Difference between revisions of "Language/French/Culture/Funny-idiomatic-expressions"

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*Meaning: Someone who doesn't give a damn about an individual's fault, which he himself has.
*Meaning: Someone who doesn't give a damn about an individual's fault, which he himself has.
*Origin: Here, the word "hospital" refers to a medical establishment since the 17th century. This establishment was managed by a principal, who called himself "charity". The hospital, having nothing to envy of charity, therefore has no valid reason to mock it. This is where the fun side of the phrase lies, a certain irony. This therefore qualifies a person who makes fun of someone who has the same fault as her.
*Origin: Here, the word "hospital" refers to a medical establishment since the 17th century. This establishment was managed by a principal, who called himself "charity". The hospital, having nothing to envy of charity, therefore has no valid reason to mock it. This is where the fun side of the phrase lies, a certain irony. This therefore qualifies a person who makes fun of someone who has the same fault as her.
==Faire l'autruche / pratiquer la politique de l'autruche==
We use this expression to talk about someone who refuses to face reality and prefers to bury his head in the ground "like an ostrich".

Revision as of 20:20, 14 December 2020

C'est un secret de polichinelle

  • Meaning: it's an open secret
  • Example: Il élude toujours les questions pièges sur ses préférences politiques, mais c'est un secret de polichinelle. Source: Le Monde (2001)

Il a gagné la course "les doits dans le nez"

  • Synonym: Ii a gagné la course très facilement
  • Litteraly: He won a race with his fingers in the nose
  • Meaning: He won a race very easily

C'est l'hôpital qui se fout de la charité

  • Meaning: Someone who doesn't give a damn about an individual's fault, which he himself has.
  • Origin: Here, the word "hospital" refers to a medical establishment since the 17th century. This establishment was managed by a principal, who called himself "charity". The hospital, having nothing to envy of charity, therefore has no valid reason to mock it. This is where the fun side of the phrase lies, a certain irony. This therefore qualifies a person who makes fun of someone who has the same fault as her.

Faire l'autruche / pratiquer la politique de l'autruche

We use this expression to talk about someone who refuses to face reality and prefers to bury his head in the ground "like an ostrich".