_WORKS BY THE SAME AUTHOR_
JULES SANDEAU. LA ROCHE AUX MOUETTES (Extracts). [_Nutt’s Short
French Readers, 6d._]
THÉOPHILE GAUTIER. VOYAGE EN ITALIE. [_Cambridge University
Press, 3s._]
ÉMILE SOUVESTRE. LE PHILOSOPHE SOUS LES TOITS (Extracts).
[_Blackie’s Little French Classics, 4d._]
PIERRE CŒUR. L’ÂME DE BEETHOVEN. [_Siepmann’s French Series.
Macmillan, 2s._]
FRENCH IDIOMS AND PROVERBS
“_Omne epigramma sit instar apis; sit aculeus illi,
Sint sua mella, sit et corporis exigui._”
MARTIAL.
[Thus Englished by Archbishop Trench:
“_Three things must epigrams, like bees, have all;
Its sting, its honey, and its body small._”]
[And thus by my friend, Mr. F. Storr:
“_An epigram’s a bee: ’tis small, has wings
Of wit, a heavy bag of humour, and it stings._”]
“_Celebre dictum, scita quapiam novitate insigne._”
ERASMUS.
“_The genius, wit, and spirit of a nation are discovered in its
proverbs._”--BACON.
“_The people’s voice the voice of God we call;
And what are proverbs but the people’s voice?_”
JAMES HOWELL.
“_What oft was thought, but ne’er so well expressed._”
POPE, _Essay on Criticism_.
“_The wit of one man, the wisdom of many._”--Lord JOHN RUSSELL
(_Quarterly Review_, Sept. 1850).
FRENCH IDIOMS AND PROVERBS
A COMPANION TO DESHUMBERT’S
“DICTIONARY OF DIFFICULTIES”
BY
DE V. PAYEN-PAYNE
PRINCIPAL OF KENSINGTON COACHING COLLEGE
ASSISTANT EXAMINER TO THE UNIVERSITY OF LONDON
_FOURTH REVISED AND ENLARGED EDITION_
[Fifth Thousand]
LONDON
DAVID NUTT, 57-59 LONG ACRE
1905
“_Tant ayme on chien qu’on le nourrist,
Tant court chanson qu’elle est aprise,
Tant garde on fruit qu’il se pourrist,
Tant bat on place qu’elle est prise.
Tant tarde on que faut entreprise,
Tant se haste on que mal advient,
Tant embrasse on que chet la prise,
Tant crie l’on Noel qu’il vient._”
VILLON, _Ballade des Proverbes_.
PREFACE
In this edition I have endeavoured to keep down additions as much
as possible, so as not to overload the book; but I have not been
sparing in adding cross-references (especially in the Index) and
quotations from standard authors. These quotations seldom give
the first occasion on which a proverb has been used, as in most
cases it is impossible to find it.
I have placed an asterisk before all recognised proverbs; these
will serve as a first course for those students who do not wish
to read through the whole book at once. In a few cases I have
added explanations of English proverbs; during the eleven years
I have been using the book I have frequently found that pupils
were, for instance, as ignorant of “to bell the cat” as they were
of “attacher le grelot.”
I must add a warning to students who use the book when
translating into French. They must not use expressions marked
“familiar” or “popular” except when writing in a familiar or
low-class style. I have included these forms, because they are
often heard in conversation, but they are seldom met with in
serious French literature. A few blank pages have been added at
the end for additions. Accents have been placed on capitals to
aid the student; they are usually omitted in French printing.
In conclusion, I have to thank Mr. W. G. Lipscomb, M.A.,
Headmaster of Bolton Grammar School, Mr. E. Latham, and
especially M. Georges Jamin of the École Lavoisier, Paris, for
valuable suggestions; while M. Marius Deshumbert, and Professor
Walter Rippmann, in reading through the proof sheets, have made
many corrections and additions of the greatest value, for which I
owe them my sincere gratitude.
DE V. PAYEN-PAYNE.
AUTHORITIES CONSULTED
BELCHER, H., and DUPUIS, A., “Manuel aux examens.” London, 1885.
BELCOUR, G., “English Proverbs.” London, 1888.
BOHN, H. G., “Handbook of Proverbs.” London, 1855.
CATS, JACOB, and FAIRLIE, R., “Moral Emblems.” London, 1860.
DUPLESSIS, M. GRATET, “La fleur des Proverbes français.” Paris,
1851.
FURETIÈRE, A., “Dictionnaire universel.” La Haye, 1727.
GÉNIN, F., “Récréations philologiques.” Paris, 1856.
HOWELL, JAMES, “Lexicon Tetraglotton.” London, 1660.
KARCHER, T., “Questionnaire français.” Seventh Edition. London,
1886.
LACURNE DE STE. PALAYE, “Dictionnaire historique de l’ancien
langage françois.” Paris, 1875-82.
LARCHEY, LORÉDAN, “Nos vieux Proverbes.” Paris, 1886.
LAROUSSE, P., “Grand Dictionnaire universel du xix^e siècle.”
1865-76.
LE ROUX DE LINCY, A. J., “Livre des Proverbes français.” 2^e
édition. Paris, 1859.
LITTRÉ, E., “Dictionnaire de la langue française.” Paris,
1863-72.
LOUBENS, D., “Proverbes de la langue française.” Paris, 1889.
MARTIN, ÉMAN, “Le Courrier de Vaugelas.” Paris, 1868.
QUITARD, P. M., “Dictionnaire étymologique des Proverbes.” Paris,
1842.
QUITARD, P. M., “Études sur les Proverbes français.” Paris, 1860.
RIGAUD, LUCIEN, “Argot moderne.” Paris, 1881.
TARVER, J. C., “Phraseological Dictionary.” London, 1854.
TRENCH, R. C., “Proverbs and their Lessons.” Sixth Edition.
London, 1869.
_Quarterly Review._ July 1868.
_Notes and Queries._ _Passim._
FRENCH IDIOMS AND PROVERBS
_Expressions to which an Asterisk is prefixed are Proverbs._
A.
A
_Il ne sait ni A ni B_ = He does not know B from a bull’s foot;
He cannot read; He is a perfect ignoramus.
_Être marqué à l’A_ = To stand high in the estimation of others.
[This expression is supposed to have originated in the custom of
stamping French coin with different letters of the alphabet. The
mark of the Paris Mint was an “A,” and its coins were supposed
to be of a better quality than those stamped at provincial
towns. But as this custom only began in 1418 by command of the
Dauphin, son of Charles VI., and as the saying was known long
previous, it is more probable that its origin is to be sought in
the pre-eminence that A has always held in all Aryan languages,
and that the French have borrowed it from the Romans. Compare
MARTIAL, ii. 57, and our A i, at Lloyd’s.]
Abandon
_Tout est à l’abandon_ = Everything is at sixes and sevens, in
utter neglect, in confusion.
[Also: _Tout va à la dérive._]
Abattre
*_Petite pluie abat grand vent_ = A little rain lays much dust;
Often quite a trifle calms a torrent of wrath.
[Compare: “Hi motus animorum atque haec certamina tanta Pulveris
exigui jactu compressa quiescunt.”
VERGIL, _Georgics_, iv. 86-7.]
_Abattre de l’ouvrage_ = To get through a great deal of work.
Aboi
_Être aux abois_ = To be reduced to the last extremity; To be at
bay.
[Compare BOILEAU: “Dès que j’y veux rêver, ma veine est aux
abois.”]
Abondance
*_Abondance de biens ne nuit pas_ = Store is no sore; One cannot
have too much of a good thing.
_Parler avec abondance_ = To speak fluently.
_Parler d’abondance_ = To speak extempore.
Abonder
_Il abonde dans mon sens_ = He is entirely of the same opinion as
I am; He has come round to my opinion.
Abord
_Il a l’abord rude, mais il s’adoucit bientôt_ = He receives you
roughly at first, but that soon passes off.
_A_ (or, _De_) _prime abord_ = At first sight; At the first blush.
Aboutir
_Les pourparlers n’ont pas abouti_ = The preliminary negotiations
led to nothing.
Absent
*“_Les absents ont toujours tort_” = When absent, one is never in
the right.
“When a man’s away,
Abuse him you may.”
[NÉRICAULT-DESTOUCHES, _L’obstacle imprévu_, i. 6.]
Absurde
_L’homme absurde est celui qui ne change jamais_ = The wise man
changes his opinion--the fool never.
[BARTHÉLEMY, _Palinode_. 1832.]
Accommodement
_Il est avec le ciel des accommodements_ = One can arrange things
with heaven.
[Compare MOLIÈRE, _Tartufe_, iv. 5:
“Le ciel défend, de vrai, certains contentements,
Mais on trouve avec lui des accommodements.”
The scene in which Orgon, hidden beneath the table, learns
Tartufe’s hypocrisy.]
_Un méchant accommodement est mieux que le meilleur procès_ = A
bad arrangement is better than the best lawsuit.
Accommoder
_Je l’accommoderai comme il faut_ = I will give him a good hiding.
_Il s’accommode de tout_ = He is satisfied with everything; He is
easy to please.
Accord
_D’accord_ = Granted.
Accorder
_Accordez mieux vos flûtes, si vous voulez réussir_ = You must
agree better among yourselves if you wish to succeed.
[Generally in bad sense. “Mettez, pour me jouer, vos flûtes mieux
d’accord.”--MOLIÈRE, _L’Etourdi_, i. 4.]
_S’accorder comme chien et chat_ = To live a cat and dog life.
Accoutumer
_Chose accoutumée n’est pas fort prisée_ = Familiarity breeds
contempt.
[The Latin version of a sentence in PLUTARCH’S _Morals_ runs:
“Nimia familiaritas contemptum parit.”
Fais feste au chien, il te gastera ton habit.
“Jamais trop compagnon à nul ne te feras
Car bien que moins de joye moins d’ennuy tu auras.”]
Accrocher
_Un homme qui se noie s’accroche à tout_ = A drowning man catches
at a straw.
_Il a accroché sa montre_ (pop.) = He has “popped” his watch.
[Other popular synonyms are the following:--
_Il a mis sa montre au clou_ (pop.) = His watch is up the spout.
_J’ai porté ma montre chez ma tante_ (pop.) = My watch is at my
uncle’s.]
Acheter
_Acheter à vil prix_ = To buy dirt cheap, for a mere song.
_Acheter chat en poche_ = To buy a pig in a poke.
_Acheter par francs et vendre par écus_ = To buy in the cheapest
market and sell in the dearest; To sell at a high profit.
Achever
_C’est un voleur achevé_ = He is an arrant thief.
Achoppement
_La pierre d’achoppement_ = The stumbling-block.
Acquérir
*_Le bien mal acquis ne profite jamais_ = Ill-gotten gains
benefit no one; Cheats never prosper; Ill got, ill spent.
Acquit
_Faire quelque chose par manière d’acquit_ = To do something for
form’s sake, perfunctorily.
[This is a shortened form of _faire quelque chose pour l’acquit
de sa conscience_ = to do something to satisfy one’s conscience.]
_Donner l’acquit_ = To break (at billiards).
_Pour acquit_ = Received (on bills).
Acte
_Faire acte de présence_ = To put in an appearance.
Adieu
_Sans adieu_ = I shall not say good-bye; I shall see you again
soon.
[“Adieu” is shortened from “Je vous recommande à la grâce de
Dieu.” Comp. “Sans adieu, chevalier, je crois que nous nous
reverrons bientôt.”--LESAGE.]
Adresse
_Le trait est arrivé à son adresse_ = The shaft (_or_, arrow) hit
the mark; He took the hint.
Adresser
_Vous vous adressez mal_; _Vous vous adressez bien_ (ironic.) =
You have come to the wrong person; You have mistaken your man.
Advenir
*_Advienne que pourra_ = Happen what may.
Affaire
_Cela fera parfaitement l’affaire_ = That will do capitally; That
will suit down to the ground.
_C’est son affaire_ = That is his business, his look-out.
_Ça, c’est mon affaire_ = That is my business; It is no business
of yours.
_Il est sûr de son affaire_ = He will pay for it; He will catch
it.
_Je ne dis pas mes affaires aux autres_ = I do not tell others my
plans (_or_ business); I keep my concerns to myself.
_J’entends votre affaire_ = I see what is to be done for you.
_Ils parlent affaires_ = They are talking business.
_Ils parlent boutique_ = They are talking shop.
_C’est une triste affaire_ = It is a sad business.
_S’attirer une mauvaise affaire_ = To get into a mess, scrape.
_Quand on a de l’esprit, on se tire d’affaire_ = When one has
brains, one gets out of any difficulty.
[Distinguish between _se tirer_ and _s’attirer_.]
_Si quelque affaire t’importe, ne la fais pas par procureur_ = If
you want a thing done, do it yourself.
_L’affaire a été chaude_ = It was warm work (referring to a
fight).
_Une affaire d’honneur_ = A duel.
_Où sont mes affaires?_ = Where are my things?
_Les affaires ne vont pas (ne marchent pas)_ = Trade is dull,
slack.
_Je suis dans les affaires_ = I am in business.
[“Les affaires? C’est bien simple, c’est l’argent des
autres.”--ALEX. DUMAS fils, _La Question d’Argent_, ii. 7.]
_Mêlez-vous de vos affaires_ = Mind your own business.
_Avoir affaire_ = To be occupied.
_Avoir affaire à quelqu’un_ = To have to speak to (to deal with)
a person.
[Sometimes as a threat: _Il aura affaire à moi_ = He will have to
deal with me.]
_Avoir affaire de quelqu’un_ = To need a person.
[“J’ai affaire de vous, ne vous éloignez pas.”]
_Avoir son affaire_ = To have what suits one. _J’ai mon affaire_
= I have found what I want. _J’ai votre affaire_ = I have got the
very thing for you. _Il aura son affaire_ (ironic.) = He will
catch it.
_C’est toute une affaire_ = It is a serious matter; It means a
lot of bother (_or_, trouble).
_C’est une affaire faite_ = It is as good as done.
_Son affaire est faite_ = He is a dead man (of one dying); He is
done for; He is a ruined man.
_Faire son affaire_ = (of oneself) To succeed. _Il fait tout
doucement son affaire_ = He is getting on slowly but surely. (Of
others) To punish. _S’il le rencontre, il lui fera son affaire_ =
If he meets him he will give it to him, will “do” for him.
_Il a fait ses affaires dans les vins_ = He made his money in the
wine trade.
_J’en fais mon affaire_ = I will take the responsibility of the
matter; I will see to it; I will take it in hand.
_Vous avez fait là une belle affaire_ (ironic.) = You have made a
pretty mess of it.
_Une affaire de rien_ = A mere nothing, a trifle.
_Il est hors d’affaire_ = He is out of danger.
_Être au dessous de ses affaires, être au dessus de ses affaires_
(ironic.) = To be unable to meet one’s liabilities, to be
unsuccessful.
_Quelle affaire! En voilà une affaire!_ (ironic.) = What a to-do!
What a row about nothing!
_La belle affaire!_ = Is that all? (_i.e._ it is not so difficult
or important as you seem to think).
_Il n’y a point de petites affaires_ = Every trifle is of
importance.
_Ceux qui n’ont point d’affaires s’en font_ = Those who have no
troubles invent them; Idle people make business for themselves.
_Les affaires sont les affaires_ = Business is business; One must
be serious at work.
_Ce scandale sera l’affaire de huit jours_ = That scandal will be
a nine days’ wonder.
_Dieu nous garde d’un homme qui n’a qu’une affaire_ = God save us
from the man of one idea.
[Because he is always talking of it, and tires every one. Compare
“Beware of the man of one book.”]
_Chacun sait ses affaires_ = Every one knows his own business
best.
*_A demain les affaires sérieuses_ = I will not be bothered with
business to-day; Time enough for business to-morrow.
[The saying of Archias, governor of Thebes, on receiving a letter
from Athens warning him of the conspiracy of Pelopidas; he would
not even open the letter. Soon after, the conspirators rushed in
and murdered him and his friends as they were feasting.]
_Il vaut mieux avoir affaire à Dieu qu’à ses saints_ = It is
better to deal with superiors than subordinates.
[Two quotations from La Fontaine are proverbial:--
“On ne s’attendait guère
A voir Ulysse en cette affaire.”
_La Tortue et les deux Canards._
“Le moindre grain de mil
Serait bien mieux mon affaire.”
_Le Coq et la Perle._]
Affamer
*_Ventre affamé n’a point d’oreilles_ = A hungry man will not
listen to reason.
[LA FONTAINE, _Fables_, ix. 18.]
Afficher
_Défense d’afficher_ = Stick no bills.
_C’est un homme qui s’affiche_ = He is a man who tries to get
talked about (generally in a disparaging sense).
[_Être affiché_ is also said of a man who has been “posted” at
his club.]
Affront
_Faire affront à quelqu’un_ = To shame some one in public.
_Le fils fait affront à sa famille_ = The son is a disgrace to
his family.
_Boire_ (_essuyer_ or _avaler_) _un affront_ = To pocket an
insult.
Affût
_Être à l’affût_ = To be watching for a favourable opportunity;
To be on the look-out. (See _Aguets_.)
Âge
_Il est entre deux âges_ = He is middle-aged.
_Il est président d’âge_ = He is chairman by seniority.
_Le bas âge_ = Infancy.
_Le bel âge_ = Childhood; youth.
[Some idea is generally understood after _le bel âge_. Thus
“childhood” is not always the right translation. For an author
_le bel âge_ would be after thirty, for a politician later still,
and so on. Chicaneau, in Racine’s _Plaideurs_, calls sixty _le
bel âge pour plaider_ (i. 7).]
_La fleur de l’âge_ = The prime of life.
_Le moyen âge_ = The Middle Ages.
Agir
_Il s’agit de_... = The question is...; The point is...
_Il s’agit de votre vie_ = Your life is at stake.
_Il ne s’agit pas de cela_ = That is not the point.
_Il s’agit bien de cela_ (ironic.) = That is quite a secondary
consideration.
Agiter
_Qui s’agite s’enrichit_ = If you wish to get rich, you must work
(hustle); No pains, no gains.
Agonie
_Même à travers l’agonie la passion dominante se fait voir_ = The
ruling passion is strong in death.
[“Elle a porté ses sentiments jusqu’à l’agonie.”--BOSSUET.
“And you, brave Cobham! to the latest breath
Shall feel your ruling passion strong in death.”
POPE, _Moral Essays_, i. 262.]
Aguets
_Il est aux aguets_ = He is on the watch; He is in ambush. (See
_Affût_.)
Aide
*_Un peu d’aide fait grand bien_ = Many hands make light work.
Aider
_Bon droit a besoin d’aide_ = Even a good cause needs support.
*_Aide-toi, le ciel t’aidera_ = God helps those who help
themselves.
[LA FONTAINE, _Fables_, vi. 18, _Le Chartier embourbé_, copying
RÉGNIER, Sat. xiii.:
“Aydez vous seulement et Dieu vous aydera.”
Lat.: Dii facientes adjuvant.
ÆSCHYLUS, _Persae_, 742: Σπεύδοντι σαυτῷ χῶ θεὸς ξυνάψεται.
SOPHOCLES, _Camicii_, frag. 633, in Dindorf’s edition: Οὐκ ἐστι
τοῖς μή δρῶσι σύμμαχος Τύχη.
Another Greek saying was: Σύν, Αθηνᾷ καὶ χείρα κίνει = With
Minerva on your side, yet use your own hand.
Cromwell is reported to have said at the battle of Dunbar: “Trust
in God, but keep your powder dry.”
The Basques say: “Quoique Dieu soit bon ouvrier, il veut qu’on
l’aide.”]
Aiguille
_De fil en aiguille_ = Bit by bit; One thing leading to another.
[“De propos en propos et de fil en eguille.”--RÉGNIER, Sat. xiii.]
_Raconter de fil en aiguille_ = To tell the whole matter from the
beginning.
_Disputer sur la pointe d’une aiguille_ = To raise a discussion
on a subject of no importance; To split hairs.
*_Chercher une aiguille dans une botte de foin_ = To look for a
needle in a bundle (bottle) of hay.
Aiguillon
_A dur âne dur aiguillon_ = In dealing with obstinate natures one
must use severe measures.
Aile
_Il en a dans l’aile_ = He is winged (hurt).
_Le ministère a du plomb dans l’aile_ = The ministry is nearing
its end, is winged.
_Il ne bat plus que d’une aile_ = He is almost ruined; He is on
his last legs.
_Voler de ses propres ailes_ = To act (_or_, shift) for oneself.
_J’en tirerai pied ou aile_ = I will get something out of it.
[Idiom derived from carving a bird--to get a leg or a wing off
it.]
_C’est la plus belle plume de son aile_ (or, _le plus beau
fleuron de sa couronne_) = It is the finest gem of his crown.
Aimer
*_Qui aime bien châtie bien_ = Spare the rod and spoil the child.
[_Proverbs_ xiii. 24.]
_Aimer quelqu’un comme la prunelle de ses yeux_ = To love
somebody like the apple of one’s eye.
_Quand on n’a pas ce que l’on aime il faut aimer ce que l’on a_ =
If you cannot get crumb you had best eat crust.
[This sentence is found in a letter from Bussy Rabutin to Madame
de Sévigné, May 23, 1667.
“Quoniam non potest id fieri quod vis, id velis quod
possit.”--TERENCE, _Andria_, ii. 1, 6. “When things will not suit
our will, it is well to suit our will to things.”--Arab proverb.
“Let not what I cannot have
My peace of mind destroy.”
COLLEY CIBBER, _The Blind Boy_.]
*_Qui aime Bertrand, aime son chien_ = Love me, love my dog.
[“Qui me amat, amat et canem meum.”--S. BERNARD, _In Fest. S.
Mich. Serm._, i. sec. 3.]
*_Qui aime bien, tard oublie_ = True love dies hard.
_Qui m’aime me suive_ = Peril proves who dearly loves.
[Words attributed to Philippe VI. when at a Council during his
war with Flanders, the Connétable de Châtillon alone stood by
him, saying all times were suitable to the brave.]
Air
_En plein air_; _Au grand air_ = In the open air.
_Être entre deux airs_ } = To be in a
_Être dans un courant d’air_ } draught.
_Avoir toujours le pied en l’air_ = To be always on the go.
_Il parle en l’air_ = He talks without thinking of what he is
saying, at random, not seriously.
_Je vais prendre l’air du bureau_ = I am just going to look in at
the office.
_Prendre un air de feu_ = To go near the fire for a few minutes
to warm oneself.
_A votre air on ne vous donnerait pas vingt-cinq ans_ = From your
looks I should take you for less than five-and-twenty.
_Vivre de l’air du temps_ = To live upon nothing (_i.e._ to eat
very little).
_Elle a quelque chose de votre air_ = She takes after you; She
looks somewhat like you.
_Il a un faux air d’avocat_ = He looks something like a barrister.
_Cela en a tout l’air_ = It looks uncommonly like it.
_Il a un air_ (or, _l’air_) _comme il faut_ = He has a very
gentlemanly manner.
Algèbre
_C’est de l’algèbre pour lui_ = It is Greek to him.
[“C’est de l’hébreu pour moi.”--MOLIÈRE, _L’Étourdi_, iii. 3.]
Allemand
_Chercher une querelle d’Allemand_ = To pick a quarrel about
nothing, without rhyme or reason.
[This saying has been accounted for as follows:--During the
thirteenth century there lived in Dauphiné a very powerful family
of the name of Alleman. They were bound together by close ties
of relationship; and if any one attacked one member of the clan,
he had the whole to reckon with. From the vigour with which they
resented any wrong, no matter how slight, arose the expression
_Une querelle d’Alleman_. See M. Jules Quicherat’s article on _La
famille des Alleman_ in the _Revue historique de la noblesse_,
Part vi.]
Aller
*_Tant va la cruche à l’eau qu’à la fin elle se casse_ = The
pitcher that often goes to the well gets broken at last.
[This has been travestied: _Tant va la cruche à l’eau qu’à la fin
elle s’emplit._ The Germans have an equivalent: _Der Krug geht so
lange zum Brunnen, bis er bricht._]
*_Doucement va bien loin_ = Fair and softly goes far; Slow and
sure wins the race.
[The Italian equivalent is: _Chi va piano va sano e va lontano._
“Qui trop se hâte en cheminant
En beau chemin se fourvoye souvent.”
“On en va mieux quand on va doux.”--LA FONTAINE, _Les Cordeliers
de Catalogne_.]
_Il y allait du bonheur de ma famille_ = The happiness of my
family was at stake.
_Ce jeune homme ira loin_ = That young man will make his way in
the world, has a future before him.
_Au pis aller_ = Should the worst come to the worst.
_Un pis aller_ = A makeshift.
_Aller son petit bonhomme de chemin_ = To jog along quietly.
_Cela va tout seul_ = There is no difficulty in the way.
_Cela va sans dire_ = That is a matter of course; It stands to
reason.
_Cela va de soi_ = That follows naturally.
_Il ne reviendra pas, allez!_ = Depend upon it, he will not
return!
_Va pour mille francs!_ = Done! I’ll take £40.
_Aller cahin-caha_ } (lit.) To limp along.
_Aller clopin-clopant_ } (fig.) To rub along
quietly, neither very well nor very ill.
_Elle le fait aller_ = She makes him do what she likes.
_Le rouge va bien aux brunes_ = Red suits dark women well.
_Allons!_ = Come, now!
_Allons donc!_ = You are joking.
Allumer
“_Il n’est bois si vert qui ne s’allume_” (CLÉMENT MAROT) = There
is nothing so difficult that cannot be done in time.
Alors
_Alors comme alors_ = Wait till that happens, and then we will
see what is to be done.
Ambre
_Fin comme l’ambre_ = As sharp as a needle.
[This is said to have originated in the scent of ambergris, which
is of a subtle, penetrating nature.]
Amener
_Cette preuve est amenée de bien loin_ = That proof is very
far-fetched.
Ami
*_Qui prête à l’ami perd au double_ = “For loan oft loses both
itself and friend.”
[_Hamlet_, i. 3.]
*_On connaît les amis au besoin_ = A friend in need is a friend
indeed.
[Also: _C’est dans le malheur qu’on connaît ses amis._
“_Chacun se dit ami, mais fou qui s’y repose
Rien n’est plus commun que le nom
Rien n’est plus rare que la chose._”
LA FONTAINE, _Fables_, iv. 17.
“_Amicus certus in re incerta cernitur._”--ENNIUS.
“_Nihil homini amico est opportuno amicius._”--PLAUTUS.
“_Vulgare amici nomen, sed rara est fides._”--PHAEDRUS, iii. 9.
“_Les amis sont comme les parapluies, on ne les a jamais sous la
main quand il pleut._”--THÉODORE DE BANVILLE.
Un véritable ami est un bienfait des dieux.
Prosperity gains friends, adversity tries them.
Friends and mules fail us at hard passes.
In times of prosperity friends will be plenty,
In times of adversity not one in twenty.]
_Mieux vaut ami en voie que denier en courroie_ = A friend at
court is better than money.
_Il ne faut prendre de son ami tout ce qu’on peut_ = Friends are
like fiddle-strings, they must not be screwed too tight.
“_Les amis de l’heure présente
Ont la nature du melon,
Il en faut essayer cinquante
Avant qu’on rencontre un bon._”
CLAUDE MERMET (1550-1605).
= Trust not a new friend nor an old enemy; Acquaintances are
many, but friends are few.
Amitié
_Faites mes amitiés à votre frère_ = Remember me kindly to your
brother.
Amour
_Faites-le pour l’amour de moi_ = Do it for my sake.
_L’Amour force toutes les serrures_ = Love laughs at locksmiths.
_Vivre d’amour et d’eau fraîche_ (or, _claire_) = To live on
bread and cheese and kisses.
*_On revient toujours à ses premières amours_ = One always
returns to one’s first love; Who loves well, forgets ill.
[C. G. ÉTIENNE, _Joconde_, iii. 1.]
_Jamais l’amour ne se paye que par l’amour_ = Love can neither be
bought nor sold, its only price is love.
[“Amour au cœur me poind
Quand bien-aimé je suis,
Mais aimer je ne puis
Quand on ne m’aime point.
Chacun soit adverti
De faire comme moi,
Car d’aimer sans party
C’est un trop grand esmoy.”
CLÉMENT MAROT.
Lieb ohne Gegenlieb ist wie eine Frage ohne Antwort.]
_On dirait qu’il le fait pour l’amour du bon Dieu_ = He does it
with such bad grace that one would say he did it for conscience’
sake.
[“Qui que tu sois, voici ton maître,
Il l’est, le fut, ou le doit être.”
VOLTAIRE, _Inscription pour une statue de l’Amour dans les
Jardins de Maisons_.
“A l’Amour on résiste en vain;
Qui n’aima jamais aimera demain.”
DE BENSERADE, _L’Amour_, ed. 1690, p. 234.]
Amuser
_Amuser le tapis_ = To talk a great deal without coming to the
point; To talk time away.
_Ne vous amusez pas en route_ = Do not lose an instant on the way.
An
_Je m’en moque comme de l’an quarante_ = I don’t care a straw for
it.
[There was a superstition that the world would come to an end in
1040; after it had passed, this saying arose. The French also say
“Je m’en moque comme de Colin-tampon.” Colin-tampon is the name
given to the Swiss roll of the drum; and as the other soldiers
in the French army paid no attention to it out of jealousy and
esprit de corps, this saying arose. Another variant is “Je m’en
soucie autant qu’un poisson d’une pomme.”]
_Bon an, mal an_ = One year with another; On an average.
Âne
_Ressembler à l’âne de Buridan_ = Not to know what to do.
[Jean Buridan was a dialectician of the fourteenth century,
and Rector of the University of Paris. One of his most famous
dilemmas was that of the donkey equally hungry and thirsty, which
was placed halfway between a pail of water and a load of hay. If
the animal had no free-will, it would remain motionless between
two equal attractions, and so die of hunger and thirst.]
_Contes de Peau d’Âne_ = Nursery tales.
[A name derived from a tale of Perrault, in which the heroine is
so called.]
_Pour un point_ (or, _Faute d’un point_) _Martin perdit son âne_
= For want of a nail the shoe was lost (_or_, the miller lost his
mare); Be careful of trifles.
[This is said of a person who loses something valuable through
a trifle. The Abbey of Asello (Latin _asellus_ = little ass)
was taken from the Abbot Martin on account of his punctuation
of a sentence over the gateway. Instead of: _Porta patens esto,
nulli claudaris honesto_ (Gate be open, and be closed to no
honest man), he punctuated: _Porta patens esto nulli, claudaris
honesto_ (Gate, be open to none, be closed to an honest man).
His successor corrected the mistake, and added: _Uno pro puncto
caruit Martinus Asello_.]
_Il fait l’âne pour avoir du son_ = He simulates stupidity to
gain some material advantage.
_Brider un âne par la queue_ = To do anything in exactly the
wrong manner; To get hold of the wrong end of the stick.
_Il n’y a point d’âne plus mal bâté que celui du commun_ = What
is everybody’s business is nobody’s business.
[Walton, _Compleat Angler_, Part i. chap. ii.]
Ange
_Être aux anges_ = To be delighted, in raptures, in the seventh
heaven.
_Un ange bouffi_ = A chubby child.
Anguille
_Échapper comme une anguille_ = To be as slippery as an eel.
_Quand on veut trop serrer l’anguille, elle s’échappe_ = “Much
would have more and lost all”; He who is too greedy loses
everything. (See _Embrasser_.)
_Vouloir rompre l’anguille au genou_ = To attempt an
impossibility.
_Il est comme l’anguille de Melun_ (more correctly, _Languille de
Melun_), _il crie avant qu’on l’écorche_ = He is like the eel of
Melun, he cries out before he is hurt.
[An actor, called Languille, was once acting the part of St.
Bartholomew at Melun, when he was so frightened at the entry of
the executioner to flay him alive, that he rushed off the stage
yelling.]
_Il y a quelque anguille sous roche_ = There is a snake in the
grass; I can smell a rat.
[Lat. _Latet anguis in herba._]
Anonyme
_Société anonyme_ = Limited Liability Company (because the names
of the shareholders are unknown to the public).
Anse
_Faire danser l’anse_ (or, _le manche_) _du panier_ = To
make dishonest profits on marketing (of servants); To gain a
market-penny.
_Faire le pot_ (or, _panier_) _à deux anses_ = To put one’s arms
akimbo.
[Often said of a gentleman who has a lady on each arm.]
Antan
“_Où sont les neiges d’antan?_” = Where are the snows of
yester-year?
[Antan is an old French word derived from _ante_ and _annus_. The
quotation is the refrain of François Villon’s famous “Ballade des
Dames du temps jadis.”]
Apache
_C’est un apache_ (pop.) = He is a hooligan.
Apothicaire
_C’est un apothicaire sans sucre_ = He is unprovided with the
necessities of his profession.
[Druggists in France formerly sold sugar which they used almost
in every preparation. Hence one who had no sugar was badly
stocked.]
Apôtre
_Faire le bon apôtre_ = To put on a saintly look; To pretend to
be holy.
[“Tout Picard que j’étais, j’étais un bon apôtre Et je faisais
claquer mon fouet tout comme un autre.”
RACINE, _Plaideurs_, i. 1.]
Apparence
_Pour sauver les apparences_ = For the sake of appearances.
_Selon toute apparence_ = In all probability.
Appartenir
_A tous ceux qu’il appartiendra_ (legal) = To all whom it may
concern.
Appât
*_C’est un trop vieux poisson pour mordre à l’appât_ = He is too
old a bird to be caught with chaff.
Appel
_Faire l’appel_ = To call the roll.
_Manquer à l’appel_ = To be missing, absent.
_Battre l’appel_ = To call to arms.
Appeler
_Il appelle les choses par leur nom_ = He calls a spade a spade.
[“J’appelle un chat un chat, et Rolet un fripon.”--BOILEAU,
_Satires_, i. 52.]
_Voilà ce que j’appelle pleuvoir_ = This is what I call raining
with a vengeance.
Appétit
_Bon appétit_ = Good appetite; I hope you will enjoy your meal.
*_L’appétit vient en mangeant_ = One leg of mutton helps down
another; The more one has the more one wants; Begin to eat,
you’ll soon be hungry.
[“As if increase of appetite had grown
By what it fed on.”
_Hamlet_, i. 2.
“L’appétit vient en mangeant, disait Angeston, mais la soif s’en
va en buvant.”--RABELAIS, _Gargantua_, i.]
*_Il n’est chère que d’appétit_ = Hunger is the best sauce.
[“Ἡ ἐπιθυμία τοῦ σίτου ὄψον.”
XENOPHON, _Cyrop._ i. 5, 12.]
*_Pain dérobé réveille appétit_ = Stolen joys are sweet.
Apprendre
_Les malheurs s’apprennent bien vite_ = Ill news flies fast
(_or_, apace).
_Vous apprendrez avec plaisir...._ = You will be glad to hear....
*_Ce n’est pas à un vieux singe qu’on apprend à faire des
grimaces_ (fam.) = One does not teach one’s grandmother to suck
eggs. (See _Remontrer_.)
[The Greek equivalent was, “To teach an eagle to fly,” or “to
teach a dolphin to swim.”--ZENOB. ii. 49.
The Romans said, “Sus Minervam docet.” _Cf._ CICERO, _De
Oratore_, ii. 57.]
Apprenti
*_Apprenti n’est pas maître_ = One must not expect from a
beginner the talent of an old hand; You must spoil before you
spin.
Appui
_Mur à hauteur d’appui_ = A wall breast high (so that one may
lean against it).
_Faites la proposition, j’irai à l’appui de la boule_ = You make
the proposal, and I will support it.
[This idiom comes from the game of bowls, when by hitting your
partner’s ball you may drive it nearer the goal, though unable to
approach yourself.]
Appuyer
_Vous vous appuyez sur un roseau_ = You are trusting to a broken
reed.
Après
*_Après lui il faut tirer l’échelle_ = One cannot do better than
he has; No one can come up to him in that; That takes the cake.
[Comp. MOLIÈRE, _Médecin malgré lui_, ii. 1.]
*_Jeter le manche après la cognée_ = To throw the helve after the
hatchet; To give up in despair.
*_Après nous le déluge_ = A short life and a merry one; We need
not bother about what will happen after we are gone.
[These words were attributed to Madame de Pompadour (1721-1764)
in reply to those who remonstrated with her for her
extravagance--“When I am gone, the deluge may come for all I
care.” (See DESPREZ, _Essai sur la Marquise de Pompadour_, a
preface to his _Mémoirs de Madame du Hausset_.) The same idea
occurs in the Greek proverb quoted by Cicero (_De Finibus_, iii.
19), “Ἐμοῦ θανόντος γαῖα μιχθήτω πυρί.” Milton suggests Tiberius as
saying, “When I die, let the earth be rolled in flames.”--_Reason
of Church Government_, i. 5.]
Araignée
_Avoir une araignée dans le_ (or, _au_) _plafond_ = To have a bee
in one’s bonnet.
Arbre
*_Entre l’arbre et l’écorce il ne faut pas mettre le doigt_ = One
must not interfere in other people’s quarrels.
[This proverb has been travestied by Molière, who makes
Sganarelle say: “Apprenez que Cicéron dit qu’entre l’arbre et le
doigt il ne faut pas mettre l’écorce.”--_Le Médecin malgré lui_,
i. 2.]
_L’arbre ne tombe pas au premier coup_ = Everything requires time
and exertion; Rome was not built in a day.
_Quand l’arbre est tombé tout le monde court aux branches_ = When
the tree falls every one goeth to it with his hatchet.
_Il s’est toujours tenu au gros de l’arbre_ = He has always sided
with the stronger side.
Arc
_Débander l’arc ne guérit pas la plaie_ = To cease doing mischief
does not undo the harm one has done.
Arçon
_Être ferme sur les arçons_ = (lit.) To have a firm seat in the
saddle; (fig.) Not to waver in one’s principles.
_Il a vidé les arçons_ = He was unhorsed.
Argent
_L’argent est un bon passe-partout_ = Gold goes in at any gate,
except heaven.
[“Amour fait moult
Mais argent fait tout.”]
_Être cousu d’argent_ = To be made of money; To be rolling in
riches.
_Il est chargé d’argent comme un crapaud de plumes_ = He is
penniless.
_Y aller bon jeu bon argent_ = To set about a thing in earnest.
*_Point d’argent, point de Suisse_ = No money, no Swiss; No pay,
no piper.
[In the Middle Ages the Swiss were the chief mercenaries of
Europe, and occasionally had to resort to severe measures to
obtain their pay. Compare RACINE, _Plaideurs_, i. 1. One day when
the Swiss were asking for their pay from the king the French
Prime Minister said: “The money we have given these Swiss would
pave a road from Paris to Basle.” To which the Swiss commander
replied: “And the blood we have shed for France would fill a
river from Basle to Paris!”]
_Payer argent comptant_ = To pay ready money; To pay in hard cash.
[Synonyms are: _En beaux deniers comptants_ or, _en espèces
sonnantes et trébuchantes_.]
_Prendre quelque chose pour argent comptant_ = To take something
for gospel.
_Je suis à court d’argent_ (fam. _à sec_) = I am short of money
(_fam._ hard up, broke).
*_Qui n’a pas argent en bourse, ait miel en bouche_ = He who has
not silver in his purse should have honey on his tongue.
*_Argent emprunté porte tristesse_ = He who goes a-borrowing goes
a-sorrowing.
Arme
_Représenter les armes de Bourges_ = To look stupid.
[The arms of Bourges are an ass sitting in an armchair.]
_Les armes sont journalières_ = Victory is fickle.
Arracher
_On se l’arrache_ = (of persons) He is the rage; (of things)
There is a regular scramble for it.
Arracheur
_Mentir comme un arracheur de dents_ = To lie unblushingly; To
lie like an epitaph.
Arranger
_Comme vous voilà arrangé!_ = What a sight you look!
_Je l’ai arrangé de la bonne manière_ = I gave him what he richly
deserved.
_Arrangez-vous_ = That is your business; Settle it among
yourselves.
Arrêt
_Mettre un officier aux arrêts_ = To put an officer under arrest.
_Garder les arrêts_ = To keep to one’s quarters.
_Lever les arrêts_ = To release from arrest.
Arriver
_C’est un homme qui arrivera_ = He is sure to get on in the world.
*_Un malheur n’arrive jamais seul_ = Misfortunes never come
singly; It never rains but it pours.
*_Cela arrive comme marée en carême_ = That comes just in the
nick of time (lit. as _sea-fish_ in Lent). See _Carême_.
Article
_Être à l’article de la mort_ (or, _à l’agonie_) = To be at
death’s door.
[Lat. _In articulo mortis._]
Assembler
*_Qui se ressemble, s’assemble_ = Birds of a feather flock
together; Like will to like.
Assiette
_Il n’est pas dans son assiette_ = He is not in his normal state
of mind; He is out of sorts; He is not up to the mark.
_Son assiette dîne pour lui_ = He pays for his dinner whether he
is present or not.
_C’est un casseur d’assiettes_ = He is a swaggerer (a Mohock, in
eighteenth century parlance).
_C’est un pique-assiette_ = He is a parasite, a sponge.
_L’assiette des impôts_ = The assessment of taxes.
Attache
_Le pauvre homme est toujours (comme un chien) à l’attache_ =
The poor man is a very slave, is compelled to work hard and
constantly.
Attacher
*_Attacher le grelot_ = To bell the cat.
[LA FONTAINE, _Conseil tenu par les rats_. For an explanation of
the phrase see _Grelot_.]
Attaquer
*_Attaquer le taureau par les cornes_ = To seize the bull by the
horns.
Atteinte
_Porter atteinte (à l’honneur de)_ = To sully (the fair name of).
_Porter atteinte (aux droits de)_ = To infringe (the rights of).
Atteler
_C’est une charrette mal attelée_ = They are a badly-matched pair.
Attendre
_Une question n’attendait pas l’autre_ = Question quickly
followed after question.
_Je m’y attendais_ = That is just what I expected.
_Attendez-vous-y_ = You may depend upon it; (_or_, ironic.) Don’t
you wish you may get it!
*_Tout vient à point à qui sait attendre_ = Everything comes to
the man who waits; Time and patience change the mulberry leaf
into a silk gown.
_On peut s’attendre à tout, surtout à l’inattendu_ = One may
expect anything, especially the unexpected.
Attraper
_Attrape qui peut!_ = Scramble for it!
_Attrape!_ = 1. Catch! 2. Take that! 3. It serves you right.
Audience
_Audience à huis clos_ = A case heard _in camera_.
Aune
_Les hommes ne se mesurent pas à l’aune_ = Men are not to be
judged by their size.
[M. Thiers, who was very short, used to say: “Les liqueurs
précieuses se conservent dans de petits flacons” = Rich wares in
small parcels.]
_Savoir ce qu’en vaut l’aune_ = To know a thing to one’s cost.
_Mesurer les autres à son aune_ = To measure other people’s peck
by one’s own bushel.
_Tout le long de l’aune_ = By the yard; Plenty of it.
Aurore
*_Travail d’aurore amène l’or_ = Early to bed and early to rise,
makes a man healthy, wealthy, and wise.
[The late H. Stacy Marks, R.A., parodied this: “Early to bed and
early to rise, No use--unless you advertise.”
The German equivalent is, “Morgenstund hat Gold im Mund”--The
morning hour has gold in its mouth.
This is also found in Italian: “Le ore del mattino hanno l’oro in
bocca.”]
Aussitôt
_Aussitôt dit, aussitôt fait_ = No sooner said than done.
Autant
_Cela est fini ou autant vaut_ = It is as good as finished.
*_Autant de têtes, autant d’avis_ = So many men, so many minds.
[“Quot homines, tot sententiæ.”--TERENCE, _Phormio_, ii. 4. Also:
“Autant de gens, autant de sens.”]
_Autant lui en pend au nez_ (or, _à l’oreille_) = He will get
just the same (in bad sense).
_Autant vaut être mordu d’un chien que d’une chienne_ = One evil
is as bad as the other.
_Autant dire mille francs_ = We may as well say £40. (See
_Aller_.)
_Autant vaut celui qui tient que celui qui écorche_ = The
receiver is as bad as the thief.
[A hexameter of Phocylides says: ἀμφότεροι κλῶπες, καὶ ὁ
δεξάμενος καὶ ὁ κλέψας.]
_C’est toujours autant de gagné_ = That’s always so much to the
good. (See _Prendre_.)
Autel
*_Qui sert à l’autel doit vivre de l’autel_ = Every man must live
by his profession.
_Il en prendrait sur l’autel_ = He would rob a church.
Autour
_Tourner autour du pot_ = To beat about the bush.
[German: “Wie die Katze um den Brei laufen.”]
_Il ne faut pas confondre autour avec alentour_ = One must not
mix up two things entirely different.
[The _gamin_ of Paris adds to this saying: “ni intelligence avec
gendarme.”]
Autre
_Comme dit l’autre_ = As the saying is.
[Or: _Comme on dit._]
_Nous parlions de choses et d’autres_ = We were speaking of
different things.
_C’est tout un ou tout autre_ = It is either one thing or the
other.
_L’un vaut l’autre_ = One is as bad as the other.
_Il en sait bien d’autres_ = He knows more than one trick.
_C’est une autre paire de manches_ = That is quite another thing;
That is a horse of another colour.
_Il n’en fait pas d’autres_ = That is always the way with him; He
is at it again.
_Allez conter cela à d’autres_ = Tell that to the marines.
[Often shortened to “_À d’autres_.”]
_Nous autres Anglais sommes très réservés_ = We English are very
reserved.
[“Nous autres ignorants estions perdus si ce livre ne nous eust
relevé du bourbier.” MONTAIGNE, _Essais_, ii. 4, speaking of
Amyot’s translation of Plutarch.]
*_Autres temps, autres mœurs_ = Manners change with the times.
_J’en ai vu bien d’autres_ = I have outlived worse things than
that.
Avaler
_Faire avaler des couleuvres à quelqu’un_ = To say very
humiliating things to a man who, on account of his inferior
position, is obliged to put up with them; To make any one swallow
a bitter pill.
Avancer
_Votre montre avance de dix minutes_ = Your watch is ten minutes
fast.
[Compare: “Votre montre retarde de dix minutes” = Your watch is
ten minutes slow.]
_Cela m’avance bien!_ (ironic.) = What good is that to me?
_Vous voilà bien avancé!_ (ironic.) = Here you are in a pretty
mess! What good have you gained by that?
_Je n’en suis pas plus avancé_ = I am none the wiser (_or_,
nearer).
Avant
_Vous allez trop avant_ = You are going too far.
_Ils sont arrivés bien avant dans la nuit_ = They arrived very
late at night.
Avare
*_A père avare, enfant prodigue_ = A miserly father has a
spendthrift son.
[“A femme avare, galant escroc.” LA FONTAINE, _Contes_, ii.]
Avec
_Avec ça!_ (colloquial) = Nonsense!
Averti
*_Un bon averti_ (or, _prévenu_) _en vaut deux_ = A man well
warned is twice a man; Forewarned, forearmed.
Aveu
_C’est un homme sans aveu_ = He is a vagabond.
[In feudal times a vassal had to make an _avowal_ to his lord of
the lands he held, placing them under his lord’s protection. A
man who had no property could not do so.]
*_Rien ne soulage comme un aveu sincère_ = Open confession is
good for the soul.
Aveugle
_Crier comme un aveugle_ (_qui a perdu son bâton_ or, _son
chien_) = To yell with all one’s might.
[A variant is: _Crier comme un sourd_, although deaf people
generally speak very quietly.]
Avis
_Il est toujours du bon avis_ = His opinion is always good.
_Il y a jour d’avis_ = There is no hurry; There is plenty of time
for consideration.
*_Avis au lecteur_ = A note to the reader; A word to the wise;
_Verb. sap._
_(Il) m’est avis qu’il cherche à vous tromper_ = Somehow I think
he wants to deceive you.
*_Deux avis valent mieux qu’un_ = Two heads are better than one.
[The Greeks said: εἷς ἀνήρ, οὐδεὶς ἀνήρ = One man, no man.]
_Sauf avis contraire_ = Unless I hear (_or_, write) to the
contrary.
Aviser
_C’est un avisé compère_ = He is a cunning fellow.
_On y avisera_ = We will see to it.
_Il ne s’avise jamais de rien_ = He never thinks of anything; He
has no initiative.
_On ne s’avise jamais de tout_ = One never thinks of everything.
_Ne vous en avisez pas_ = You had better not.
_Un fou avise bien un sage_ = Good advice often comes whence we
do not expect it.
_Un verre de vin avise bien un homme_ = A glass of wine puts wit
into a man.
Avoir
[The French use _avoir_ frequently where we use _to be_, as
in--_Avoir faim_, _soif_, _chaud_, _froid_, _raison_, _tort_,
_pitié_, _honte_, _peur_, _soin_, _besoin_, _mal_ = To be hungry,
thirsty, hot, cold, right, wrong, sorry, ashamed, afraid,
careful, in want, ill.]
_J’aurai raison de son entêtement_ = I will master his obstinacy.
_J’en ai bien envie_ = I should like it very much.
_Elle n’a pour tout bien que sa beauté_ = She has nothing but her
beauty in her favour; Her face is her fortune.
_J’en ai pour deux heures_ = I shall be two hours over it.
_J’en ai pour six mois à m’ennuyer_ = I am looking forward to
(_or_, in for) six months’ boredom.
_Vous avez la parole_ = It is your turn to speak.
_Vous avez la main_ = It’s your turn to play (at cards).
_Vous avez le dé_ = It’s your turn to play (at dice).
_Il ne fera cela qu’autant que vous l’aurez pour agréable_ = He
will never think of doing it if you object to it.
_Avoir de quoi_ (pop.) = To be in easy circumstances.
_J’ai de quoi payer_ = I have enough money to pay.
_Il y a de quoi_ = (lit.) There is good reason; (ironic.) There
is no reason.
_Je vous demande pardon._--_Il n’y a pas de quoi_ = I beg your
pardon.--Pray do not mention it.
_J’ai beau dire, il en fera à sa tête_ = It is of no use my
talking, he will do as he likes.
_C’est un homme que j’ai dans la main_ = He is a man I hold in
the hollow of my hand, _i.e._ I can make him do what I like.
_Qu’avez vous? J’ai que je m’ennuie_ = What is the matter with
you? The matter is that I am bored to death.
_Vous en aurez_ = You will catch it.
_Contre qui en avez-vous?_ = Against whom have you a grudge?
_Il n’est rien de tel que d’en avoir_ = There is nothing like
money to make one respected.
_Quand il n’y en a plus, il y en a encore_ = The thing is
inexhaustible; It is easy to get more.
_Il n’y a qu’à pleuvoir_ = It may happen to rain; What if it
rains?
_Je vais lui dire cela._--_Non, il n’aurait qu’à se fâcher_ = I
will tell him that.--No, don’t, he might get angry.
_C’est un homme comme il n’y en a point_ = He is a man who has
not his match; There is no equal to him.
Avril
_En avril
Ne te découvre pas d’un fil_
= Change not a clout
Till May be out.
[En mai
Fais ce qu’il te plaît.]
B.
B
_Être marqué au b_ = To be either hump-backed, one-eyed, lame, or
a stutterer.
[i.e. _bossu_, _borgne_, _boiteux_, _ou bègue_.]
Bâcler
_Bâcler son ouvrage_ = To do one’s work quickly and badly; To
“polish off” (_or_, scamp) one’s work.
[Also: _travailler à dépêche-compagnon_.]
Badiner
*“_On ne badine pas avec l’amour_” = Love is not to be trifled
with.
[This is the title of one of Alfred de Musset’s _Proverbes_. See
_Porte_.]
Bagage
_Quel est le bagage de cet auteur?_ = What works has that author
written? What is that author’s output?
_Plier bagage_ = To pack up and be off.
Bagatelle
_Bagatelles que tout cela_ = That is all stuff and nonsense.
_Vive la bagatelle!_ = Away with care!
Bague
_Cette place est une bague au doigt_ = That position is a
sinecure.
[_C’est une bague au doigt_ is said of any advantageous
possession of which one can dispose easily. Quitard derives it
from the custom of the seller of land giving to the purchaser as
his title a ring on which both had sworn.]
Baguette
_Mener les gens à la baguette_ = To rule men with a rod of iron;
To be a martinet.
Baiser
_Il y a toujours l’un qui baise et l’autre qui tend la joue_ =
Love is never exactly reciprocal.
[SHAKESPEARE, _Troilus and Cressida_, iv. 5.]
Baisser
_Baisser l’oreille_ = To look confused (_or_, sheepish.)
[From the action of dogs when expecting a beating.]
_Ma vue baisse_ = I am getting short-sighted; My sight is failing.
[In this sense _baisser_ means to weaken, and is also used of
moral and intellectual qualities, as: _le sens moral a baissé_,
_ma mémoire baisse_.]
_Il a donné tête baissée dans le piège (panneau)_ = He ran
headlong into the trap.
_Je lui ai fait baisser les yeux_ = I stared him out of
countenance.
_Il n’a qu’à se baisser pour en prendre_ = He has only to stoop
and pick it up; He has merely to ask for it to get it.
Balai
*_Il n’est rien de tel que balai neuf_ = A new broom sweeps clean.
_On lui a donné du balai_ = They gave him the sack (_i.e._
dismissed him).
_Donner un coup de balai_ = To make a clean sweep.
Balance
_Faire pencher la balance_ = To turn the scale.
Balancer
_Il n’y a pas à balancer_ = We must not hesitate, but act.
Balle
_Une balle perdue_ = A wasted shot; A useless effort.
_Une balle morte_ = A spent ball.
_A vous la balle_ = It is now your turn to act.
_Renvoyer la balle_ = To return the compliment.
_Prendre la balle au bond_ = Not to miss an opportunity; To take
time by the forelock; To make hay while the sun shines.
[Also: _Prendre l’occasion aux cheveux._
Compare: