“Faire d’une pierre deux coups” is a French idiom that literally translates as “to make two strikes with one stone.” It means to reach several objectives with a single action, or to achieve two things at the same time with a single action.
The English equivalent of this French saying is “to kill two birds with one stone.”
The French expression is attributed to Montaigne in the 16th century, but may well date back earlier.
“Tourner autour du pot” is a French idiom that literally means “to turn around the pot.” In plain English, it means to hesitate, to avoid the main topic, to seek advantage in a roundabout way, or to procrastinate. This saying dates from the 15th century, when it originally meant someone who seeks to gain undue advantage….
“Pareil” is a French word that can be used either as an adjective, a noun or an adverb. Adjective As an adjective, “pareil” means “similar” or “such.” It must agree in number and gender with the noun it describes, just like any other French adjective. Its feminine form is spelled “pareille.” Noun “Pareil” can also…
The French verb “avoir” is a fundamental verb that holds great importance in the French language. Translated as “to have” in English, “avoir” is an irregular verb that appears in various contexts and is used in a multitude of expressions. Let’s explore the verb “avoir” and its significance in French. Firstly, let’s look at its…
“Il vaut mieux que” means “It is better that.” It is derived from the phrase “il vaut mieux,” meaning “it is better.” The phrase it is derived from, “il vaut mieux,” is used in a general way to say that “it is better that something be done.” But “il vaut mieux” does not specify who…
Both “humour” and “humeur” are French nouns. But they mean different things. “L’humour” (masculine) means “the humour” or “the comedy.” It corresponds fairly closely to the English word “humour” (or “humor,” in US English). In French culture, especially cultivated and sophisticated French culture, “wit” was seen as more important. The French idea of “wit” is…
The French saying “les chiens aboient et la caravane passe” translates literally as “the dogs bark and the caravan passes.” What it really means is “your insults don’t reach me,” or “I am sure of myself and you cannot prove otherwise.” The saying is originally of Arabic origin. In the Middle East and in North…
