laid comme un pou

ByFast French

The French saying “laid comme un pou” translates literally as “(as) ugly as a louse.” It means “very ugly.”

This idiom dates back to the end of the 18th century. Although there are plenty of other insects that are uglier than a louse, which is responsible for head lice infestations, the effects of this insect (transmission of diseases and infectiousness among friends and family) are what make it regarded as ugly.

Equivalent English expressions include “like the back end of a bus,” “butt-ugly” and “dog-faced.”

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

  • beau comme un camion

    ByFast French

    The literal translation of “beau comme un camion” is “beautiful as a truck.” On the surface, this phrase appears to be an ironic or humorous comparison. After all, trucks are not typically associated with beauty. Instead, they are functional vehicles designed for transporting goods. This expression is used to describe a person, typically a woman,…

  • Possessive pronouns

    ByFast French

    Possessive pronouns replace nouns and show ownership or possession. They agree in gender and number with the nouns they replace. In English, they are “mine,” “yours,” “his,” “hers,” “ours,” and “theirs.” Here’s a comprehensive table listing the French possessive pronouns: Possessor Singular Plural 1st person le mien (mine) les miens (mine) la mienne (mine) les…

  • à couteaux tirés

    ByFast French

    The French saying “à couteaux tirés” means literally “at knives drawn,” or “with knives drawn.” What it actually means is a situation of open war, or great tension, or great hostility, or diametrically opposed. The idiom dates back to the end of the 17th century. Historically, arguments were often “resolved” with knives or daggers. So…

  • | |

    pareil

    ByFast French

    “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…

  • | |

    Devant

    ByFast French

    The French word “devant” can be used as a preposition, as an adverb, or as a noun. Preposition As a preposition, “devant” means “in front of,” “ahead of” or “before.” Adverb As an adverb, “devant” means “in front,” “at the front,” or “ahead.” Noun As a masculine noun, “le devant” means “the front.”

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *