“Avoir les jambes en coton” means literally “to have legs of cotton” or “to have cotton legs.” It means to have no strength left in your legs, to have weak legs or to have unsteady legs. In English, you would probably say that you had “legs like jelly,” “jelly legs,” “rubber legs” or “shaky legs.”
The French saying “prendre de la bouteille” literally means “to take from the bottle.” What it really means is to gain maturity, to acquire experience or to grow old. This expression was originally used for wine, which is something that improves with age. It was then applied to anything that is capable of aging, including humans….
The French adjectives “nouveau” and “neuf” both mean “new.” So how do you decide which one to use? Nouveau Meaning: Usage: “Nouveau” is used before the noun and agrees in gender and number with the noun it modifies: Examples: Neuf Meaning: Usage: “Neuf” is also used before the noun and must agree in gender and…
“Acheter chat en poche” means to buy something without having seen it first and thereby risk disappointment. It means the same as the English saying “to buy a pig in a poke.” Literally it means “to buy a cat in a pocket,” but “poche” in this case means “bag,” not pocket. The expression dates back…
The French saying “bec et ongles” derives its origin from the Latin expression “rostrum et unguibus,” which also means “beak and nails.” This ancient phrase refers to the beak, symbolizing the fierceness and determination of a bird, and the nails, representing strength and tenacity. Throughout history, birds have often been associated with bravery and courage,…
Meanings 1. Strolling with Purpose: At its core, “flâner” means to stroll or wander aimlessly, usually in urban environments. However, this wandering is far from mindless. It involves observing and absorbing the surroundings, often with a sense of curiosity and openness. It’s a gentle meandering that allows one to connect with the city’s rhythm, architecture,…
In French, the construction “ou…ou” is commonly used to present alternatives or choices. It translates to “either…or” in English. Examples: Read more: See the post about the “soit…soit” construction in French.