This French expression means “to go window shopping.” However it translates literally as “to do some lick-window.” This phrase comes from the idea that the window shopper is standing so close to the window and gazing in with such pleasure that it looks like she is licking the window. The idiom first appeared in the 20th century, following the more widespread availability of plate glass.
The French saying “quand on parle du loup, on voit sa queue” literally means “when one speak of the wolf, one sees his tail.” What does this mean? It means that often when you talk about someone, they will suddenly and unexpectedly appear. A variation of this saying appeared in the 16th century. It referred…
The French idiom “faire long feu” literally translates as “to make long fire.” What it really means is “to drag on,” “to not have the desired effect,” “to last longer than expected” or “to miss your goal.” It comes from the era of of muzzle-loading rifles, before the invention of waterproof cartridges that enclosed the…
Most French learners are familiar with the word for “where,” which is “où.” But how do you say “somewhere,” “nowhere,” “anywhere,” “everywhere,” “elsewhere,” and similar words?
The French idiom “aller à la selle” means literally “to go to the saddle.” But it doesn’t really have anything to do with horse riding. What it literally means is “to go to the toilet,” or “to have a bowel movement.” The saying is somewhat dated, so it is not used very frequently these days,…
Exploring the French Verb “s’occuper de”: Usage, Etymology, and Examples 1. Understanding “s’occuper de” “S’occuper de” is a reflexive verb in French, which means it always requires a reflexive pronoun. The reflexive pronoun “se” changes according to the subject of the sentence: 2. Usages of “s’occuper de” a) Taking Care of Something or Someone One…
The French phrase “le long de” means “along” in English. It is a preposition. However, there are other ways of translating “along,” depending on the exact meaning of the English term. Related words Etymology “Le long de” comes from the French word “long,” which in turn comes from the Latin word “longus,” meaning “far, extended, remote, distant,…