‘Mettre au clou’
Un objet mis au clou est mis en gage : An object ‘mis au clou’ (‘put on the nail’) is an object put in the pawn shop.
“Gérard avait mis sa montre en or au grand clou de la rue des Blancs-Manteaux.” : “Gérard put his gold watch into the pawn shop on the rue (road) Blancs-Manteaux .” (Any suggestions as to how to incorporate the word ‘grand’ into this translation gratefully received.)
Jules Sandeau : ‘Marianna’ (1839).
Taken from: ‘Pourquoi dit-on ? 2012’ by Delphine Gaston.