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 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.