strokes fell great oaks, 184
Loan loses self and friend, 13
Lock stable door, 105
Long lane without turning, 176
Long looked for comes at last, 169
Look before you leap, 124
Look gift horse in mouth, 49, 66
Look sharp about it ! 232
Lose nothing for want of asking,
206
Lose one's head, 45
244
INDEX
Lot of good that will do, 145
Love dies hard, true, 10
Love laughs at locksmiths, 14
Love me, love my dog, 10
Lurch, to leave in the, 188
M
Mackerel sky, 120
Mad as a March hare, 59, 85
Make a cat laugh, 187
Make best of bad job, 42, 129, 146
Make hay while sun shines, 30
Make mouth water, 103
Man in the street, 194
Man proposes, 142
Manners change, 25
Many a little makes a mickle, 136,
154, 184, 208
Many a true word spoken in jest,
230
March winds and April showers, 158
Mare better horse, the grey, 109, 192
Mare's nest, to find a, 185
Marines, to tell to, 25
Mar -joy, 227
Match for a person, no, 67
Matter of course, 12
Measure other's peck, 23
Men die as they live, 218
Mess, to get into a, 25, loi, 185
Mess, to make a pretty, 6
Might is right, 127, 129
Milk and honey, flowing with, 72
Milksop, 227
Mince matters, not to, 65, 166
Mincemeat of, to make, 139
Miserly father, spendthrift son, 26
Misfortunes never come singly, 21,
156
Miss the mark, 81
Money makes money, 103
Money, to be made of, 20
Money, ready, 20
Moon made of green cheese, 149
More frightened than hurt, 185
More haste, less speed, 50, 65, 141,
19s
More the merrier, the, 130
Mountain out of molehill, 166, 171
Move on, 71
Mow what you sow, 176
Much ado about nothing, 35
Much coin, much care, 138
Much would have more, 16, 189
Murder king's English, to, 214
N
Nail right on head, to hit, 99, 107
Narrow shave, 35
Nearer chvirch, 105, 161
Necessity, mother of invention, 176
Needle in bundle of hay, 9
Nice goings on, 34
Nick of time, to come in, 21, 54, 190
Nine days' wonder, 7
No admittance, 92
Noble to ninepence, to bring, 214
No danger, no glory, 2'28
No fear of that , 90
No living man all things can, 144
Nod is as good as wink to blind
horse, 57
None so deaf, 109, 215
No pay, no piper, 20
No sooner said than done, 23
Not at home, iii
Nothing ask, nothing have, 143
Nothing for nothing, 205
Nothing succeeds like success, 184
Nothing like leather, 174
Nothing new, that is, 77
Nothing venture, nothing win, 206
No thoroughfare, 181
No use my talking, 28, 35
Not in my line, 204
Not up to date, 225
Now or never, 55
O
Oath, to take the, 195
Ogre, to eat like an, 157
Old as the hills, 163, 191, 231
Old birds not caught with chaff, 161
Old dog will learn no tricks, 146
Old-fashioned, quite, 146
Old maid, 74
Old wives' tales, 78
Once and for all, 42, 58
Once bit, twice shy, 63, 201
Once in a blue moon, 163
One door shuts, another opens, 184
INDEX
245
One good turn deserves another,
62, 146
One man can take horse to water,
213
One man may steal a horse, 166
One man's meat, 170
One scabby sheep, 134
One swallow does not make a sum-
mer, 86
Only this once, 86
Open confession good for soul, 26
Opportunity makes the thief, 150
Out-HerodHerod, 208
Out of debt, out of danger, 95
Out of print, no
Out of sight, out of mind, 73
Out of sorts, 22, 210
Out of the frying-pan, 47
Out of world as out of fashion, 130
Over head and ears, 87
P's AND Q's, to mind one's, 38
Pack becomes small pedlar, a small,
18s
Pay back in own coin, to, 164
Pay, no piper, no, 20
Pay the piper, to, 182
Pay with promises, 212
Pearls before swine, to cast, 184
Penniless, to be, 46, 96
Penny saved is a penny earned, 104,
133
Penny wise and pound foolish, 46,
60
Peril proves who dearly loves, 10
Pet aversion, 37
Pickle, to be in a pretty, 35, loi
Pigeon-holed, to be, 55
Pig in a poke, to buy a, 3
Pin a day, groat a year, no
Pinch of salt, 36
Pin drop, to hear a, 216
Pins and needles, to be on, 215
Piper, to pay the, 182, 232
Pitch and toss, 187
Pitch, to touch, 38
Pitcher that often goes to the well,
18
Plain as a pikestaff, 71
Plain English, in, 131, 165
Play the prude, 190
Please the eye, fill the purse, 229
Plenty makes dainty, 215
Poaches on my preserves, 49
Pocket an insult, to, 8
Point-blank, 46, 50
Point, not to the, 8, 117
Point, to come to the, 117, 181
Poor as a church mouse, 105
Possession nine points of law, 192
Pot calls kettle black, 131, 183
Pot-luck, 129
Pqt soon hot, a little, 185
Poverty in at door love out at win-
dow, 126
Povery is no crime, 181
Practice makes perfect, 115, 128
Practise what one preaches, to, 113
Precepts lead, 113
Precious near it, ii8
Precious pair, a, 87
Prefer advice to praise, 78
Prettiness makes no pottage, 35
Prig, 192
Promises are like pie-crust, 39
Proud as a peacock, 122
Put shoulder to wheel, 172
Quarrel about nothing, to, 11
Queen Anne is dead, 191
Queer fish, 80, 102
Quite between ourselves, 98
Racket, to stand the, 56, 193
Rage, to be the, 21, 133
Rap, not worth a, 121
Reach-me-down, a, 91
Receiver as bad as thief, 24, 208
Red at night the shepherd's delight,
39
Red-handed, 92
Reed, to trust to a broken, 19
Refuse point-blank, 168
Regular as clockwork, 167, 202
Repent at leisure, 203
Return of post, 85
Return to our subject, 167
Riches, a good name better than , 203
246
INDEX
Ride rough-shod over, 186
Ring down the curtain, 223
Rob a church, he would, 24
Rob Peter to pay Paul, 91
Rod in pickle, to keep a, 134
Roland for an Oliver, 63, 195
Rolling stone gathers no moss, 187
Rome was not built in a day, 20,
117
Room for improvement, 94
Room to swing a cat in, not, 154
Rose has its thorn, every, 207
Rough tools for rough work, 135
Rough with smooth, to take, 36
Rough with the smooth, to take, 138
Routine, return to old, 74
Row in same boat, 85
Rub, there's the, 97, 135, 151
Rule men with rod of iron, 29
Rule of thumb, 168
Ruling passion strong in death, 8
Run for your lives, 210
Run headlong into trap, 30
Run with hare and hunt with hounds,
67, 103
Sack, to give any one the, 30
Safe bind, safe find, 160
Saintly look, to put on a, 17
Saint Swithin's Day, 159
Salt, not worth his, 176
Salt on bird's tail, to put, 211
Same old story, 203
Satan finds mischief still, 173
Save appearances, to, 92
Sea-legs, to have one's, 186
Secret, an open, 191
Secret of two, 211
See stars, to, 59, m
Self-praise no recommendation, 152
Sell like wildfire, 108
Send about one's business, 109
Serves you right, it, 23,38, 117, 176
Set a beggar on horseback, 174
Set a thief to catch a thief, 80
Set fox to keep geese, 153
Seven-league boots, 180
Shakes, no great, 219
Shanks' nag, 97
Sharp as a needle, as, 13
Sheep, the black, 49
Shelf, to be put on the, 201
Shilly-shallying, 65
Shine at wrong end, to, 217
Shirk work, never, 74
Shoe lost for want of nail, 16
Shoemaker's wife the worst shod, 65
Shoe pinches, where th^, 32
Shoot the moon, 71, 153, 227
Short life and merry, 19, 42
Short reckonings make long friends,
42
Shoulder, the cold, 33
Show the white feather, 53
Sick and tired of anything, loi
Silence gives consent, 78, 165
Silent sow sucks wash, 48
Silk purse out of sow's ear, 51
Silks and satins put out the kitchen
fire, 228
Silver spoon in one's mouth, 74
Sin, as ugly as, 182
Six of one and half-a-dozen of
another, 43
Sixes and sevens, i, 90
Skeleton in the cupboard, 79
Skin a flint, to, 144
Sleep like a top, to, loo
Sleep upon it, to, 'jj
Slippery as an eel, 16
Slow and sure wins the race, 12, 65
Sly dog, 75, 125, 166
Small parcels, fine wares, 173, 209
Smart for it, 89
Smell of the lamp, 143
Smoke, to end in, 2
Smoke without fire, no, 132
Snake in the grass, 17
So many men, 24
So much to the good, 194
Song, to buy for a mere, 3
Sooner the better, 224
So-so, 74
Sowing wild oats, 136
Sow by wrong ear, 152
Spade a spade, to call a, 18, 63
Spare the rod, spoil the child, 10
Speak ill in absence, 216
Speak of angels, 152
Speech silvern, silence golden, 179
Split difference, to, 190
Split hairs, 85
Split sides with laughter, 44
Spoil ship for ha'porth of tar, 60
Spoke in wheel, to put, 33
Sprat to catch a herring, 122, 171
Stand the racket, 56
INDEX
247
Stake, your life is at, 8, 12
Stale news, 191
Stare in the face, to, 87, 171
Stick no bills, 7, 91
Stick, to get hold of wrong end of, 16
Still tongue, wise head, 210
Still waters run deep, 102
Sting is in the tail, 199
Stirrup-cup, 112
Stitch in time saves nine, 190
Stolen joys are sweet, 18, 176
Stone unturned, to leave no, 106
Store is no sore, 2
Strain at a gnat, 59
Strain every nerve, to, 122, 209
Straw breaks camel's back, the last,
46
Straw, not to care a, 15, 171
Stretch one's legs, 92
Strike while iron is hot, 121
Stringtobow, more than one, 201, 216
Struck all of a heap, 121
Stuck pigs, to look like, 69
Stuff and nonsense, all, 29, 142
Style man himself, 142
Success justifies the means, 124
Sufficient to the day is the evil
thereof, 147
Sunday-best, 107
Sweep, to make a clean, 217
Tail between legs, 32
Take after a person, to, 11
Take care of the pence, 104
Take it or leave it, 149, 158
lake law into own hands, 200
Take the wall, 181
Take time by forelock, 30, 67
Take a wise man to be a fool, 130
Tale never loses in telling, 152
Talking to the air, 61
Tastes differ, 136
Tell that to the marines, 25
Tender-handed stroke a nettle, 172
Tether, to be at end of, 79
Thames on fire, to set the, 193
That crowns all, 157
That's the way of the world, 156
There is many a slip, 84
Thick as thieves, 150
Things, where are my, 5
Thorns, to be on, 51
Those who lose pay, 34
Threats light as air, 106
Time is money, 221
Tip the porter, 158
Tip-top, 234
Tit-bit, 45
Tit for tat, 63
Tom, Dick, and Harry, 223
Too many cooks spoil broth, 209
Too much of a good thing, 146
Topsy-turvy, 94, 211
Travellers tell fine tales, 160
Trespassers will be prosecuted, 92
Tricks, to be at one's old, 116
Truth stranger than fiction, 234
Truth will out, 147, 230
Turn in all standing, 81
Turn over new leaf, 182
Turn to play, 27
Two can play at that game, 146
Two heads better than one, 26
Two of a trade, 163
Two's company, 95
Up to date, 124
Up to-day, down to-morrow, 58
Vengeance, to rain with a, 18
Verbum sap., 26, 108, 165
Very man, the, 118
W
Watched pot never boils, 94
Water off duck's back, 89
Water one's wine, to, 232
Weakest go to the wall, 34
Week of Sundays, 211
Well begun is half done, 75
Well, I never ! 192
Wet blanket, 147 '
Wet to the skin, 215
What a to-do, 6
What cannot be cured, 82
What is done cannot be undone,
203
What is one man's meat, 170
248
INDEX
When at Rome do as Rome does,
152
When Greeks joined Greeks, 125
When in doubt, loi
When thieves fall out, 234
When world was young, 219
Where there's a will, 124, 234
While there's Hfe, 219
Whip-hand, 32, 47
Whistling woman, ]^o
White elephant, 105
Wholesale and retail, 138
Whole show, 47
Who lives longest sees most, 232
Wild horses would not make him
speak, 223
Wilful waste makes woeful want, 93
Will is as good as deed, 145, 234
Willy-nilly, 137
Wind and weather permitting, 219
Wishes were horses, if, 212, 215
Wish is father to thought, 88
Woman's instinct, 120
Word to the wise, a, 26, 108, 209
Work like a nigger, 198
Workman blames tools, a bad, 175
Worst come to worst, 12
Worst wheel makes most noise, 50
Worth his weight in gold, 184
Worth a brass farthing, not, 92
Wrong end of stick, 16
Yellow as a guinea, 145
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