lâcher la proie pour l’ombre

ByFast French

“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 a reflection of his prey in the water and mistakes it for the prey itself. He leaps into the water and barely escapes drowning, ending up with neither prey nor reflection. It is a parable for those who are not content with what they already have, seeking something they believe to be better, but without finding success.

Aesop wrote his fables sometime between 620BC and 564BC, so well over 2500 years ago.

Related English sayings include “to pass up a sure thing,” “a bird in the hand is worth two in the bush,” “to chase after rainbows” and “to get lost in the weeds.”

Don’t miss out on new posts – subscribe now!

Don’t miss new articles!

Get 1 email a week with new articles about French

We don’t spam! Read more in our privacy policy

Similar Posts

  • tomber des nues

    ByFast French

    The French expression “tomber des nues” translates literally as “to fall from the clouds.” “Les nues” is a feminine plural noun meaning “the clouds” or “the heavens.” It is not used these days, except in a literary sense. The modern word for clouds is “les nuages” and for heavens it is “le ciel” or “le paradis.”…

  • bec et ongles

    ByFast French

    The French saying “bec et ongles” derives its origin from the Latin expression “rostrum et unguibus,” which also means “beak and nails.” This ancient phrase refers to the beak, symbolizing the fierceness and determination of a bird, and the nails, representing strength and tenacity. Throughout history, birds have often been associated with bravery and courage,…

  • verb: flâner

    ByFast French

    Meanings 1. Strolling with Purpose: At its core, “flâner” means to stroll or wander aimlessly, usually in urban environments. However, this wandering is far from mindless. It involves observing and absorbing the surroundings, often with a sense of curiosity and openness. It’s a gentle meandering that allows one to connect with the city’s rhythm, architecture,…

  • Adjective: paresseux

    ByFast French

    Meaning “Paresseux” is a French adjective used to describe a person or thing as “lazy” or “idle.” Corresponding Noun “La paresse” is a related feminine noun that means “laziness,” “sloth,” or in a medical context, “sluggishness.” Gender & number The adjective “paresseux” takes on different forms depending on the gender and number of the noun…

  • Pour ta gouverne

    ByFast French

    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…