“dormir sur ses deux oreilles” is a French saying that means “to sleep deeply, to be perfectly tranquil, or to sleep without worry.” Surprisingly, there is no known source for this expression and no known origin. It seems to have appeared without anyone being able to track when it was first used or by whom. English equivalents to this expression include “to sleep like a log,” “to sleep like a baby,” or “to be out like a light”
“Décrocher le cocotier” means literally “to unhook the coconut tree” or “to take down the coconut tree.” In English, it means “to achieve one’s goals, to win a prize, or to triumph.” An equivalent English expression would be “to hit the jackpot.” The saying dates from the 19th century. It refers to greasy pole competitions in…
“avoir du sang de navet” means literally “to have turnip blood.” It really means to lack vigor or courage. The inside of a turnip is white and its juice is also white. Red blood is strong, courageous blood. It gets its redness from the iron it contains. So to have white blood, like the inside of…
“Tomber des cordes” is a French expression that means “to be raining cats and dogs” or to rain very heavily. Literally, it means “to fall some ropes.” The saying dates back to the end of the 17th century. This idiom has variants such as “pleuvoir des cordes” (to rain ropes) and “tomber des hallebardes” (to…
“Battre la campagne” is a French saying that literally means “to beat the countryside.” What it really means is “to talk nonsense,” “to rant,” or “to travel over large areas in search of something or someone.” It comes from a practice used by hunters of getting servants or friends to use sticks to beat bushes…
Meanings Differences between “Ranger” and “Se Ranger” The primary distinction between “ranger” and “se ranger” is that “ranger” concerns organizing or tidying objects, while “se ranger” relates to individuals or entities taking up a particular position, figuratively or literally. Conjugation in Present Tense and Passé Composé Let’s examine how “ranger” and “se ranger” are conjugated…
“La tentation de Venise” means “to have itchy feet.” Literally, it means “the temptation of Venice.” It refers to the temptation to dedicate yourself to other things, to change your life. This is a very recent expression dating from around the start of the 21st century. It comes from the title of a 1993 book written by…
