G.

FauteRien ne vous fera faute= You will want for nothing.Il ne se fait faute de rien= He denies himself nothing.C’est une faute d’inattention= It is a slip.C’est une faute d’impression= It is a misprint.Il ne se fait pas faute de se plaindre= He complains freely.Faute de mieux= For want of something better.

Faute

Rien ne vous fera faute= You will want for nothing.Il ne se fait faute de rien= He denies himself nothing.C’est une faute d’inattention= It is a slip.C’est une faute d’impression= It is a misprint.Il ne se fait pas faute de se plaindre= He complains freely.Faute de mieux= For want of something better.

Rien ne vous fera faute= You will want for nothing.

Il ne se fait faute de rien= He denies himself nothing.

C’est une faute d’inattention= It is a slip.

C’est une faute d’impression= It is a misprint.

Il ne se fait pas faute de se plaindre= He complains freely.

Faute de mieux= For want of something better.

FauxChanter faux= To sing out of tune.Faire un faux pas= (lit.) To stumble; (fig.) To make a slip; To commit a mistake.Vous faites fausse route= You are taking the wrong road; You are on the wrong track.Cette poutre porte à faux= That beam does not rest properly on its support.Cette remarque a porté à faux= That remark was not to the point, was not conclusive.Faux comme un jeton= As false as Judas; As false as a die.Je m’inscris en faux contre cette assertion= I emphatically deny the truth of that assertion.

Faux

Chanter faux= To sing out of tune.Faire un faux pas= (lit.) To stumble; (fig.) To make a slip; To commit a mistake.Vous faites fausse route= You are taking the wrong road; You are on the wrong track.Cette poutre porte à faux= That beam does not rest properly on its support.Cette remarque a porté à faux= That remark was not to the point, was not conclusive.Faux comme un jeton= As false as Judas; As false as a die.Je m’inscris en faux contre cette assertion= I emphatically deny the truth of that assertion.

Chanter faux= To sing out of tune.

Faire un faux pas= (lit.) To stumble; (fig.) To make a slip; To commit a mistake.

Vous faites fausse route= You are taking the wrong road; You are on the wrong track.

Cette poutre porte à faux= That beam does not rest properly on its support.

Cette remarque a porté à faux= That remark was not to the point, was not conclusive.

Faux comme un jeton= As false as Judas; As false as a die.

Je m’inscris en faux contre cette assertion= I emphatically deny the truth of that assertion.

FéeC’est la fée Carabosse= She is an old hag.

Fée

C’est la fée Carabosse= She is an old hag.

Fêler*Les pots fêlés sont ceux qui durent le plus= The door with the creaking hinge hangs longest; The cracked pitcher goes oftenest to the well.

Fêler

*Les pots fêlés sont ceux qui durent le plus= The door with the creaking hinge hangs longest; The cracked pitcher goes oftenest to the well.

Femme*Femme qui parle comme homme et geline qui chante comme coq ne sont bonnes à tenir=A whistling woman and a crowing henAre good for neither cocks nor men.[“C’est chose qui moult me deplaist,Quand poule parle et coq se taist.”Roman de la Rose.“La poule ne doit pas chanter devant le coq.”Molière,Les Femmes Savantes, v. 3.]*Prends le premier conseil d’une femme et non le second= A woman’s instinct is better than her reason.[Montaigne coined the phrasel’esprit primesautierto describe this feminine peculiarity of either seeing a thing at once or not at all.]Femme sotte se connaît à la cotte= A foolish woman is known by her finery.Ce que femme veut Dieu le veut= Woman must have her way.*Souvent femme varie,Bien fol est qui s’y fie=Between a woman’s yes and no,There’s no room for a pin to go.A woman’s mindAnd winter windChange oft.[These words are said to have been written by François I. on two little leaded panes in his room at the castle of Chambord, about ten miles from Blois. Brantôme says that while talking with his sister, Marguerite d’Angoulême, he engraved the saying with a diamond ring. Report has it that Louis XIV. broke the glass with his stick at the request of Mademoiselle de la Vallière. However that may be, the visitor to Chambord will see that the words have been rewritten on the window.]Ciel pommelé et femme fardée ne sont pas de longue durée= A mackerel sky, not long wet and not long dry.

Femme

*Femme qui parle comme homme et geline qui chante comme coq ne sont bonnes à tenir=A whistling woman and a crowing henAre good for neither cocks nor men.[“C’est chose qui moult me deplaist,Quand poule parle et coq se taist.”Roman de la Rose.“La poule ne doit pas chanter devant le coq.”Molière,Les Femmes Savantes, v. 3.]*Prends le premier conseil d’une femme et non le second= A woman’s instinct is better than her reason.[Montaigne coined the phrasel’esprit primesautierto describe this feminine peculiarity of either seeing a thing at once or not at all.]Femme sotte se connaît à la cotte= A foolish woman is known by her finery.Ce que femme veut Dieu le veut= Woman must have her way.*Souvent femme varie,Bien fol est qui s’y fie=Between a woman’s yes and no,There’s no room for a pin to go.A woman’s mindAnd winter windChange oft.[These words are said to have been written by François I. on two little leaded panes in his room at the castle of Chambord, about ten miles from Blois. Brantôme says that while talking with his sister, Marguerite d’Angoulême, he engraved the saying with a diamond ring. Report has it that Louis XIV. broke the glass with his stick at the request of Mademoiselle de la Vallière. However that may be, the visitor to Chambord will see that the words have been rewritten on the window.]Ciel pommelé et femme fardée ne sont pas de longue durée= A mackerel sky, not long wet and not long dry.

*Femme qui parle comme homme et geline qui chante comme coq ne sont bonnes à tenir=A whistling woman and a crowing henAre good for neither cocks nor men.

[“C’est chose qui moult me deplaist,Quand poule parle et coq se taist.”Roman de la Rose.

“La poule ne doit pas chanter devant le coq.”Molière,Les Femmes Savantes, v. 3.]

*Prends le premier conseil d’une femme et non le second= A woman’s instinct is better than her reason.

[Montaigne coined the phrasel’esprit primesautierto describe this feminine peculiarity of either seeing a thing at once or not at all.]

Femme sotte se connaît à la cotte= A foolish woman is known by her finery.

Ce que femme veut Dieu le veut= Woman must have her way.

*Souvent femme varie,Bien fol est qui s’y fie=Between a woman’s yes and no,There’s no room for a pin to go.A woman’s mindAnd winter windChange oft.

[These words are said to have been written by François I. on two little leaded panes in his room at the castle of Chambord, about ten miles from Blois. Brantôme says that while talking with his sister, Marguerite d’Angoulême, he engraved the saying with a diamond ring. Report has it that Louis XIV. broke the glass with his stick at the request of Mademoiselle de la Vallière. However that may be, the visitor to Chambord will see that the words have been rewritten on the window.]

Ciel pommelé et femme fardée ne sont pas de longue durée= A mackerel sky, not long wet and not long dry.

FenêtreIl faut passer par là ou par la fenêtre= It is absolutely inevitable.

Fenêtre

Il faut passer par là ou par la fenêtre= It is absolutely inevitable.

Fer*Il faut battre le fer pendant qu’il est chaud= You must strike while the iron is hot.[“Ce pendant que le fer est chault il le fault battre.”—Rabelais,Pantagruel, ii. 31.]Cela ne vaut pas les quatre fers d’un chien= That is not worth a rap, a fig (i.e., nothing, for a dog is not shod).Il tomba les quatre fers en l’air= (lit.) He fell on his back; (fig.) He was struck all of a heap.Il y a quelque fer quicloche= There is a hitch somewhere. (SeeClocher.)

Fer

*Il faut battre le fer pendant qu’il est chaud= You must strike while the iron is hot.[“Ce pendant que le fer est chault il le fault battre.”—Rabelais,Pantagruel, ii. 31.]Cela ne vaut pas les quatre fers d’un chien= That is not worth a rap, a fig (i.e., nothing, for a dog is not shod).Il tomba les quatre fers en l’air= (lit.) He fell on his back; (fig.) He was struck all of a heap.Il y a quelque fer quicloche= There is a hitch somewhere. (SeeClocher.)

*Il faut battre le fer pendant qu’il est chaud= You must strike while the iron is hot.

[“Ce pendant que le fer est chault il le fault battre.”—Rabelais,Pantagruel, ii. 31.]

Cela ne vaut pas les quatre fers d’un chien= That is not worth a rap, a fig (i.e., nothing, for a dog is not shod).

Il tomba les quatre fers en l’air= (lit.) He fell on his back; (fig.) He was struck all of a heap.

Il y a quelque fer quicloche= There is a hitch somewhere. (SeeClocher.)

FérirSans coup férir= Without striking a blow.

Férir

Sans coup férir= Without striking a blow.

FerréIl est ferré sur la géographie= He is well up in geography.

Ferré

Il est ferré sur la géographie= He is well up in geography.

Fête*Ce n’est pas tous les jours fête= Christmas comes but once a year.Faire fête à quelqu’un= To welcome some one heartily.Je me fais une fête de passer huit jours à la campagne= I look forward with pleasure to the idea of spending a week in the country.

Fête

*Ce n’est pas tous les jours fête= Christmas comes but once a year.Faire fête à quelqu’un= To welcome some one heartily.Je me fais une fête de passer huit jours à la campagne= I look forward with pleasure to the idea of spending a week in the country.

*Ce n’est pas tous les jours fête= Christmas comes but once a year.

Faire fête à quelqu’un= To welcome some one heartily.

Je me fais une fête de passer huit jours à la campagne= I look forward with pleasure to the idea of spending a week in the country.

FeuIl n’a ni feu ni lieu= He has neither house nor home.L’ennemi mit le pays à feu et à sang= The enemy put the country to fire and sword.Je n’y ai vu que du feu= It was impossible for me to find out how the thing was done (as it was done so quickly); It was done so quickly (or, cleverly) that I could not make head or tail of it.Vous me faites mourir à petit feu= You are killing me by inches; You are torturing me to death.Il ne faut pas jouer avec le feu= One should not play with edged tools.Il n’est feu que de bois vert= None are so active as the young.Il jette feu et flamme= He frets and fumes; He is in a great rage.Faire feu des quatre pieds= To strain every nerve.Ce n’est qu’un feu de paille= It is only a flash in the pan; It will not last.Il a jeté tout son feu= 1. His anger is over now. 2. He has used up all his ideas.C’est le feu et l’eau= They are as opposite as fire and water.Faire feu= To fire (rifles, guns).Faire du feu= To light a fire.

Feu

Il n’a ni feu ni lieu= He has neither house nor home.L’ennemi mit le pays à feu et à sang= The enemy put the country to fire and sword.Je n’y ai vu que du feu= It was impossible for me to find out how the thing was done (as it was done so quickly); It was done so quickly (or, cleverly) that I could not make head or tail of it.Vous me faites mourir à petit feu= You are killing me by inches; You are torturing me to death.Il ne faut pas jouer avec le feu= One should not play with edged tools.Il n’est feu que de bois vert= None are so active as the young.Il jette feu et flamme= He frets and fumes; He is in a great rage.Faire feu des quatre pieds= To strain every nerve.Ce n’est qu’un feu de paille= It is only a flash in the pan; It will not last.Il a jeté tout son feu= 1. His anger is over now. 2. He has used up all his ideas.C’est le feu et l’eau= They are as opposite as fire and water.Faire feu= To fire (rifles, guns).Faire du feu= To light a fire.

Il n’a ni feu ni lieu= He has neither house nor home.

L’ennemi mit le pays à feu et à sang= The enemy put the country to fire and sword.

Je n’y ai vu que du feu= It was impossible for me to find out how the thing was done (as it was done so quickly); It was done so quickly (or, cleverly) that I could not make head or tail of it.

Vous me faites mourir à petit feu= You are killing me by inches; You are torturing me to death.

Il ne faut pas jouer avec le feu= One should not play with edged tools.

Il n’est feu que de bois vert= None are so active as the young.

Il jette feu et flamme= He frets and fumes; He is in a great rage.

Faire feu des quatre pieds= To strain every nerve.

Ce n’est qu’un feu de paille= It is only a flash in the pan; It will not last.

Il a jeté tout son feu= 1. His anger is over now. 2. He has used up all his ideas.

C’est le feu et l’eau= They are as opposite as fire and water.

Faire feu= To fire (rifles, guns).

Faire du feu= To light a fire.

Fève*Il a trouvé la fève au gâteau= He has hit the mark; He has made a lucky discovery.[It was (and is still in many places) the custom to hide a bean in the cake on Twelfth Night, and the person who found it was the king of the revels.“Pensent avoir trouvé la fève du gasteau.”Régnier,Satires, vii.]*Donner un pois pour avoir une fève= To give a sprat to catch a herring. (SeeŒuf.)

Fève

*Il a trouvé la fève au gâteau= He has hit the mark; He has made a lucky discovery.[It was (and is still in many places) the custom to hide a bean in the cake on Twelfth Night, and the person who found it was the king of the revels.“Pensent avoir trouvé la fève du gasteau.”Régnier,Satires, vii.]*Donner un pois pour avoir une fève= To give a sprat to catch a herring. (SeeŒuf.)

*Il a trouvé la fève au gâteau= He has hit the mark; He has made a lucky discovery.

[It was (and is still in many places) the custom to hide a bean in the cake on Twelfth Night, and the person who found it was the king of the revels.

“Pensent avoir trouvé la fève du gasteau.”Régnier,Satires, vii.]

*Donner un pois pour avoir une fève= To give a sprat to catch a herring. (SeeŒuf.)

FierFier comme Artaban(or,comme un Écossais) = As proud as a peacock.[Artaban was the hero ofCléopâtre, a romance by La Calprenède, a Gascon. The phrase is also said to be derived from Artabanes, King of Parthia. “Plus fier que tous les Artabans.”—Rostand,Cyrano de Bergerac, i. 2.]

Fier

Fier comme Artaban(or,comme un Écossais) = As proud as a peacock.[Artaban was the hero ofCléopâtre, a romance by La Calprenède, a Gascon. The phrase is also said to be derived from Artabanes, King of Parthia. “Plus fier que tous les Artabans.”—Rostand,Cyrano de Bergerac, i. 2.]

Fier comme Artaban(or,comme un Écossais) = As proud as a peacock.

[Artaban was the hero ofCléopâtre, a romance by La Calprenède, a Gascon. The phrase is also said to be derived from Artabanes, King of Parthia. “Plus fier que tous les Artabans.”—Rostand,Cyrano de Bergerac, i. 2.]

Fièvre*Tomber de fièvre en chaud mal(or,de la poêle dans la braise,de Charybde en Scylla) = To fall out of the frying-pan into the fire.[“Incidit in Scyllam cupiens vitare Charybdim.”—CompareHomer,Od.xii. 85.“Thus when I shun Scylla, your father, I fall into Charybdis, your mother.”—Shakespeare,Merchant of Venice, iii. 5.]

Fièvre

*Tomber de fièvre en chaud mal(or,de la poêle dans la braise,de Charybde en Scylla) = To fall out of the frying-pan into the fire.[“Incidit in Scyllam cupiens vitare Charybdim.”—CompareHomer,Od.xii. 85.“Thus when I shun Scylla, your father, I fall into Charybdis, your mother.”—Shakespeare,Merchant of Venice, iii. 5.]

*Tomber de fièvre en chaud mal(or,de la poêle dans la braise,de Charybde en Scylla) = To fall out of the frying-pan into the fire.

[“Incidit in Scyllam cupiens vitare Charybdim.”—CompareHomer,Od.xii. 85.

“Thus when I shun Scylla, your father, I fall into Charybdis, your mother.”—Shakespeare,Merchant of Venice, iii. 5.]

Figue*Moitié figue, moitié raisin= 1. Partly willingly, partly by force. 2. Half one thing and half another. 3. Half in jest, half in earnest.[This expression is often used of a remark that may be complimentary or not.]

Figue

*Moitié figue, moitié raisin= 1. Partly willingly, partly by force. 2. Half one thing and half another. 3. Half in jest, half in earnest.[This expression is often used of a remark that may be complimentary or not.]

*Moitié figue, moitié raisin= 1. Partly willingly, partly by force. 2. Half one thing and half another. 3. Half in jest, half in earnest.

[This expression is often used of a remark that may be complimentary or not.]

FilJe lui donnerai du fil à retordre= I will cut out his work for him; I will give him a deal of trouble.Ce sont des finesses cousues de fil blanc= Those tricks are easily found out.*A toile ourdie Dieu envoie le fil= God sends thread for a begun web.Au fil de l’eau= With the stream.Au fil de l’épée= To the edge of the sword.

Fil

Je lui donnerai du fil à retordre= I will cut out his work for him; I will give him a deal of trouble.Ce sont des finesses cousues de fil blanc= Those tricks are easily found out.*A toile ourdie Dieu envoie le fil= God sends thread for a begun web.Au fil de l’eau= With the stream.Au fil de l’épée= To the edge of the sword.

Je lui donnerai du fil à retordre= I will cut out his work for him; I will give him a deal of trouble.

Ce sont des finesses cousues de fil blanc= Those tricks are easily found out.

*A toile ourdie Dieu envoie le fil= God sends thread for a begun web.

Au fil de l’eau= With the stream.

Au fil de l’épée= To the edge of the sword.

FilerFiler à l’anglaise= To leave without saying good-bye, without attracting attention; To take French leave.*Du temps que Berthe filait= When Adam delved and Eve span; In the good old times.[Berthe was the mother of Charlemagne. She was known asBerthe au grand piedfrom her club foot.]Filer doux= To sing small.Il faut filer(or,Filons!) (fam.) = We must be off, trot off.

Filer

Filer à l’anglaise= To leave without saying good-bye, without attracting attention; To take French leave.*Du temps que Berthe filait= When Adam delved and Eve span; In the good old times.[Berthe was the mother of Charlemagne. She was known asBerthe au grand piedfrom her club foot.]Filer doux= To sing small.Il faut filer(or,Filons!) (fam.) = We must be off, trot off.

Filer à l’anglaise= To leave without saying good-bye, without attracting attention; To take French leave.

*Du temps que Berthe filait= When Adam delved and Eve span; In the good old times.

[Berthe was the mother of Charlemagne. She was known asBerthe au grand piedfrom her club foot.]

Filer doux= To sing small.

Il faut filer(or,Filons!) (fam.) = We must be off, trot off.

FilleLa plus belle fille du monde ne peut donner que ce qu’elle a= No man can give more than he has; A man cannot give what he has not got.*Quand on a des filles, on est toujours berger=My son is my son till he gets him a wife,My daughter’s my daughter all the days of her life.*Fille oisive, à mal pensive= An idle brain is the devil’s workshop.[“For Satan finds some mischief stillFor idle hands to do.”Isaac Watts,Divine Songs, xx.]Fille trop vue, robe trop vêtue,N’est pas chère tenue.}={A maid often seen, a garment often worn,Are disesteemed and held in scorn.

Fille

La plus belle fille du monde ne peut donner que ce qu’elle a= No man can give more than he has; A man cannot give what he has not got.*Quand on a des filles, on est toujours berger=My son is my son till he gets him a wife,My daughter’s my daughter all the days of her life.*Fille oisive, à mal pensive= An idle brain is the devil’s workshop.[“For Satan finds some mischief stillFor idle hands to do.”Isaac Watts,Divine Songs, xx.]Fille trop vue, robe trop vêtue,N’est pas chère tenue.}={A maid often seen, a garment often worn,Are disesteemed and held in scorn.

La plus belle fille du monde ne peut donner que ce qu’elle a= No man can give more than he has; A man cannot give what he has not got.

*Quand on a des filles, on est toujours berger=My son is my son till he gets him a wife,My daughter’s my daughter all the days of her life.

*Fille oisive, à mal pensive= An idle brain is the devil’s workshop.

[“For Satan finds some mischief stillFor idle hands to do.”Isaac Watts,Divine Songs, xx.]

FilsIl est bien le fils de son père= He is a chip of the old block.Être le fils de ses œuvres= To be a self-made man.Fin (subst.)À la fin vous voilà!= Here you are at last!À la fin des fins(or,en fin finale)vous nous direz quelque chose= At last you will tell us something.À telle fin que de raison= At all events; At any rate.*La fin couronne l’œuvre= The end crowns all; All’s well that ends well.*Qui veut la fin veut les moyens= Where there is a will there is a way; If you want the end you must not stick at the means.*La fin justifie les moyens= Success justifies the means by which it has been attained.Il touche à sa fin= He is nearing his end; It is nearly over.*En toutes choses il faut considérer la fin= We must always look to the end; Look before you leap.[La Fontaine,Fables, iii. 5. The motto of the Kennedy family is “Look to the end,” or “Avise la fin.”]C’est fin de siècle= That is smart, up to date.[This expression came to the front in Paris about the time of the 1889 Exhibition. In 1890 appeared a play called “Paris fin de siècle,” by Blum and Toché, in which occur these words: “C’est un mot nouveau qui dit très bien ce qu’il veut dire. Le siècle n’a plus que dix ans à vivre et, vois-tu, il veut les passer gaiement.” The saying, however, has lost its sense, and is becoming obsolete now that a new century has begun.]

Fils

Il est bien le fils de son père= He is a chip of the old block.Être le fils de ses œuvres= To be a self-made man.Fin (subst.)À la fin vous voilà!= Here you are at last!À la fin des fins(or,en fin finale)vous nous direz quelque chose= At last you will tell us something.À telle fin que de raison= At all events; At any rate.*La fin couronne l’œuvre= The end crowns all; All’s well that ends well.*Qui veut la fin veut les moyens= Where there is a will there is a way; If you want the end you must not stick at the means.*La fin justifie les moyens= Success justifies the means by which it has been attained.Il touche à sa fin= He is nearing his end; It is nearly over.*En toutes choses il faut considérer la fin= We must always look to the end; Look before you leap.[La Fontaine,Fables, iii. 5. The motto of the Kennedy family is “Look to the end,” or “Avise la fin.”]C’est fin de siècle= That is smart, up to date.[This expression came to the front in Paris about the time of the 1889 Exhibition. In 1890 appeared a play called “Paris fin de siècle,” by Blum and Toché, in which occur these words: “C’est un mot nouveau qui dit très bien ce qu’il veut dire. Le siècle n’a plus que dix ans à vivre et, vois-tu, il veut les passer gaiement.” The saying, however, has lost its sense, and is becoming obsolete now that a new century has begun.]

Il est bien le fils de son père= He is a chip of the old block.

Être le fils de ses œuvres= To be a self-made man.

Fin (subst.)

À la fin vous voilà!= Here you are at last!

À la fin des fins(or,en fin finale)vous nous direz quelque chose= At last you will tell us something.

À telle fin que de raison= At all events; At any rate.

*La fin couronne l’œuvre= The end crowns all; All’s well that ends well.

*Qui veut la fin veut les moyens= Where there is a will there is a way; If you want the end you must not stick at the means.

*La fin justifie les moyens= Success justifies the means by which it has been attained.

Il touche à sa fin= He is nearing his end; It is nearly over.

*En toutes choses il faut considérer la fin= We must always look to the end; Look before you leap.

[La Fontaine,Fables, iii. 5. The motto of the Kennedy family is “Look to the end,” or “Avise la fin.”]

C’est fin de siècle= That is smart, up to date.

[This expression came to the front in Paris about the time of the 1889 Exhibition. In 1890 appeared a play called “Paris fin de siècle,” by Blum and Toché, in which occur these words: “C’est un mot nouveau qui dit très bien ce qu’il veut dire. Le siècle n’a plus que dix ans à vivre et, vois-tu, il veut les passer gaiement.” The saying, however, has lost its sense, and is becoming obsolete now that a new century has begun.]

Fin (adj.)Il sait le fort et le fin de son art= He knows every trick of his trade.Plus fin que lui n’est pas bête= He who can take him in is no fool.J’arrive du fin fond de l’Afrique= I have come from the very depths of Africa.C’est une fine mouche(or,lame) = He is a cunning fellow, a sly dog. (SeeCompère.)C’est fin contre fin= It is diamond cut diamond.[Also:Fin contre fin ne vaut rien pour doublure.]Fin contre fin gare la bombe= “When Greeks joined Greeks, then was the tug of war.”[Nathaniel Lee,Alexander the Great, iv. 2.]Dites nous le fin mot= Tell us the secret.Il a le nez fin= 1. He has a good nose. 2. He is far-sighted, sagacious.Jouer au plus fin= To vie in cunning.

Fin (adj.)

Il sait le fort et le fin de son art= He knows every trick of his trade.Plus fin que lui n’est pas bête= He who can take him in is no fool.J’arrive du fin fond de l’Afrique= I have come from the very depths of Africa.C’est une fine mouche(or,lame) = He is a cunning fellow, a sly dog. (SeeCompère.)C’est fin contre fin= It is diamond cut diamond.[Also:Fin contre fin ne vaut rien pour doublure.]Fin contre fin gare la bombe= “When Greeks joined Greeks, then was the tug of war.”[Nathaniel Lee,Alexander the Great, iv. 2.]Dites nous le fin mot= Tell us the secret.Il a le nez fin= 1. He has a good nose. 2. He is far-sighted, sagacious.Jouer au plus fin= To vie in cunning.

Il sait le fort et le fin de son art= He knows every trick of his trade.

Plus fin que lui n’est pas bête= He who can take him in is no fool.

J’arrive du fin fond de l’Afrique= I have come from the very depths of Africa.

C’est une fine mouche(or,lame) = He is a cunning fellow, a sly dog. (SeeCompère.)

C’est fin contre fin= It is diamond cut diamond.

[Also:Fin contre fin ne vaut rien pour doublure.]

Fin contre fin gare la bombe= “When Greeks joined Greeks, then was the tug of war.”

[Nathaniel Lee,Alexander the Great, iv. 2.]

Dites nous le fin mot= Tell us the secret.

Il a le nez fin= 1. He has a good nose. 2. He is far-sighted, sagacious.

Jouer au plus fin= To vie in cunning.

FinirCe sont des disputes à n’en plus finir= Those are endless quarrels.

Finir

Ce sont des disputes à n’en plus finir= Those are endless quarrels.

FlamberC’est un homme flambé= He is a ruined man, a lost man.

Flamber

C’est un homme flambé= He is a ruined man, a lost man.

FlancIl s’est battu les flancs pour rien= He gave himself all that trouble for nothing.Il est sur le flanc= He is laid up, on his back.Prêter le flanc à des reproches= To lay oneself open to reproaches.

Flanc

Il s’est battu les flancs pour rien= He gave himself all that trouble for nothing.Il est sur le flanc= He is laid up, on his back.Prêter le flanc à des reproches= To lay oneself open to reproaches.

Il s’est battu les flancs pour rien= He gave himself all that trouble for nothing.

Il est sur le flanc= He is laid up, on his back.

Prêter le flanc à des reproches= To lay oneself open to reproaches.

Flétrir*De rose flétrie nul ne soucie= The fading rose has no suitor.

Flétrir

*De rose flétrie nul ne soucie= The fading rose has no suitor.

FleurC’est la fine fleur de l’armée= It is the cream of the army.L’affaire passa à fleur de corde= The matter only just succeeded.Les yeux à fleur de tête= Goggle eyes (i.e.on a level with the cheek-bone and fore-head).À fleur de terre= On a level (or, flush) with the ground.À la fleur de l’âge= In the prime of life.Il a les nerfs à fleur de peau= His nerves are always on the twitch; He is extremely sensitive.

Fleur

C’est la fine fleur de l’armée= It is the cream of the army.L’affaire passa à fleur de corde= The matter only just succeeded.Les yeux à fleur de tête= Goggle eyes (i.e.on a level with the cheek-bone and fore-head).À fleur de terre= On a level (or, flush) with the ground.À la fleur de l’âge= In the prime of life.Il a les nerfs à fleur de peau= His nerves are always on the twitch; He is extremely sensitive.

C’est la fine fleur de l’armée= It is the cream of the army.

L’affaire passa à fleur de corde= The matter only just succeeded.

Les yeux à fleur de tête= Goggle eyes (i.e.on a level with the cheek-bone and fore-head).

À fleur de terre= On a level (or, flush) with the ground.

À la fleur de l’âge= In the prime of life.

Il a les nerfs à fleur de peau= His nerves are always on the twitch; He is extremely sensitive.

FleuretteConter fleurettes= To say soft nothings.

Fleurette

Conter fleurettes= To say soft nothings.

Flûte*Ce qui vient de la flûte s’en va au tambour= Lightly come, lightly go; What is dishonestly acquired is easily dissipated.

Flûte

*Ce qui vient de la flûte s’en va au tambour= Lightly come, lightly go; What is dishonestly acquired is easily dissipated.

FoiC’est un homme sans foi ni loi= He is a man without honour or honesty.Il est de peu de foi= He is not to be trusted.Ses ouvrages en font foi= His works prove it.*C’est avec la bonne foi qu’on va le plus loin= Honesty is the best policy.La foi du charbonnier= Blind faith.Je ne puis ajouter foi à ce qu’il dit= I cannot believe what he says.Ma foi!= Upon my word!

Foi

C’est un homme sans foi ni loi= He is a man without honour or honesty.Il est de peu de foi= He is not to be trusted.Ses ouvrages en font foi= His works prove it.*C’est avec la bonne foi qu’on va le plus loin= Honesty is the best policy.La foi du charbonnier= Blind faith.Je ne puis ajouter foi à ce qu’il dit= I cannot believe what he says.Ma foi!= Upon my word!

C’est un homme sans foi ni loi= He is a man without honour or honesty.

Il est de peu de foi= He is not to be trusted.

Ses ouvrages en font foi= His works prove it.

*C’est avec la bonne foi qu’on va le plus loin= Honesty is the best policy.

La foi du charbonnier= Blind faith.

Je ne puis ajouter foi à ce qu’il dit= I cannot believe what he says.

Ma foi!= Upon my word!

FoinMettre du foin dans ses bottes= To feather one’s nest.[Literally, to place hay in one’s wooden shoes to keep one’s feet warm. Another saying isMettre du beurre dans ses épinards.]Avoir du foin dans ses bottes= To be well off.Quand il n’y a pas de foin au râtelier, les chevaux se battent= When poverty comes in at the door, love flies out at the window.

Foin

Mettre du foin dans ses bottes= To feather one’s nest.[Literally, to place hay in one’s wooden shoes to keep one’s feet warm. Another saying isMettre du beurre dans ses épinards.]Avoir du foin dans ses bottes= To be well off.Quand il n’y a pas de foin au râtelier, les chevaux se battent= When poverty comes in at the door, love flies out at the window.

Mettre du foin dans ses bottes= To feather one’s nest.

[Literally, to place hay in one’s wooden shoes to keep one’s feet warm. Another saying isMettre du beurre dans ses épinards.]

Avoir du foin dans ses bottes= To be well off.

Quand il n’y a pas de foin au râtelier, les chevaux se battent= When poverty comes in at the door, love flies out at the window.

FolieCe qui me lie, c’est ma folie= Straw bands will tie a fool’s hands.

Folie

Ce qui me lie, c’est ma folie= Straw bands will tie a fool’s hands.

FondJe fais fond sur vous= I rely on you.Il sait cette langue à fond= He knows that language thoroughly.Il est ruiné de fond en comble= He is utterly ruined.Au fond, il a tort= He is wrong in reality.Courir à fond de train= To run at the top of one’s speed.

Fond

Je fais fond sur vous= I rely on you.Il sait cette langue à fond= He knows that language thoroughly.Il est ruiné de fond en comble= He is utterly ruined.Au fond, il a tort= He is wrong in reality.Courir à fond de train= To run at the top of one’s speed.

Je fais fond sur vous= I rely on you.

Il sait cette langue à fond= He knows that language thoroughly.

Il est ruiné de fond en comble= He is utterly ruined.

Au fond, il a tort= He is wrong in reality.

Courir à fond de train= To run at the top of one’s speed.

FondsArticle de fonds= Leading article (in a newspaper).Il possède une fortune en bien-fonds= He has a fortune in landed property.Il a placé son argent à fonds perdu= He sank his money in an annuity.*“Travaillez, prenez de la peine;C’est le fonds qui manque le moins” =Work and take pains,thatyou can always do.Hard work and painAre ne’er in vain.[La Fontaine,Fables, v. 9.]

Fonds

Article de fonds= Leading article (in a newspaper).Il possède une fortune en bien-fonds= He has a fortune in landed property.Il a placé son argent à fonds perdu= He sank his money in an annuity.*“Travaillez, prenez de la peine;C’est le fonds qui manque le moins” =Work and take pains,thatyou can always do.Hard work and painAre ne’er in vain.[La Fontaine,Fables, v. 9.]

Article de fonds= Leading article (in a newspaper).

Il possède une fortune en bien-fonds= He has a fortune in landed property.

Il a placé son argent à fonds perdu= He sank his money in an annuity.

*“Travaillez, prenez de la peine;C’est le fonds qui manque le moins” =Work and take pains,thatyou can always do.Hard work and painAre ne’er in vain.[La Fontaine,Fables, v. 9.]

Fontaine*Il ne faut pas dire, “Fontaine, je ne boirai pas de ton eau”= One must never be sure of not wanting some one (or, something).[Compare the proverb that Alfred de Musset took for the title of one of his Proverbes: “Il ne faut jurer de rien.”]

Fontaine

*Il ne faut pas dire, “Fontaine, je ne boirai pas de ton eau”= One must never be sure of not wanting some one (or, something).[Compare the proverb that Alfred de Musset took for the title of one of his Proverbes: “Il ne faut jurer de rien.”]

*Il ne faut pas dire, “Fontaine, je ne boirai pas de ton eau”= One must never be sure of not wanting some one (or, something).

[Compare the proverb that Alfred de Musset took for the title of one of his Proverbes: “Il ne faut jurer de rien.”]

ForceTu me payeras de gré ou de force= You shall pay me, whether you like it or not.Hugo est un romantique dans toute la force du terme= Hugo is a romanticist in the full sense of the word.Je suis à bout de force= I am exhausted, played out.Je ne suis pas de votre force= (lit.) I am not so strong as you are; (fig.) I am no match for you.Force m’est de partir= I am compelled to go.Il faut à toute force l’empêcher de sortir= You must prevent him going out by all the means in your power; We must do all we can to prevent him going out.Il y avait force badauds= A quantity of loafers were there.*La force prime le droit= Might is right. (SeeFort.)C’est un joueur de première force= He is a first-rate player.Force est restée à la loi= The police proved the stronger; Order was restored.C’est un cas de force majeure= It is a case of absolute necessity; It is an utter impossibility.[e.g.“Le témoin n’a pu venir parce qu’il est dangereusement malade; son absence est due à un cas de force majeure.”]Faire force de voiles= To crowd on all sail.Faire force de rames= To row with all one’s might.*Tout par amour, rien par force= Sweet words will succeed where mere strength will fail; You may row your heart out if wind and tide are against you.À force de travailler= By dint of working.À force de bras= By strength of arm.De vive force= By main force.Un tour de force= A feat (of strength or skill).

Force

Tu me payeras de gré ou de force= You shall pay me, whether you like it or not.Hugo est un romantique dans toute la force du terme= Hugo is a romanticist in the full sense of the word.Je suis à bout de force= I am exhausted, played out.Je ne suis pas de votre force= (lit.) I am not so strong as you are; (fig.) I am no match for you.Force m’est de partir= I am compelled to go.Il faut à toute force l’empêcher de sortir= You must prevent him going out by all the means in your power; We must do all we can to prevent him going out.Il y avait force badauds= A quantity of loafers were there.*La force prime le droit= Might is right. (SeeFort.)C’est un joueur de première force= He is a first-rate player.Force est restée à la loi= The police proved the stronger; Order was restored.C’est un cas de force majeure= It is a case of absolute necessity; It is an utter impossibility.[e.g.“Le témoin n’a pu venir parce qu’il est dangereusement malade; son absence est due à un cas de force majeure.”]Faire force de voiles= To crowd on all sail.Faire force de rames= To row with all one’s might.*Tout par amour, rien par force= Sweet words will succeed where mere strength will fail; You may row your heart out if wind and tide are against you.À force de travailler= By dint of working.À force de bras= By strength of arm.De vive force= By main force.Un tour de force= A feat (of strength or skill).

Tu me payeras de gré ou de force= You shall pay me, whether you like it or not.

Hugo est un romantique dans toute la force du terme= Hugo is a romanticist in the full sense of the word.

Je suis à bout de force= I am exhausted, played out.

Je ne suis pas de votre force= (lit.) I am not so strong as you are; (fig.) I am no match for you.

Force m’est de partir= I am compelled to go.

Il faut à toute force l’empêcher de sortir= You must prevent him going out by all the means in your power; We must do all we can to prevent him going out.

Il y avait force badauds= A quantity of loafers were there.

*La force prime le droit= Might is right. (SeeFort.)

C’est un joueur de première force= He is a first-rate player.

Force est restée à la loi= The police proved the stronger; Order was restored.

C’est un cas de force majeure= It is a case of absolute necessity; It is an utter impossibility.

[e.g.“Le témoin n’a pu venir parce qu’il est dangereusement malade; son absence est due à un cas de force majeure.”]

Faire force de voiles= To crowd on all sail.

Faire force de rames= To row with all one’s might.

*Tout par amour, rien par force= Sweet words will succeed where mere strength will fail; You may row your heart out if wind and tide are against you.

À force de travailler= By dint of working.

À force de bras= By strength of arm.

De vive force= By main force.

Un tour de force= A feat (of strength or skill).

Forgeron*À force de forger on devient forgeron= Practice makes perfect; Drawn wells are seldom dry.[Lat.Fit fabricando faber.]

Forgeron

*À force de forger on devient forgeron= Practice makes perfect; Drawn wells are seldom dry.[Lat.Fit fabricando faber.]

*À force de forger on devient forgeron= Practice makes perfect; Drawn wells are seldom dry.

[Lat.Fit fabricando faber.]

FortCela est trop fort(or,raide) = That is too bad; That is beyond a joke.Cela est par trop fort= That is really too bad.[Thisparis derived from the Latin intensive particleper, as in perhorridus. In French one finds such words asparfaire,parachever, and in old French this prefix was separable. Thus,tant il est parsagemight be writtentant il par est sage. So,Cela est par trop fort=Cela est trop parfort.]C’est un esprit fort= He is a freethinker.Voilà qui est fort= That is rather strong.Ça, ce n’est pas fort= That is very tame; There is not much in that.A plus forte raison= All the more reason; A fortiori.Il faut que je parle, c’est plus fort que moi= I must speak, I cannot help it.Le plus fort est fait= The worst is over; The most difficult part is done.Savoir le fort et le faible de l’affaire= To know the ins and outs of the matter.Le fort portant le faible= One thing with another; On an average.*“La raison du plus fort est toujours la meilleure” = Might is right; There is no arguing with a large fist.[La Fontaine,Fables, i. 10,Le loup et l’agneau.]Fort comme un Turc= As strong as a horse.“Ou tôt ou tard, ou près ou loin,Le fort du faible a besoin” =The lion had need of the mouse.[Génin,Récréations, ii. 250.]

Fort

Cela est trop fort(or,raide) = That is too bad; That is beyond a joke.Cela est par trop fort= That is really too bad.[Thisparis derived from the Latin intensive particleper, as in perhorridus. In French one finds such words asparfaire,parachever, and in old French this prefix was separable. Thus,tant il est parsagemight be writtentant il par est sage. So,Cela est par trop fort=Cela est trop parfort.]C’est un esprit fort= He is a freethinker.Voilà qui est fort= That is rather strong.Ça, ce n’est pas fort= That is very tame; There is not much in that.A plus forte raison= All the more reason; A fortiori.Il faut que je parle, c’est plus fort que moi= I must speak, I cannot help it.Le plus fort est fait= The worst is over; The most difficult part is done.Savoir le fort et le faible de l’affaire= To know the ins and outs of the matter.Le fort portant le faible= One thing with another; On an average.*“La raison du plus fort est toujours la meilleure” = Might is right; There is no arguing with a large fist.[La Fontaine,Fables, i. 10,Le loup et l’agneau.]Fort comme un Turc= As strong as a horse.“Ou tôt ou tard, ou près ou loin,Le fort du faible a besoin” =The lion had need of the mouse.[Génin,Récréations, ii. 250.]

Cela est trop fort(or,raide) = That is too bad; That is beyond a joke.

Cela est par trop fort= That is really too bad.

[Thisparis derived from the Latin intensive particleper, as in perhorridus. In French one finds such words asparfaire,parachever, and in old French this prefix was separable. Thus,tant il est parsagemight be writtentant il par est sage. So,Cela est par trop fort=Cela est trop parfort.]

C’est un esprit fort= He is a freethinker.

Voilà qui est fort= That is rather strong.

Ça, ce n’est pas fort= That is very tame; There is not much in that.

A plus forte raison= All the more reason; A fortiori.

Il faut que je parle, c’est plus fort que moi= I must speak, I cannot help it.

Le plus fort est fait= The worst is over; The most difficult part is done.

Savoir le fort et le faible de l’affaire= To know the ins and outs of the matter.

Le fort portant le faible= One thing with another; On an average.

*“La raison du plus fort est toujours la meilleure” = Might is right; There is no arguing with a large fist.

[La Fontaine,Fables, i. 10,Le loup et l’agneau.]

Fort comme un Turc= As strong as a horse.

“Ou tôt ou tard, ou près ou loin,Le fort du faible a besoin” =The lion had need of the mouse.

[Génin,Récréations, ii. 250.]

FortuneChacun a dans sa vie un souris de la fortune= Fortune knocks once at every man’s door.La fortune rit aux sots= Fools have the best luck.[“Fortuna fortes adjuvat.”—Livy, xxxiv. 37.]Voulez-vous accepter la fortune du pot?= Will you take pot-luck with us?Faire contre fortune bon cœur= To bear up against misfortune; To make the best of a bad job.

Fortune

Chacun a dans sa vie un souris de la fortune= Fortune knocks once at every man’s door.La fortune rit aux sots= Fools have the best luck.[“Fortuna fortes adjuvat.”—Livy, xxxiv. 37.]Voulez-vous accepter la fortune du pot?= Will you take pot-luck with us?Faire contre fortune bon cœur= To bear up against misfortune; To make the best of a bad job.

Chacun a dans sa vie un souris de la fortune= Fortune knocks once at every man’s door.

La fortune rit aux sots= Fools have the best luck.

[“Fortuna fortes adjuvat.”—Livy, xxxiv. 37.]

Voulez-vous accepter la fortune du pot?= Will you take pot-luck with us?

Faire contre fortune bon cœur= To bear up against misfortune; To make the best of a bad job.

FouCela lui a coûté un argent fou(fam.) = That cost him a heap of money.*Combattre un fou est temps perdu= Fools are not to be convinced.[Schiller says: “Heaven and Earth fight in vain against a dunce” (“Mit der Dummheit fechten Götter selbst vergebens.”—Jungfrau von Orleans), and the Chinese say: “One never needs his wit so much as when one argues with a fool.”]Ne faites pas messagers des fous= “He that sendeth a message by the hand of a fool cutteth off the feet and drinketh damage.” Prov. xxvi. 6.Un fol ou bêteFait bien conquête,Mais bon ménageC’est fait du sage=A fool may meet with good fortune, but the wise only profit by it.*Plus on est de fous plus on rit= The more the merrier.*Qui ne sait pas être fou n’est pas sage= He is not wise who does not sometimes make merry; It takes a wise man to make a fool.*Les fous sont aux échecs les plus proches des rois= In chess the fool stands next to the king. (Régnier,Sat.xiv.)[This implies that it is not only at chess that the king is surrounded by fools, but at court too. It must not be forgotten thatle fouis calledthe bishopin the English game.]Il est fou à lier(or,fou furieux) = He is raving mad.Il vaut mieux être fou avec tous que sage tout seul= “One had as good be out of the world as out of the fashion.”[Colley Cibber,Love’s Last Shift, Act ii.]La Folle du Logis= Fancy, imagination.

Fou

Cela lui a coûté un argent fou(fam.) = That cost him a heap of money.*Combattre un fou est temps perdu= Fools are not to be convinced.[Schiller says: “Heaven and Earth fight in vain against a dunce” (“Mit der Dummheit fechten Götter selbst vergebens.”—Jungfrau von Orleans), and the Chinese say: “One never needs his wit so much as when one argues with a fool.”]Ne faites pas messagers des fous= “He that sendeth a message by the hand of a fool cutteth off the feet and drinketh damage.” Prov. xxvi. 6.Un fol ou bêteFait bien conquête,Mais bon ménageC’est fait du sage=A fool may meet with good fortune, but the wise only profit by it.*Plus on est de fous plus on rit= The more the merrier.*Qui ne sait pas être fou n’est pas sage= He is not wise who does not sometimes make merry; It takes a wise man to make a fool.*Les fous sont aux échecs les plus proches des rois= In chess the fool stands next to the king. (Régnier,Sat.xiv.)[This implies that it is not only at chess that the king is surrounded by fools, but at court too. It must not be forgotten thatle fouis calledthe bishopin the English game.]Il est fou à lier(or,fou furieux) = He is raving mad.Il vaut mieux être fou avec tous que sage tout seul= “One had as good be out of the world as out of the fashion.”[Colley Cibber,Love’s Last Shift, Act ii.]La Folle du Logis= Fancy, imagination.

Cela lui a coûté un argent fou(fam.) = That cost him a heap of money.

*Combattre un fou est temps perdu= Fools are not to be convinced.

[Schiller says: “Heaven and Earth fight in vain against a dunce” (“Mit der Dummheit fechten Götter selbst vergebens.”—Jungfrau von Orleans), and the Chinese say: “One never needs his wit so much as when one argues with a fool.”]

Ne faites pas messagers des fous= “He that sendeth a message by the hand of a fool cutteth off the feet and drinketh damage.” Prov. xxvi. 6.

Un fol ou bêteFait bien conquête,Mais bon ménageC’est fait du sage=A fool may meet with good fortune, but the wise only profit by it.

*Plus on est de fous plus on rit= The more the merrier.

*Qui ne sait pas être fou n’est pas sage= He is not wise who does not sometimes make merry; It takes a wise man to make a fool.

*Les fous sont aux échecs les plus proches des rois= In chess the fool stands next to the king. (Régnier,Sat.xiv.)

[This implies that it is not only at chess that the king is surrounded by fools, but at court too. It must not be forgotten thatle fouis calledthe bishopin the English game.]

Il est fou à lier(or,fou furieux) = He is raving mad.

Il vaut mieux être fou avec tous que sage tout seul= “One had as good be out of the world as out of the fashion.”

[Colley Cibber,Love’s Last Shift, Act ii.]

La Folle du Logis= Fancy, imagination.

FouetIl ne marche qu’à coups de fouet= He works only when he is compelled.

Fouet

Il ne marche qu’à coups de fouet= He works only when he is compelled.

FouetterFouette, cocher!= Fire away! Go ahead!

Fouetter

Fouette, cocher!= Fire away! Go ahead!

FourIl fait noir comme dans un four= It is as dark as pitch.[Molière,Le Sicilien, ii.]Faire un four= To make a blunder.Cette pièce a fait four= That piece was a failure, a frost.On ne peut être au four et au moulin= One cannot be in two places at the same time.

Four

Il fait noir comme dans un four= It is as dark as pitch.[Molière,Le Sicilien, ii.]Faire un four= To make a blunder.Cette pièce a fait four= That piece was a failure, a frost.On ne peut être au four et au moulin= One cannot be in two places at the same time.

Il fait noir comme dans un four= It is as dark as pitch.

[Molière,Le Sicilien, ii.]

Faire un four= To make a blunder.

Cette pièce a fait four= That piece was a failure, a frost.

On ne peut être au four et au moulin= One cannot be in two places at the same time.

FourchetteUne bonne fourchette= A good trencherman.

Fourchette

Une bonne fourchette= A good trencherman.

Fourgon*La pelle se moque du fourgon= The pot calls the kettle black.

Fourgon

*La pelle se moque du fourgon= The pot calls the kettle black.

Fourreau*L’épée(or,la lame)use le fourreau= The mind is too active for the body.[“A fiery soul, which, working out its way,Fretted the pigmy body to decay.”Dryden,Absalom and Achitophel, i.]

Fourreau

*L’épée(or,la lame)use le fourreau= The mind is too active for the body.[“A fiery soul, which, working out its way,Fretted the pigmy body to decay.”Dryden,Absalom and Achitophel, i.]

*L’épée(or,la lame)use le fourreau= The mind is too active for the body.

[“A fiery soul, which, working out its way,Fretted the pigmy body to decay.”Dryden,Absalom and Achitophel, i.]

FourrerIl ne savait où se fourrer= He did not know where to hide his head.Il faut qu’il fourre le doigt(or, more fam.,nez)partout= He must have a finger in every one’s pie.

Fourrer

Il ne savait où se fourrer= He did not know where to hide his head.Il faut qu’il fourre le doigt(or, more fam.,nez)partout= He must have a finger in every one’s pie.

Il ne savait où se fourrer= He did not know where to hide his head.

Il faut qu’il fourre le doigt(or, more fam.,nez)partout= He must have a finger in every one’s pie.

FraisEn être pour ses frais= To have lost one’s money (or, pains) for nothing.Faire des frais= (lit.) To go to expense; (fig.) To make efforts to please.Faire ses frais= To cover one’s expenses.Faire les frais de la conversation= 1. To keep a conversation going. 2. To be (oneself) the subject of conversation.

Frais

En être pour ses frais= To have lost one’s money (or, pains) for nothing.Faire des frais= (lit.) To go to expense; (fig.) To make efforts to please.Faire ses frais= To cover one’s expenses.Faire les frais de la conversation= 1. To keep a conversation going. 2. To be (oneself) the subject of conversation.

En être pour ses frais= To have lost one’s money (or, pains) for nothing.

Faire des frais= (lit.) To go to expense; (fig.) To make efforts to please.

Faire ses frais= To cover one’s expenses.

Faire les frais de la conversation= 1. To keep a conversation going. 2. To be (oneself) the subject of conversation.

FrançaisEn bon français= (lit.) In good French; (fig.) In plain English (i.e.without mincing matters).Parler français comme une vache espagnole= To speak French very badly.[This is said to be a corruption ofcomme un Basque espagnol(formerly writtenVace). The Basques speak French with a very bad accent, owing to their language having no relation whatever to the Romance tongues.]

Français

En bon français= (lit.) In good French; (fig.) In plain English (i.e.without mincing matters).Parler français comme une vache espagnole= To speak French very badly.[This is said to be a corruption ofcomme un Basque espagnol(formerly writtenVace). The Basques speak French with a very bad accent, owing to their language having no relation whatever to the Romance tongues.]

En bon français= (lit.) In good French; (fig.) In plain English (i.e.without mincing matters).

Parler français comme une vache espagnole= To speak French very badly.

[This is said to be a corruption ofcomme un Basque espagnol(formerly writtenVace). The Basques speak French with a very bad accent, owing to their language having no relation whatever to the Romance tongues.]

FranquetteRecevoir quelqu’un à la bonne franquette= To treat a person without ceremony.

Franquette

Recevoir quelqu’un à la bonne franquette= To treat a person without ceremony.

FreinRonger son frein= To put up with annoyance in silence.A vieille mule frein doré= Old women have the finest clothes.

Frein

Ronger son frein= To put up with annoyance in silence.A vieille mule frein doré= Old women have the finest clothes.

Ronger son frein= To put up with annoyance in silence.

A vieille mule frein doré= Old women have the finest clothes.

FriandiseAimer les friandises (chatteries)= To have a sweet tooth.

Friandise

Aimer les friandises (chatteries)= To have a sweet tooth.

FriserElle frise la quarantaine= She is just upon forty.

Friser

Elle frise la quarantaine= She is just upon forty.

FroidCela se mange froid= (lit.) That is eaten cold; (fig.) That is a matter of no importance; That is easily done.Il n’a pas froid aux yeux= He is a plucky fellow.Il fait un froid de loup= It is terribly cold.

Froid

Cela se mange froid= (lit.) That is eaten cold; (fig.) That is a matter of no importance; That is easily done.Il n’a pas froid aux yeux= He is a plucky fellow.Il fait un froid de loup= It is terribly cold.

Cela se mange froid= (lit.) That is eaten cold; (fig.) That is a matter of no importance; That is easily done.

Il n’a pas froid aux yeux= He is a plucky fellow.

Il fait un froid de loup= It is terribly cold.

FrontVous heurtez de front tous ses préjugés= You run counter to (or, openly attack) all his prejudices.Il mène plusieurs affaires de front= He carries on several schemes simultaneously; He has many irons in the fire.Marcher de front= To walk abreast.

Front

Vous heurtez de front tous ses préjugés= You run counter to (or, openly attack) all his prejudices.Il mène plusieurs affaires de front= He carries on several schemes simultaneously; He has many irons in the fire.Marcher de front= To walk abreast.

Vous heurtez de front tous ses préjugés= You run counter to (or, openly attack) all his prejudices.

Il mène plusieurs affaires de front= He carries on several schemes simultaneously; He has many irons in the fire.

Marcher de front= To walk abreast.

Frotter*Qui s’y frotte s’y pique= Whoever meddles with it, will smart for it.[Compare the motto of the Order of the Thistle: Nemo me impune lacessit.]Je ne vous conseille pas de vous y frotter= I advise you not to meddle with it.On l’a frotté d’importance(or,comme il faut) = He got a good drubbing.

Frotter

*Qui s’y frotte s’y pique= Whoever meddles with it, will smart for it.[Compare the motto of the Order of the Thistle: Nemo me impune lacessit.]Je ne vous conseille pas de vous y frotter= I advise you not to meddle with it.On l’a frotté d’importance(or,comme il faut) = He got a good drubbing.

*Qui s’y frotte s’y pique= Whoever meddles with it, will smart for it.

[Compare the motto of the Order of the Thistle: Nemo me impune lacessit.]

Je ne vous conseille pas de vous y frotter= I advise you not to meddle with it.

On l’a frotté d’importance(or,comme il faut) = He got a good drubbing.

FuiteUne bonne fuite vaut mieux qu’une mauvaise attente= Discretion is the better part of valour.

Fuite

Une bonne fuite vaut mieux qu’une mauvaise attente= Discretion is the better part of valour.

FuméeManger son pain à la fumée du rôt= To see others enjoying themselves without joining in.Il n’y a pas de feu sans fumée= There is no smoke without fire.[Though the French form is not exact, it is preferred to “il n’y a pas de fumée sans feu” for rhythmical reasons. ComparePlautus,Curculio, i. 1, 53, “Flamma fumo est proxima.”]

Fumée

Manger son pain à la fumée du rôt= To see others enjoying themselves without joining in.Il n’y a pas de feu sans fumée= There is no smoke without fire.[Though the French form is not exact, it is preferred to “il n’y a pas de fumée sans feu” for rhythmical reasons. ComparePlautus,Curculio, i. 1, 53, “Flamma fumo est proxima.”]

Manger son pain à la fumée du rôt= To see others enjoying themselves without joining in.

Il n’y a pas de feu sans fumée= There is no smoke without fire.

[Though the French form is not exact, it is preferred to “il n’y a pas de fumée sans feu” for rhythmical reasons. ComparePlautus,Curculio, i. 1, 53, “Flamma fumo est proxima.”]

FurAu fur et à mesure= In proportion as.

Fur

Au fur et à mesure= In proportion as.

FureurCela fait fureur maintenant= That is quite the rage now; That is all the go now.

Fureur

Cela fait fureur maintenant= That is quite the rage now; That is all the go now.

FusilChanger son fusil d’épaule= To change one’s opinion, profession, tactics.[A more familiar expression isretourner sa veste= to be a turn-coat.]

Fusil

Changer son fusil d’épaule= To change one’s opinion, profession, tactics.[A more familiar expression isretourner sa veste= to be a turn-coat.]

Changer son fusil d’épaule= To change one’s opinion, profession, tactics.

[A more familiar expression isretourner sa veste= to be a turn-coat.]

GaffeFaire une gaffe= To put one’s foot in it; To make a stupid blunder.

Gaffe

Faire une gaffe= To put one’s foot in it; To make a stupid blunder.

Gageure*La gageure est la preuve des sots=“Most men (till by losing rendered sager),Will back their own opinions with a wager.”[Byron,Beppo, 27.]

Gageure

*La gageure est la preuve des sots=“Most men (till by losing rendered sager),Will back their own opinions with a wager.”[Byron,Beppo, 27.]

*La gageure est la preuve des sots=

“Most men (till by losing rendered sager),Will back their own opinions with a wager.”

[Byron,Beppo, 27.]

Gagner*Qui épargne gagne= A penny saved is a penny earned.Il gagne à être connu= He improves upon acquaintance.

Gagner

*Qui épargne gagne= A penny saved is a penny earned.Il gagne à être connu= He improves upon acquaintance.

*Qui épargne gagne= A penny saved is a penny earned.

Il gagne à être connu= He improves upon acquaintance.

GaiIl est gai comme un pinson= He is as merry as a grig, as a lark.Il est gai comme un bonnet de nuit(ironic.) = He is as dull as ditchwater. (SeeBonnet.)

Gai

Il est gai comme un pinson= He is as merry as a grig, as a lark.Il est gai comme un bonnet de nuit(ironic.) = He is as dull as ditchwater. (SeeBonnet.)

Il est gai comme un pinson= He is as merry as a grig, as a lark.

Il est gai comme un bonnet de nuit(ironic.) = He is as dull as ditchwater. (SeeBonnet.)

GaietéDe gaieté de cœur= Out of pure wantonness.

Gaieté

De gaieté de cœur= Out of pure wantonness.

GaillardÊtre sur le gaillard d’avant= To serve before the mast; To be a common seaman.

Gaillard

Être sur le gaillard d’avant= To serve before the mast; To be a common seaman.

GalèreVogue la galère!= Happen what may! “Go it, ye cripples!”*“Que diable allait-il faire dans cette galère?” = Whatever induced him to get into that fix? Whatever business had he there?[Molière,Fourberies de Scapin, ii.II, imitated from a scene ofLe Pédant jouéby Cyrano de Bergerac, as is noted by M. Edmond Rostand in his play, “Cyrano de Bergerac,” v. 6:Rag.Hier on jouaitScapinEt j’ai vu qu’il vous a pris une scène.Le Bret.Entière!Rag.Oui, Monsieur, le fameux: “Que diable allait-il faire?”In Molière, Scapin, the amusing but rascally servant of farce, in order to obtain more money out of Géronte, the father of his young master, Léandre, pretends that the latter has been taken prisoner on board a Turkish galley and that the captain demands 500 crowns as ransom. Géronte in the dilemma of losing either his money or his son, at last parts with his treasured gold, but not without repeating several times in heartfelt sorrow, “Que diable allait-il faire dans cette galère?”]

Galère

Vogue la galère!= Happen what may! “Go it, ye cripples!”*“Que diable allait-il faire dans cette galère?” = Whatever induced him to get into that fix? Whatever business had he there?[Molière,Fourberies de Scapin, ii.II, imitated from a scene ofLe Pédant jouéby Cyrano de Bergerac, as is noted by M. Edmond Rostand in his play, “Cyrano de Bergerac,” v. 6:Rag.Hier on jouaitScapinEt j’ai vu qu’il vous a pris une scène.Le Bret.Entière!Rag.Oui, Monsieur, le fameux: “Que diable allait-il faire?”In Molière, Scapin, the amusing but rascally servant of farce, in order to obtain more money out of Géronte, the father of his young master, Léandre, pretends that the latter has been taken prisoner on board a Turkish galley and that the captain demands 500 crowns as ransom. Géronte in the dilemma of losing either his money or his son, at last parts with his treasured gold, but not without repeating several times in heartfelt sorrow, “Que diable allait-il faire dans cette galère?”]

Vogue la galère!= Happen what may! “Go it, ye cripples!”

*“Que diable allait-il faire dans cette galère?” = Whatever induced him to get into that fix? Whatever business had he there?

[Molière,Fourberies de Scapin, ii.II, imitated from a scene ofLe Pédant jouéby Cyrano de Bergerac, as is noted by M. Edmond Rostand in his play, “Cyrano de Bergerac,” v. 6:

Rag.Hier on jouaitScapinEt j’ai vu qu’il vous a pris une scène.Le Bret.Entière!Rag.Oui, Monsieur, le fameux: “Que diable allait-il faire?”

In Molière, Scapin, the amusing but rascally servant of farce, in order to obtain more money out of Géronte, the father of his young master, Léandre, pretends that the latter has been taken prisoner on board a Turkish galley and that the captain demands 500 crowns as ransom. Géronte in the dilemma of losing either his money or his son, at last parts with his treasured gold, but not without repeating several times in heartfelt sorrow, “Que diable allait-il faire dans cette galère?”]

Galeux*Il ne faut qu’une brebis galeuse pour infecter tout un troupeau= One scabby sheep will taint a whole flock.*Qui se sent galeux, se gratte(fam.) = If the cap fits, wear it. (SeeMorveux.)

Galeux

*Il ne faut qu’une brebis galeuse pour infecter tout un troupeau= One scabby sheep will taint a whole flock.*Qui se sent galeux, se gratte(fam.) = If the cap fits, wear it. (SeeMorveux.)

*Il ne faut qu’une brebis galeuse pour infecter tout un troupeau= One scabby sheep will taint a whole flock.

*Qui se sent galeux, se gratte(fam.) = If the cap fits, wear it. (SeeMorveux.)

GalonQuand on prend du galon on n’en saurait trop prendre= As well be hanged for a sheep as a lamb; One cannot make too much of a favourable opportunity.[This is a parody of a line in Quinault’sRoland, ii. 5: “Quand on prend de l’amour, on n’en saurait trop prendre.”]

Galon

Quand on prend du galon on n’en saurait trop prendre= As well be hanged for a sheep as a lamb; One cannot make too much of a favourable opportunity.[This is a parody of a line in Quinault’sRoland, ii. 5: “Quand on prend de l’amour, on n’en saurait trop prendre.”]

Quand on prend du galon on n’en saurait trop prendre= As well be hanged for a sheep as a lamb; One cannot make too much of a favourable opportunity.

[This is a parody of a line in Quinault’sRoland, ii. 5: “Quand on prend de l’amour, on n’en saurait trop prendre.”]

GantIl s’en donne les gants= He takes the credit of it.[It was the custom to give a pair of gloves to the messenger who first brought a piece of good news.]Cela me va comme un gant= That fits me to a T; That suits me down to the ground.

Gant

Il s’en donne les gants= He takes the credit of it.[It was the custom to give a pair of gloves to the messenger who first brought a piece of good news.]Cela me va comme un gant= That fits me to a T; That suits me down to the ground.

Il s’en donne les gants= He takes the credit of it.

[It was the custom to give a pair of gloves to the messenger who first brought a piece of good news.]

Cela me va comme un gant= That fits me to a T; That suits me down to the ground.

GarçonVous voilà joli garçon!= A pretty fellow you are!

Garçon

Vous voilà joli garçon!= A pretty fellow you are!

GardeMon chien est de bonne garde= Mine is a good watch-dog.Ces poires sont de bonne garde= These pears will keep well.Il n’a garde de venir= He will take care to keep away; There is no chance of his coming.

Garde

Mon chien est de bonne garde= Mine is a good watch-dog.Ces poires sont de bonne garde= These pears will keep well.Il n’a garde de venir= He will take care to keep away; There is no chance of his coming.

Mon chien est de bonne garde= Mine is a good watch-dog.

Ces poires sont de bonne garde= These pears will keep well.

Il n’a garde de venir= He will take care to keep away; There is no chance of his coming.

GarderIl vous en garde une bonne(pop.) = He is keeping a rod in pickle for you.Gardez-vous en bien!= Mind you do not do it!

Garder

Il vous en garde une bonne(pop.) = He is keeping a rod in pickle for you.Gardez-vous en bien!= Mind you do not do it!

Il vous en garde une bonne(pop.) = He is keeping a rod in pickle for you.

Gardez-vous en bien!= Mind you do not do it!

GaspillerCe garçon gaspille son temps= That boy fools his time away.

Gaspiller

Ce garçon gaspille son temps= That boy fools his time away.

GelerGeler à pierre fendre= To freeze very hard.

Geler

Geler à pierre fendre= To freeze very hard.

GémirFaire gémir la presse(ironic.) = To print one’s writings.

Gémir

Faire gémir la presse(ironic.) = To print one’s writings.

GêneIl est sans gêne= He is free and easy (casual, off-hand); He makes himself too much at home.*Où il y a de la gêne il n’y a pas de plaisir(ironic.) = There is nothing like making one’s self at home everywhere.Il a connu la gêne= He knows what want is.

Gêne

Il est sans gêne= He is free and easy (casual, off-hand); He makes himself too much at home.*Où il y a de la gêne il n’y a pas de plaisir(ironic.) = There is nothing like making one’s self at home everywhere.Il a connu la gêne= He knows what want is.

Il est sans gêne= He is free and easy (casual, off-hand); He makes himself too much at home.

*Où il y a de la gêne il n’y a pas de plaisir(ironic.) = There is nothing like making one’s self at home everywhere.

Il a connu la gêne= He knows what want is.

GênerEst-ce que je vous gêne?= Am I in your way?Ne vous gênez pas!= Do not stand upon ceremony! Make yourself at home! Don’t mind me!Il ne se gêne guère= Doesn’t he make himself at home! Well, he is a cool customer!Il est plus gênant que gêné= His free and easy manners are unpleasant to others, but he does not mind that.

Gêner

Est-ce que je vous gêne?= Am I in your way?Ne vous gênez pas!= Do not stand upon ceremony! Make yourself at home! Don’t mind me!Il ne se gêne guère= Doesn’t he make himself at home! Well, he is a cool customer!Il est plus gênant que gêné= His free and easy manners are unpleasant to others, but he does not mind that.

Est-ce que je vous gêne?= Am I in your way?

Ne vous gênez pas!= Do not stand upon ceremony! Make yourself at home! Don’t mind me!

Il ne se gêne guère= Doesn’t he make himself at home! Well, he is a cool customer!

Il est plus gênant que gêné= His free and easy manners are unpleasant to others, but he does not mind that.

Gens*A gens de village, trompette de bois= Rough tools for rough work.

Gens

*A gens de village, trompette de bois= Rough tools for rough work.

Gésir*C’est là que gît le lièvre= That is the main point; There’s the rub.

Gésir

*C’est là que gît le lièvre= That is the main point; There’s the rub.

GibierC’est un gibier de potence= He is a gallows-bird.

Gibier

C’est un gibier de potence= He is a gallows-bird.

Gloire“J’aime mieux, n’en déplaise à la gloire,Vivre au monde deux jours que mille ans dans l’histoire.”Molière,La Princesse d’Élide, i. 2.Contrast:“One crowded hour of glorious lifeIs worth an age without a name.”SirWalter Scott,Old Mortality, Chap. 34.

Gloire

“J’aime mieux, n’en déplaise à la gloire,Vivre au monde deux jours que mille ans dans l’histoire.”Molière,La Princesse d’Élide, i. 2.Contrast:“One crowded hour of glorious lifeIs worth an age without a name.”SirWalter Scott,Old Mortality, Chap. 34.

“J’aime mieux, n’en déplaise à la gloire,Vivre au monde deux jours que mille ans dans l’histoire.”Molière,La Princesse d’Élide, i. 2.

Contrast:

“One crowded hour of glorious lifeIs worth an age without a name.”SirWalter Scott,Old Mortality, Chap. 34.

GondCela me fait sortir des gonds= That exasperates (unhinges) me.

Gond

Cela me fait sortir des gonds= That exasperates (unhinges) me.

GorgeCette fumée me prend à la gorge= That smoke makes me cough, chokes me.Il cria à pleine gorge= He cried out as loud as he could.Il fera des gorges chaudes du malheur de sa tante= He will chuckle over (or, make fun of) his aunt’s misfortune.[“Prétend qu’elle en fera gorge chaude et curée.”La Fontaine,Fables, iv. 12.]Rendre gorge= To have to pay back money unjustly acquired; To disgorge one’s ill-gotten gains.

Gorge

Cette fumée me prend à la gorge= That smoke makes me cough, chokes me.Il cria à pleine gorge= He cried out as loud as he could.Il fera des gorges chaudes du malheur de sa tante= He will chuckle over (or, make fun of) his aunt’s misfortune.[“Prétend qu’elle en fera gorge chaude et curée.”La Fontaine,Fables, iv. 12.]Rendre gorge= To have to pay back money unjustly acquired; To disgorge one’s ill-gotten gains.

Cette fumée me prend à la gorge= That smoke makes me cough, chokes me.

Il cria à pleine gorge= He cried out as loud as he could.

Il fera des gorges chaudes du malheur de sa tante= He will chuckle over (or, make fun of) his aunt’s misfortune.

[“Prétend qu’elle en fera gorge chaude et curée.”La Fontaine,Fables, iv. 12.]

Rendre gorge= To have to pay back money unjustly acquired; To disgorge one’s ill-gotten gains.

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