This French idiom means literally, “the English have disembarked.” From 1815 to 1820, the English Army, wearing their traditional red uniforms, occupied France in their war against Napoléon. After they left, Parisians started using this phrase to mean, “to have her period,” since the flow of unwelcome English invaders wearing red coats resembled red menstrual blood.
The French expression “payer au lance-pierres” translates literally as “to pay with a slingshot,” but it means “to underpay.” The saying dates to the end of the 19th century, when slingshots made from rubber become more popular, thanks to improvements in rubber chemistry. The expression originally came from another saying “avec un lance-pierres,” which translated…
“gagner ses éperons” is a French saying meaning “to gain one’s spurs.” It means to get a promotion, to rise in rank, or to accede to a higher social status. Similar English expressions include “to earn one’s stripes” or “to win one’s spurs.” The French idiom only appeared in the 19th century, but makes a…
Understanding the French Expression “Avoir lieu” “Avoir lieu” is a common French expression that literally translates to “to have place” but is used in everyday language to mean “to take place” or “to happen”. Literal Meaning If you break down the expression: However, it’s important to note that “avoir lieu” does not mean “to have…
“Prêcher dans le désert” means to speak without being heard, to speak to those who don’t want to listen, or to speak uselessly to people who don’t want to allow themselves to be convinced. Literally, it means “to preach in the desert” and is an evocative saying. This expression dates from the 18th century. It doesn’t…
The French expression “Appuyez sur le champignon !” literally means “Step on the mushroom!” Why would you tell someone to step on the mushroom? Because the accelerator pedal on early motor vehicles was originally shaped like a hemisphere or a dome. Kind of like a mushroom. So “Appuyez sur le champignon !” means “step on…
French is full of colorful expressions that don’t always have obvious meanings at first glance. One such expression is “avoir la dent dure”, which literally translates to “to have a hard tooth.” Its figurative meaning, however, is quite different. Meaning and Origin of the Expression The expression “avoir la dent dure” is used to describe…