“Faire la bombe” means to have a big feast or a big party with feasting. Nothing to do with bombs! So why does it literally mean “to make the bomb”? Because it is a deformation of the phrase “faire bombance,” which means “to have a feast.” So there is no connection with explosive devices at all. You could translate this expression into English as “to kill the fatted calf” or even “to paint the town red.”
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…
“Lâcher la proie pour l’ombre” is a French idiom that literally means “to let go of the prey for the shadow.” It comes from a fable by the Ancient Greek author Aesop, which was then elaborated upon by the French writer of fables Jean de la Fontaine. In de la Fontaine’s version, a dog sees…
The French phrase “faire le malin” translates literally as “to make the clever (person),” but it really means “to show off,” “to play it smart,” “to try to be clever,” “to get cute,” or “to boast.” It can also mean “to con” or “to cheat.” Examples Expression A saying that is derived from this phrase…
Understanding “Chacun son truc” “Chacun son truc” is a common French expression that translates to “to each their own” or “everyone has their thing.” It conveys the idea that everyone has their own preferences, tastes, or ways of doing things. This phrase is often used to express tolerance or acceptance of different behaviors or choices….
“Bavard comme une pie” is a French idiom that means literally “as talkative as a magpie.” It is used to refer to someone as being very talkative or very chatty. In the 17th century, “une pie” meant, as it does now, a magpie. But in those days, it also meant a talkative woman. Since that…
This expression means “for your information,” “for information,” “in order to teach you how to conduct yourself in a situation,” “to inform you,” or “for information.” The word “gouverne” is related to governing and government. It dates back to the 12th century, but in the 18th century took the meaning of “serving as a rule…