“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.”
“à huis clos” is a French saying that means in private, with all doors closed, in secret. It is an expression dating from the middle of the 16th century, meaning “with doors closed.” “Huis” is an old 11th century word for door, now replaced by the word “porte.” The original word for door was “us,”…
Literally this expression means “occupy yourself with your onions.” But it translates into English as “Mind your own business.” It is sometimes abbreviated to “c’est pas tes oignons” or simply “pas tes oignons” (none of your business, or “not your onions”). One theory as to the origin of this expression comes from the word “l’oigne,” which…
“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…
“C’est l’horloge du palais” is a French expression used to describe a clock that doesn’t tell the right time. Although it translates as “It’s the palace clock,” there is no equivalent English saying. King Charles V of France (1338-1380) had a clock installed in his palace in Paris by the clockmaker Henri de Vic of…
The French idiom “savoir où le bât blesse” means literally “to know where the pack-saddle pinches.” What it really means is “to know someone’s secret problems” or “to know someone’s hidden pain.” A pack saddle is a device, usually made from wood, placed on the back of an animal, to enable it to transport goods….
The French idiom “l’alpha et l’oméga” translates literally as “the alpha and the omega.” What it really means is the start and end of something, or something in its totality, or just the totality. Its origin is the Bible. In the book of Isaiah, God says “I am the first and the last.” This means…