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 xixe
siècle.” 1865-76.
Le Roux de Lincy, A. J., “Livre des Proverbes français.”
2e 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.
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.]
Tout est à l’abandon = Everything is at sixes and sevens, in
utter neglect, in confusion.
[Also: Tout va à la dérive.]
*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.
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 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.
Il abonde dans mon sens = He is entirely of the same opinion as
I am; He has come round to my opinion.
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.
Les pourparlers n’ont pas abouti = The preliminary negotiations
led to nothing.
*“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.]
L’homme absurde est celui qui ne change jamais = The wise man
changes his opinion—the fool never.
[Barthélemy, Palinode. 1832.]
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.
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.
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.
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.”]
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 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.
C’est un voleur achevé = He is an arrant thief.
La pierre d’achoppement = The stumbling-block.
*Le bien mal acquis ne profite jamais = Ill-gotten gains
benefit no one; Cheats never prosper; Ill got, ill spent.
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).
Faire acte de présence = To put in an appearance.
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.]
Le trait est arrivé à son adresse = The shaft (or, arrow) hit
the mark; He took the hint.
Vous vous adressez mal; Vous vous adressez bien (ironic.) =
You have come to the wrong person; You have mistaken your man.
*Advienne que pourra = Happen what may.
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.]
*Ventre affamé n’a point d’oreilles = A hungry man will not
listen to reason.
[La Fontaine, Fables, ix. 18.]
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.]
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.
Être à l’affût = To be watching for a favourable opportunity;
To be on the look-out. (See Aguets.)
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.
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.
Qui s’agite s’enrichit = If you wish to get rich, you must work
(hustle); No pains, no gains.
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.]
Il est aux aguets = He is on the watch; He is in ambush. (See
Affût.)
*Un peu d’aide fait grand bien = Many hands make light work.
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.”]
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.
A dur âne dur aiguillon = In dealing with obstinate natures one
must use severe measures.
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.
*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.]
En plein air; Au grand air = In the open air.
Être entre deux airs
Être dans un courant d’air |
} |
= To be in a
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.
C’est de l’algèbre pour lui = It is Greek to him.
[“C’est de l’hébreu pour moi.”—Molière, L’Étourdi,
iii. 3.]
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.]
*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
Aller clopin-clopant |
} |
(lit.) To limp along.
(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.
“Il n’est bois si vert qui ne s’allume” (Clément
Marot) = There is nothing so difficult that cannot be done
in time.
Alors comme alors = Wait till that happens, and then we will
see what is to be done.
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.]
Cette preuve est amenée de bien loin = That proof is very
far-fetched.
*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.