Language/French/Culture/Funny-idiomatic-expressions

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 doigts dans le nez"

• Litteraly: He won the race with his fingers in the nose
• Meaning: He won the 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".

écraser une mouche avec un marteau-pilon

• Litteraly: crush a fly with a hammer
• Meaning: Take disproportionate measures to resolve a problem.