is even now, considered as a charm against ill-luck. Archbishop
Trench adduces other proverbs in reference to the man whose luck
never forsakes him, so that from the very things which would be
another man’s ruin, he extricates himself not only without harm
but with credit: _e.g._ the Arabic: “Cast him into the Nile, and
he will come up with a fish in his mouth”; the German: “Würf er
einen Groschen aufs Dach, fiel ihm ein Taler herunter” = If he
threw a penny on to the roof, a dollar would come back to him.]
_Il tient la corde_ = He is leading; He is first favourite.
_Vous touchez la corde sensible_ = You are touching the sore
point.
_Ne touchez pas cette corde_ = (fig.) Do not speak of that.
_Cela est usé jusqu’à la corde_ = (lit.) That is worn threadbare;
(fig.) That is thoroughly hackneyed.
Cordeau
_Aux États-Unis les rues sont tirées au cordeau_ = In the United
States the streets are perfectly straight.
Cordon
_Cordon, s’il vous plaît_ = Open the door, please (to porters in
Paris).
Corne
_Ne faites pas de cornes à ce livre_ = Do not dog’s-ear that book.
Corneilles
_Bayer aux corneilles_ = To stare (_or_, gape) about vacantly.
Corps
_C’est un drôle de corps_ = He is an odd fellow, a queer fish.
_Nous verrons ce qu’il a dans le corps_ = We will see what he is
made of.
_Il s’est jeté à corps perdu dans cette affaire_ = He threw
himself headlong (_or_, with might and main) into the matter.
_Je le saisis à bras le corps_ = I seized him round the waist (in
a struggle).
_Ils se sont battus corps à corps_ = They fought hand to hand.
_Je l’ai fait à mon corps défendant_ = I did it reluctantly, in
self-defence.
_Prendre du corps_ = To get fat.
_Il a l’âme chevillée dans le corps_ = He has as many lives as a
cat.
Corsaire
*_À corsaire, corsaire et demi_ = Set a thief to catch a thief.
[“Ars deluditur arte.”--CATO.
“A trompeur, trompeur et demy.”--CHARLES D’ORLÉANS, _Rondel_, 46.]
*_Corsaires contre corsaires ne font pas leurs affaires_ = Dog
does not eat dog. (See _Loup_.)
[“Corsaires contre corsaires,
L’un l’autre s’attaquant ne font pas leurs affaires.”--LA
FONTAINE, _Tribut envoyé par les animaux à Alexandre_, imitating
Régnier, _Satire_ xii., _ad fin._, who took it from the Spanish
_De corsario a corsario no se llevan que los barriles._]
Corvée
_C’est une vraie corvée!_ = What a nuisance! What a bore!
[_Corvée_ originally referred to feudal forced labour. It is now
a military term, and means “fatigue duty”; hence, any unpleasant
task.]
Côte
_On lui compterait les côtes_ = He is nothing but skin and bone.
Côté
_Être sur le côté_ (or, _flanc_) = To be on one’s back, ill.
_Mettre les rieurs de son côté_ = To turn the laugh against a man.
_Vous êtes du bon côté_ = You are on the right side.
_Vous êtes du côté du manche_ = You are on the winning side.
_Donner à côté_ = To miss the mark.
Coton
_Depuis sa faillite il file un mauvais coton_ (fam.) = Since his
failure, his health (_or_, reputation) has entirely broken down.
Coucher
_On est plus couché que debout_ = Life is short compared with
eternity.
_Je l’ai couché en joue_ = I aimed at him.
_Coucher dans son fourreau_ = To go to sleep without undressing;
To turn in all standing (nav.).
*_Comme on fait son lit, on se couche_ = As you make your bed, so
you must lie on it.
_Se coucher comme les poules_ = To go to bed with the sun, very
early.
_Coucher sur la dure_ = To lie on the ground, on the floor.
Coude
_Il ne se mouche pas du coude_ (fam.) = 1. He is no fool. 2. He
does things in grand style. (See _Pied_.)
_Il a mal au coude_ (fam.) = He is very lazy. (See _Main_.)
Coudée
_Avoir les coudées franches_ = (lit.) To have elbow-room; (fig.)
To have full scope.
Coudre
_On ne sait quelle pièce y coudre_ = One does not know how to
prevent (_or_, cure) it.
Coule
_C’est un homme à la coule_ (pop.) = He is a smart, knowing chap.
[Compare: _Il la connaît dans les coins, celui-là_ = He knows his
business in every corner.]
Couler
_Ce qu’il dit coule de source_ = What he says comes from the
heart, comes fluently from his lips.
_Cela coule de source_ = That follows naturally.
_Couler à fond_ = (of ships) To founder; (of persons) To be
ruined.
*_Il faut laisser couler l’eau_ = What can’t be cured must be
endured.
Coulisse
_Faire les yeux en coulisse_ = To make sheep’s eyes; To ogle.
Coup
*_Faire d’une pierre deux coups_ = To kill two birds with one
stone.
_Cette démarche a porté coup_ = That step told, had its effect.
_Sans coup férir_ = Without striking a blow.
_Il a fait un bon coup_ = He has made a good bargain.
_Il vient de faire un mauvais coup_ = He has just committed a
crime.
_Pour le coup il ne m’échappera pas_ = This time he will not
escape me.
_J’irai à coup sûr_ = I shall go to a certainty.
_C’est donner un coup d’épée dans l’eau_ = It is an unsuccessful
attempt. (See _Eau_.)
_Il m’a porté un coup fourré_ = He struck me a blow in the dark.
[This is a term derived from fencing; _un coup fourré_ is a
blow struck at an adversary at the same moment that he strikes.]
_Le coup vaut la balle_ = It is worth trying.
_Il faut toujours qu’elle donne son coup de patte_ = She always
makes sarcastic (_or_, unpleasant) remarks.
_C’est un coup monté_ = It is a pre-arranged affair.
_On lui a monté le coup_ = They induced him to do it; They
deceived him.
_Il a bu un coup de trop_ = He has had a drop too much.
_C’est venu après coup_ = It came too late, after the event.
_Faire les cent coups_ = To amuse oneself noisily; To play all
sorts of tricks.
_Être aux cent coups_ = To be half mad (distracted) with anxiety;
To be in the greatest difficulties.
_C’est un coup qui porte_ = That is a home-thrust.
_Avoir un coup de marteau_ = To be a little touched.
_J’ai écrit trois lettres coup sur coup_ = I wrote three letters
one after the other.
_Un coup de sang_ = A rush of blood to the head.
_Un coup de Jarnac_ = A treacherous blow; A blow below the belt.
[In a duel before the whole Court in 1547, Gui Chabot, Seigneur
de Jarnac, wounded his adversary, La Châtaigneraie, with an
unfair stroke. La Châtaigneraie refused to survive such an
affront, tore off the bandages placed over his wound, and bled to
death.]
_Un coup de fouet_ = (lit.) A crack of a whip; (fig.) A sudden
contraction of the muscles of the leg (or back).
_Un coup d’état_ = A sudden, unexpected act of policy; A violent
change in the Government (_e.g._ 18 brumaire 1799, or 2 décembre
1851).
_Un coup de fion_ (fam.) = A finishing touch.
_Donner le coup de grâce_ = To give the finishing stroke.
_Il gagna mille francs tout d’un coup_ = He won £40 at one shot,
all at once, at one “go.”
_Il s’en alla tout à coup_ = He went away suddenly, abruptly.
[_Tout d’un coup_ and _tout à coup_ are frequently used
indiscriminately, even by French people.]
_Un coup de tête_ = A moment of passion; a rash action.
_Donner un coup de main_ = To give a helping hand.
_J’ai manqué mon coup_ = I missed my shot; I failed.
_Ils l’ont moulu de coups_ = They beat him black and blue.
[A well-known quotation from Corneille runs:
“Mes pareils à deux fois ne se font pas connaître
Et pour leurs coups d’essai veulent des coups de maître.”--
_Le Cid_, ii. 2.]
Coupe
*_Il y a loin de la coupe aux lèvres_ = There is many a slip
’twixt the cup and the lip.
[The Greek πολλὰ μεταξὺ πέλει κύλικος καὶ χείλεος ἄκρου is said
to have had its origin in the following circumstances:--Anceaus,
an ancient King of Samos, treated with extreme cruelty his
slaves who were planting a vineyard for him; until at length one
more ill-used than the rest prophesied that for his cruelty he
should never drink of its wine. When the first vintage was over
the master bade this slave fill him a goblet, and, taking it in
his hands, he taunted him with the failure of his prophecy. The
slave answered with these words; and as he was speaking news
was brought of a huge wild boar that was wasting the vineyard.
Setting down the untasted cup and snatching up a spear the master
went out to meet the wild boar and was slain in the encounter.
Compare the Latin: Inter calicem et os multa cadunt; and the
Spanish: De la mano a la boca se pierde la sopa.
Other variants in French are:
_Entre la bouche et le verre
Le vin souvent tombe à terre._
_Vin versé n’est pas avalé._
_En amour, en cour, et à la chasse.
Chacun ne prend ce qu’il pourchasse._]
_Mettre en coupe réglée_ = (lit.) To cut down periodically (of
forests); (fig.) To lay regularly under contribution.
Couper
_Il s’est coupé dans ses réponses_ = He contradicted himself in
his answers.
_Il lui a coupé la parole_ = He interrupted him.
_Son père lui a coupé les vivres_ = His father stopped his
allowance.
_Ce verre de bière m’a coupé les jambes_ = My legs feel shaky
after that glass of beer.
_Couper un cheveu en quatre_ = To split hairs.
_Coupons le câble_ = Let us take the decisive step.
[Sieyès, June 10, 1789.]
_Cela lui a coupé le sifflet_ (pop.) = That stopped his mouth;
That shut him up.
_Je vais y couper_ (pop.) = I am going to “cut” that; I am not
going to do it.
Courage
_Prenez votre courage à deux mains_ = Summon up all your courage.
_Courage! tout finira bien_ = Cheer up! all will yet be well.
Courant
_Je vous écrirai fin courant_ (commercial) = I will write to you
at the end of the present month.
_Je ne suis pas au courant de l’affaire_ = I have not the latest
information on the point; I am not up (well posted) in the matter.
Courir
_Par le temps qui court_ = Nowadays; As times go.
_Être fou à courir les champs_ = To be as mad as a March hare.
_Nous courons même fortune_ = We are rowing in the same boat.
“_Rien ne sert de courir, il faut partir à point_” = It is no
good hurrying if you have not started in time.
[LA FONTAINE, _Le lièvre et la tortue_, vi. 10.]
Courrier
_Répondez par retour du courrier_ = Answer by return of post.
_Faire son courrier_ (commercial) = To write one’s letters.
Courroie
_Il faut lui serrer la courroie_ = We must curtail his allowance;
We must keep him on short commons.
_Faire du cuir d’autrui large courroie_ = To be generous with
other people’s money.
Cours
_Les pièces des États du Pape n’ont plus cours_ = The coins of
the Papal States are no longer legal tender.
_Un capitaine au long cours_ = A captain of a trading vessel
going to foreign ports.
Court
_Je suis resté court_ = I did not know what to say.
_Je l’ai pris à court_ = I took him unawares.
_Il se trouve à court (d’argent)_ = He is short of money.
_Dites cela tout court_ = Say that and no more.
_Il l’a appelé Jean tout court_ = He called him simply (_or_,
just) John (without Mr. or surname).
Couteau
_Ils sont à couteaux tirés_ = They are at daggers drawn.
[Formerly: _Ils en sont aux couteaux tirés._]
_Aller en Flandre sans couteau_ = To embark in an enterprise
without the necessary resources.
[Also: _Aller aux mûres sans crochet._]
_C’est comme le couteau de Jeannot_ = That is like the Irishman’s
gun (said of anything that has been mended so often as to have
nothing of the original left).
Coûter
_Rien ne lui coûte_ = He sticks at nothing; He spares no trouble.
_Coûte que coûte_ = Cost what it may.
_Coûter les yeux de la tête_ = To cost a small fortune, a fearful
lot of money.
Coutume
*_Une fois n’est pas coutume_ = It is only this once; One swallow
does not make a summer; Once does not count.
Coutumier
_Il est coutumier du fait_ = It is not the first time he has done
it.
Couture
_Ils étaient battus à plate couture_ = They were beaten hollow.
Couvercle
_Couvercle digne du chaudron_ = The lid matches the caldron; They
are a precious pair; _Arcades ambo._
Couvert
_Mettez le couvert_ = Lay the cloth (for dinner).
_Mettez un couvert de plus_ = Put another knife and fork (for
another guest); Lay for one more.
Cracher
_C’est son père tout craché_ (fam.) = He is the very spit (_or_,
less fam., image) of his father.
_Il a craché en l’air et ça lui est retombé sur le nez_ (pop.) =
He wished to do harm to another but it recoiled on himself.
_Il ne crache pas dessus_ = He does not despise it; He likes it
very much.
Crémaillère
_Pendre la crémaillère_ = To give a house warming.
[Crémaillère = tige de fer suspendue au dessus du foyer d’une
cheminée garnie de crans, qui permettent de la fixer plus ou
moins haut, et terminée par un bout recourbé auquel on accroche
une marmite. Compare Longfellow’s poem “The Hanging of the
Crane.”]
Crever
_Le roi Jean a crevé les yeux à Arthur_ = King John caused
Arthur’s eyes to be put out.
_Je ne voyais pas mon livre, cependant il me crevait les yeux_ =
I did not see my book, yet it was staring me in the face (right
under my nose).
Cri
_Il n’y a qu’un cri sur son compte_ = There is only one opinion
about him.
_Elle poussa les hauts cris_ = She screamed at the top of her
voice; She complained loudly.
_C’est le dernier cri_ = It is the last thing out.
Cribler
_Criblé de mitraille_ = Riddled with grape-shot.
_Criblé de dettes_ = Over head and ears in debt.
Crier
_Crier famine sur un tas de blé_ = To cry out for what one has in
plenty.
_Plumer la poule sans la faire crier_ = To fleece a person
adroitly, without his perceiving it.
Crin
_Un républicain à tous crins_ = Every inch a republican.
[Properly of a horse with flowing mane and tail, hence thorough,
strong.]
Crochet
_Il a trente ans, et cependant il vit aux crochets de sa mère_ =
He is thirty years old, and yet his mother has to keep him.
Croire
_Il s’en croit beaucoup_ = He thinks a great deal of himself.
_C’est à n’y pas croire_ = It is not to be believed; It is so
extraordinary (incredible, preposterous) that we can hardly
believe it.
_A l’en croire il a eu tous les prix_ = If he is to be believed
he won all the prizes.
“_Et chacun croit fort aisément
Ce qu’il craint et ce qu’il désire._”
= The wish is father to the thought.
[LA FONTAINE, _Fables_, i. 6. Le loup et le renard.
Compare 2 _Henry IV._, iv. 5.
“Fere libenter homines id quod volunt credunt.”--CÆSAR, iii. 18.]
Croix
_Aller au devant de quelqu’un avec la croix et la bannière_ =
To receive any one with great fuss and ceremony (often used
ironically).
Croquer
_Votre enfant est gentil à croquer_ = Your child is a charming
little fellow.
_Il croquait le marmot_ = He was dancing attendance; He was
cooling his heels.
[Littré gives as the explanation of this obscure expression that
artists while waiting for their patrons used to draw pictures
of little monkeys (_marmot_) in the vestibule. Others assert
that in the antechambers of the rich were to be found dishes
of cakes in the form of little monkeys, which visitors used
to eat (_croquer_) whilst waiting. But both explanations need
confirmation.]
Cru
_S’agenouiller à cru_ = To kneel on the bare ground, on the cold
stone (without a hassock or carpet).
[Literally, to kneel on the bare knee, but the quality has passed
from the person to the object.]
_C’est de son cru_ = That is of his own creation.
Cruche
_C’est une vraie cruche_ (fam.) = She is a silly goose.
Cuir
_Pester entre cuir et chair_ (fam.) = To fume inwardly.
_Faire des cuirs_ = To drop one’s h’s.
[Really these are faults made by uneducated French people in
pronunciation, consisting in sounding _s_ for _t_, or _vice
versa_, when running their words together or in pronouncing these
letters when they do not occur, as: _ils étaient_ z_ici_, for
_ils étaient ici_.]
Cuirasse
_Les observations glissent sur lui comme sur une cuirasse_ =
Blame slips off him as water off a duck’s back.
Cuire
_Vous viendrez cuire à mon four_ = Some day you will need my
assistance.
_Il vous en cuira_ = You will smart for it.
_Avoir son pain cuit_ = To have one’s bread and cheese, a
competency.
Culbute
*_Au bout du fossé la culbute_ = At the end of the run comes the
fall.
[This expression refers to those who, from carelessness or
wrong-headedness, are resigned to the consequences of their bad
conduct.]
Cuver
_Cuver son vin_ = To sleep oneself sober.
D.
Dame
_Une grande dame de par le monde_ = A great lady in the eyes of
the world.
[This should be written _Une grande dame de la part du monde_.
Littré points out that the error in spelling _par_ for _part_
is a very old one; it would appear to date from the thirteenth
century from the examples he quotes. _De par le monde_ must be
derived from _de parte mundi_, as _de per_ was never used.]
Damer
_Damer le pion à quelqu’un_ = To outwit some one.
[From the game of draughts, _dame_ = a king, _pion_ = a man.]
Damner
_Cet homme est son âme damnée_ = That man does his dirty work for
him, is his tool.
[The man who does the dirty work knows he is damning his soul by
doing it, but does it all the same for the money or interest it
brings him.]
Danger
_Il n’y a pas de danger_ = No fear of that; Don’t you fret!
Danser
_Il ne sait sur quel pied danser_ = He does not know which way to
turn.
_Il en dansera en l’air_ = He will swing for it.
_Danser devant le buffet_ = To have nothing to eat.
Dater
_Cet événement date de loin_ = That event happened long ago.
Dé
_A vous le dé_ = It is your turn to play (at dice). [See _Avoir_.]
_Ne nous flattez pas le dé_ = Speak out without any reserve.
[_Flatter le dé_ is to let the dice slide gently out of the box.]
“_Car madame à jaser tient le dé tout le jour_” = Madame
engrosses the conversation all day long.
[MOLIÈRE, _Tartufe_, i. 1.]
Débandade
_Ils laissèrent tout à la débandade_ = They left all at sixes and
sevens, in confusion.
_Fuir à la débandade_ = To fly helter-skelter.
Débit
_Le ministre lui a accordé un débit de tabac_ = The minister has
given him a license to sell tobacco.
[The sale of tobacco, snuff, gunpowder, and cards is a Government
monopoly in France.]
Debout
*_Mieux vaut goujat debout qu’empereur enterré_ = “A living dog
is better than a dead lion.”--Ecclesiastes ix. 4.
[LA FONTAINE, _La Matrone d’Éphèse_. _Goujat_ first meant
a soldier’s servant (as here), now it means a hodman, or
bricklayer’s apprentice, hence a vulgar, coarse fellow, a
bungler.]
_Cela ne tient pas debout_ = That won’t hold water.
Débrider
_Il a écrit vingt pages sans débrider_ = He has written twenty
pages at a stretch.
Déchausser
_Il ne faut pas se déchausser pour manger cela_ = It is not worth
while sitting down to eat that.
[The ancients were in the habit of reclining bare-foot at their
meals.]
Décoiffer
*_Décoiffer (Découvrir) St. Pierre pour coiffer St. Paul_ =
To rob Peter to pay Paul.
Découvrir
_On a découvert le pot aux roses_ = They have discovered the
mystery, the secret.
_Être à découvert_ = To be unprotected, undisguised.
Décrocher
_Un décrochez-moi-ça_ (pop.) = A reach-me-down (second-hand
garment).
Dedans
_Elle est tout en dedans_ = She is not communicative.
_On l’a mis dedans_ (fam.) = 1. They took him in (_i.e._ they
deceived him). 2. They ran him in (_i.e._ they put him in prison).
[The second meaning is more often translated: “On l’a coffré.”]
_Comme un nigaud, j’ai donné dedans_ = Like a goose, I fell into
the trap.
_Je ne sais si je suis dedans ou dehors_ = I do not know which
side to take; I do not know whether I have made a profit or not.
Défaire
_Il a le visage défait_ = He has a pale, worn-out look.
Défaite
_Cette marchandise est d’une bonne défaite_ = These goods have a
quick sale.
Défaut
_Attaquez-le au défaut de la cuirasse_ = Attack him on his weak
point.
Défense
_Défense d’afficher_ = Stick no bills.
_Défense d’entrer_ = No admittance.
_Défense d’entrer sous peine d’amende_ = Trespassers will be
prosecuted.
Dégainer
_Être brave jusqu’au dégainer_ = To be brave until it come to
blows.
[_Dégainer_ = to unsheathe a sword.]
Dégourdir
_Ils auront à se dégourdir ou à déguerpir_ = They will either
have to wake up or to clear out.
_Se dégourdir les jambes_ = To stretch one’s legs; To go out for
a run.
Dégoûter
_Faire le dégoûté_ = To be fastidious, dainty.
_Si j’avais la fortune de Rothschild, je serais content._--_Vous
n’êtes pas dégoûté!_ = If I had Rothschild’s fortune I should be
satisfied.--I should rather think so!
Dehors
_Sauver le dehors_ = To save appearances.
_Il n’a pas de dehors_ = His personal appearance is not
prepossessing; He looks nobody.
Délit
_En flagrant délit_ = In the very act; red-handed.
[Lat. _In flagrante delicto._]
Déloger
_Déloger sans tambour ni trompette_ = To leave without beat of
drum.
Demain
_Avec lui c’est toujours demain_ = He always procrastinates.
Demandeur
*_A beau demandeur beau refuseur_ = Diamond cut diamond.
[_i.e._ “If you are not ashamed to ask, I am not ashamed to
refuse.”]
Démanger
_La langue lui démange_ = He longs to speak; He is dying to put
in a word.
Denier
_Cet homme n’a pas un denier vaillant_ = That man is not worth a
brass farthing.
_Rendre compte à livres, sous et deniers_ = To give an account to
the uttermost farthing.
Dent
_J’ai les dents bien longues aujourd’hui_ = I am very hungry
to-day.
_Je suis sur les dents_ = I am done up.
_J’ai une dent contre lui_ = I have a grudge against him.
[Also: _Je lui garde un chien de ma chienne_ (pop.).]
_Autant prendre la lune avec les dents_ = You might just as well
try and scale the moon.
_Manger du bout des dents_ = To eat without an appetite; To eat
daintily.
[“Dente superbo.”--HORACE, _Satires_, ii. 6, 87. Compare: _rire
du bout des dents_.]
_Déchirer quelqu’un à belles dents_ = To tear a person’s
reputation to shreds.
[Also more forcibly: _Passer quelqu’un à tabac._]
Dépense
*_Les folles dépenses refroidissent la cuisine_ = Wilful waste
makes woeful want.
Déplaire
_Qu’il ne vous en déplaise_ = With your permission; By your
leave; If you’ll allow me; An it please you.
[Sometimes shortened to: _Ne vous déplaise_, as in LA FONTAINE,
_Fables_, i. 1. The sense is often ironical, and means, “whether
you like it or not.”]
Dépourvu
_Au dépourvu_ = Unprepared.
Dératé
_Courir comme un dératé_ = To go like a shot; To run like mad.
[_Rate_=spleen. The Greeks believed that men and animals ran
faster if their spleen was removed. “On sait que l’extirpation de
la rate se pratiquait chez les coureurs d’antiquité pour éviter
l’essoufflement.”--COUVREUR, _Les Merveilles du Corps humain_.
Comp. PLINY, xxvi. 13.]
Dernier
_Une représentation du dernier vulgaire_ = A display vulgar to
the last degree; A very low show.
[“Ce que vous dites là est du dernier bourgeois.”
MOLIÈRE, _Les Précieuses Ridicules_, sc. 5.]
Désirer
*_Plus on désire une chose, plus elle se fait attendre_ = A
watched pot never boils.
_Cela laisse à désirer_ = There is room for improvement.
Désorienter
_Je suis désorienté_ = 1. I am disconcerted. 2. I am out of my
element; I do not feel at home; I have lost my bearings.
Desserrer
_Je n’ai pas desserré les dents_ = I never opened my lips.
Dessus
_Par dessus le marché_ = Into the bargain; Over and above.
_Il n’y a rien au dessus de cela_ = That beats everything.
_Sens dessus dessous_ = All upside down; Topsy-turvy.
_Ils ont eu le dessus_ = They got the best of it.
[_Avoir le dessous_ = to get the worst of it.]
_Prendre le dessus_ = To gain the upper hand.
_J’en ai par dessus la tête_ = I am worried out of my life with
it.
_Il le fera par dessus l’épaule_ = He will never do it.
[Comp. “over the left,” in schoolboy slang.]
_Il m’a regardé par dessus l’épaule_ = He looked at me
contemptuously.
Destinée
_On n’échappe pas à sa destinée_ = He that is born to be hanged
will never be drowned.
Détente
_Il est dur à la détente_ = (fig.) He is close-fisted, a miser.
Déterrer
_Il a l’air d’un déterré_ = He looks as pale as death, as pale as
a ghost.
Détour
_Faire un détour_ = To go a roundabout way.
_Il est sans détour_ = He is straightforward.
Dette
_Il est criblé de dettes_ = He is head over ears in debt.
[For _criblé_ one finds _accablé_, _perdu_, or _abîmé_.]
_Des dettes criardes_ = Small debts to trades-people or workmen
(who are continually asking for their money).
Deuil
_J’en ai fait mon deuil_ = I have resigned myself to the loss of
it.
Deux
_Maintenant, à nous deux!_ = Now I will settle with you; Now is
the time for a private explanation; Now to business.
*_Deux s’amusent, trois s’embêtent_ (fam.) = Two’s company,
three’s none.
_Tous les deux jours_; _De deux jours l’un_ = Every other day.
_Piquer des deux_ = To spur on one’s horse; To rush forward.
Devant
*_Les premiers vont devant_ = First come, first served.
_Il faut prendre les devants_ = One must be first in the field.
_Allons au-devant de lui_ = Let us go and meet him.
Dévider
_Mathurin dévide le jars_ (pop.) = Jack Tar is spinning a yarn.
Devoir
_Il doit au tiers et au quart (à Jean et à Paul)_ = He owes
money to everybody.
_Il doit plus d’argent qu’il n’est gros_ = He owes more money
than he can pay.
*_Qui a terme ne doit rien_ = No one need pay before a debt is
due.
*_Qui ne doit rien n’a rien à craindre_ = Out of debt, out of
danger.
*_A chacun son dû_ = Give the devil his due; Every man is worth
his hire.
*_Fais ce que dois, advienne que pourra_ = Do your duty, come
what may.
_Dussé-je en mourir_ = Were I to die for it.
_Chose convenue, chose due_ = A promise must be kept.
Dévolu
_J’ai jeté mon dévolu sur cela_ = I have fixed my choice upon
that.
Dévotion
_Il n’est de dévotion que de jeune prêtre_ = Enthusiasm wears out
in time; New brooms sweep clean. (See _Balai_.)
Diable