Tag Archives: Claudel-Gilly

Les vieilles poules…

Posted on 31 January 2012 by Tournesol

Deux phrases un peu grossières et une qui est ennuyeuse aujourd’hui : Two rather rude phrases and one that is annoying today: Mêle-toi de tes oignons : Literally: Look after your own onions: Mind your own business. Les vieilles poules … Continue reading →

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Saisir la balle au bond

Posted on 30 January 2012 by Tournesol

Saisir la balle au bond : Literal meaning: To seize the ball on the bounce: Strike while the iron is hot. La chance sourit aux audacieux : Literal meaning: Fortune smiles at the bold: Fortune favours the bold. Virgil: Aeneid: … Continue reading →

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Entre le marteau and l’enclume

Posted on 26 January 2012 by Tournesol

Entre le marteau et l’enclume : Literally: Between the hammer and the anvil: English translation: Between a rock and a hard place. Also: Ted Kohler and Harold Arlen: Between the devil and the deep blue sea. Taken from: ‘Don’t toss … Continue reading →

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Le bonnet blanc…

Posted on 26 January 2012 by Tournesol

Two more French phrases: C’est bonnet blanc et blanc bonnet : Literally: It’s hat white and white hat: It’s six of one and half a dozen of the other. Chat échaudé craint l’eau froid: Literally: A scalded cat fears cold … Continue reading →

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Quand le vin est tiré…

Posted on 17 January 2012 by Tournesol

Expand your knowledge of French phrases: Quand le vin est tireé il faut le boit: Literally: When the cork is drawn, you must drink the wine: In for a penny, in for a pound. Un malheur ne vient jamais seul: … Continue reading →

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Better the devil you know…

Posted on 9 January 2012 by Tournesol

Another translated French phrase: On sait ce que l’on quitte, on ne sait pas ce que l’on prend : Literally: One knows what one leaves, not what one gets: Better the devil you know [than the devil you don’t know] … Continue reading →

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Another kettle of fish

Posted on 2 January 2012 by Tournesol

Two more French to English expressions: C’est une autre paire de manches : literally: it’s another pair of sleeves: it’s another kettle of fish. Ça coûte les yeux de la tête : literally: it costs the eyes of the head: … Continue reading →

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Back to the nitty-gritty

Posted on 2 January 2012 by Tournesol

Revenons à nos moutons : literally: let’s get back to our sheep: The nearest English translations: To get back to business, back to the nitty-gritty, back to the subject, back to what we were discussing. Taken from: Don’t toss Granny … Continue reading →

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Let sleeping dogs lie

Posted on 28 December 2011 by Tournesol

Let sleeping dogs lie: Il ne faut pas réveiller le chat qui dort :     literal translation: one must not waken the sleeping cat. Taken from: Don’t toss Granny in the Begonias: faut pas pousser mémé dans les bégonias. Par Marie-Helène … Continue reading →

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Curiosity killed the cat

Posted on 23 December 2011 by Tournesol

Curiosity killed the cat: Entre l’arbre et l’écorce, il ne faut pas mettre le doigt : don’t poke your finger between the bark and the tree. This is also expressed in an Arabic proverb as ‘Don’t get between the onion … Continue reading →

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