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.
“Recevoir une avoinée” is a French saying that means “to receive a correction, to get beaten or to get hit.” English equivalents would include “to get a licking” or “to take a thrashing.” It comes from the word “‘l’avoine,” meaning “oat.” Oats were used as feed for horses. The expression “l’avoine de cocher” from 1866 meant…
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…
Expressions of Quantity in French and the Use of “de” In French, most expressions of quantity are followed by “de” before the noun. This rule is consistent in many cases, but there are notable exceptions, such as words like “plusieurs” and some idiomatic expressions. When to Use “de” After Expressions of Quantity Many expressions of…
“La tentation de Venise” means “to have itchy feet.” Literally, it means “the temptation of Venice.” It refers to the temptation to dedicate yourself to other things, to change your life. This is a very recent expression dating from around the start of the 21st century. It comes from the title of a 1993 book written by…
“En catimini” is a French expression that means furtively, stealthily, on the sly or discreetly. It dates back to the second half of the 14th century. The word “catimini” is often linked to the Greek word “katamenia” which means menstruation. The idea being that women of the era kept their menstrual status largely to themselves….
“Battre la campagne” is a French saying that literally means “to beat the countryside.” What it really means is “to talk nonsense,” “to rant,” or “to travel over large areas in search of something or someone.” It comes from a practice used by hunters of getting servants or friends to use sticks to beat bushes…
