This French idiom means literally, “the English have disembarked.” From 1815 to 1820, the English Army, wearing their traditional red uniforms, occupied France in their war against Napoléon. After they left, Parisians started using this phrase to mean, “to have her period,” since the flow of unwelcome English invaders wearing red coats resembled red menstrual blood.
“Voir Naples et mourir” means “see Naples and die,” which is pretty much an exact translation of the French. So what does it mean to see Naples and die? The expression is used by the Neapolitans (the inhabitants of Naples in Italy) to mean that their city is so beautiful that once you have seen…
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…
“Tout baigne” is a French saying that literally means “everything bathes.” This conjures up visions of a perfect summer beach setting, where some people lay in the sun and others splash about in the water. The meaning of the saying seems to confirm this, because it means “everything is going well, it’s happening for the best,…
This phrase means “without continuity,” “with frequent interruptions,” “in a disordered fashion,” “informal,” or “in an irregular way.” The origins of this French expression are shrouded in mystery. Some believe it comes from a traditional tapestry design that contained an irregular mix of sticks or long, thin rectangular shapes. It is more likely that this…
“Vogue la galère” means “what will be, will be,” “come what may,” or “whatever happens, happens.” Literally the expression means something like “let the galley sail.” But the word “voguer” (to sail) originally meant to be pushed over the water by strength of oars. Galleys were ships powered by oarsmen and were used from antiquity…
This expression means “that’s it,” “that’s enough” or “we’re all squared up.” It refers to payment and is based on the street “rue Michel le Comte” in the 3rd arrondissement of Paris. This street received its name in 1270. The expression comes from the drivers of horse drawn hackney cabs who were originally based in the…