“Donner un coup de pouce” is a French saying that literally means “to give a push of the thumb.” It really means a rapid and audacious attack, a smart way to proceed, some momentary help, or just help in general.
The origin of this idiom is unknown. Its first date of use is also unknown.
Similar English expressions include “nudge,” “to lend a hand,” and “to give a boost.”
The French phrase “garder une poire pour la soif” means “to keep a pear for thirst” in English. It is a saying used to talk about saving something for the future. Long ago, people used to carry a pear with them when they traveled or faced uncertain times. The pear was chosen because it could…
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.
The French phrase “il me faut” means “I need.” Literally translated, it means “it to me is necessary.” Versions also exist for you, he/she, we, you (formal/plural) and they. This is an alternative to the expression “avoir besoin de” (to have need of). “Il me faut” is always followed by a noun. It is never…
The French idiom “prendre la clé des champs” translates literally as “to take the key of the fields.” It means “to escape,” “to flee,” “to liberate yourself,” “to leave,” or “to save.” “Le champ” means “the field” in French. But “les champs” means not only “the fields” but also “free space.” So the key in…
The French saying “tenir la jambe” means literally “to hold the leg.” What it means figuratively is “to hold someone back or to delay someone by saying lots of boring or irrelevant things to them.” This conjures up images of trying to get away from someone who insists on telling you something, even though you…
The French word “la cuiller” means “the spoon.” It can also be spelled “la cuillère,” which is a spelling that more accurately reflects its pronunciation (KWEE YAIR). Both spellings are accepted in modern French. The spelling of “la cuillère” has recently become more popular, however, due to its more logical connection with standard French phonetics…