O.

NouvelleGoûtez-moi ce vin; vous m’en direz des nouvelles(fam.) = You just taste this wine, you don’t get wine like that every day; What do you think of that for wine, my boy?

Nouvelle

Goûtez-moi ce vin; vous m’en direz des nouvelles(fam.) = You just taste this wine, you don’t get wine like that every day; What do you think of that for wine, my boy?

NueTomber des nues= To be astounded.

Nue

Tomber des nues= To be astounded.

Nuire*Ce qui nuit à l’un sert à l’autre= What is one man’s meat is another man’s poison.

Nuire

*Ce qui nuit à l’un sert à l’autre= What is one man’s meat is another man’s poison.

Nuit*La nuit porte conseil= Time will show a plan; Sleep upon it; Seek advice of your pillow.

Nuit

*La nuit porte conseil= Time will show a plan; Sleep upon it; Seek advice of your pillow.

ŒilSe fourrer le doigt dans l’œil(pop.) = To deceive oneself blindly.[Sometimesjusqu’au coudeis added.]Il a les yeux au beurre noir(pop.) = He has a couple of black eyes; He has his eyes in mourning.[Also:Il à les yeux pochés.]Je ne vois pas cela d’un bon œil= I do not look favourably upon that.Cela saute aux yeux= That is evident, obvious; It is as clear as noonday.Je l’ai regardé entre les deux yeux= I looked him straight in the face; I stared at him.Entrer à l’œil dans un théâtre(fam.) = To get into a theatre on the nod (i.e.gratis).Avoir le compas dans l’œil= To have a good eye for distances.Elle a des yeux à la perdition de son âme= Her eyes are so lovely that they will be her ruin.Vous ne voyez point votre chapeau? Mais il vous crève les yeux!= You do not see your hat? Why, it stares you in the face! (it’s just under your nose).La lumière me tire les yeux= The light hurts my eyes.Il ne le fera pas pour vos beaux yeux= He will not do it for you for nothing.Nous convînmes de cela entre quatre yeux= We agreed to that between ourselves.Je m’en bats l’œil(pop.) = I don’t care a straw for it.Il a les yeux battus= He has a tired look about his eyes.Il a les yeux cernés= He has dark circles round his eyes.Des yeux à fleur de tête= Goggle eyes. (SeeFleur.)Ouvrez l’œil, et le bon!(fam.) = Look out!Cela lui a tapé dans l’œil(pop.) = That took his fancy; He was much struck by that.

Œil

Se fourrer le doigt dans l’œil(pop.) = To deceive oneself blindly.[Sometimesjusqu’au coudeis added.]Il a les yeux au beurre noir(pop.) = He has a couple of black eyes; He has his eyes in mourning.[Also:Il à les yeux pochés.]Je ne vois pas cela d’un bon œil= I do not look favourably upon that.Cela saute aux yeux= That is evident, obvious; It is as clear as noonday.Je l’ai regardé entre les deux yeux= I looked him straight in the face; I stared at him.Entrer à l’œil dans un théâtre(fam.) = To get into a theatre on the nod (i.e.gratis).Avoir le compas dans l’œil= To have a good eye for distances.Elle a des yeux à la perdition de son âme= Her eyes are so lovely that they will be her ruin.Vous ne voyez point votre chapeau? Mais il vous crève les yeux!= You do not see your hat? Why, it stares you in the face! (it’s just under your nose).La lumière me tire les yeux= The light hurts my eyes.Il ne le fera pas pour vos beaux yeux= He will not do it for you for nothing.Nous convînmes de cela entre quatre yeux= We agreed to that between ourselves.Je m’en bats l’œil(pop.) = I don’t care a straw for it.Il a les yeux battus= He has a tired look about his eyes.Il a les yeux cernés= He has dark circles round his eyes.Des yeux à fleur de tête= Goggle eyes. (SeeFleur.)Ouvrez l’œil, et le bon!(fam.) = Look out!Cela lui a tapé dans l’œil(pop.) = That took his fancy; He was much struck by that.

Se fourrer le doigt dans l’œil(pop.) = To deceive oneself blindly.

[Sometimesjusqu’au coudeis added.]

Il a les yeux au beurre noir(pop.) = He has a couple of black eyes; He has his eyes in mourning.

[Also:Il à les yeux pochés.]

Je ne vois pas cela d’un bon œil= I do not look favourably upon that.

Cela saute aux yeux= That is evident, obvious; It is as clear as noonday.

Je l’ai regardé entre les deux yeux= I looked him straight in the face; I stared at him.

Entrer à l’œil dans un théâtre(fam.) = To get into a theatre on the nod (i.e.gratis).

Avoir le compas dans l’œil= To have a good eye for distances.

Elle a des yeux à la perdition de son âme= Her eyes are so lovely that they will be her ruin.

Vous ne voyez point votre chapeau? Mais il vous crève les yeux!= You do not see your hat? Why, it stares you in the face! (it’s just under your nose).

La lumière me tire les yeux= The light hurts my eyes.

Il ne le fera pas pour vos beaux yeux= He will not do it for you for nothing.

Nous convînmes de cela entre quatre yeux= We agreed to that between ourselves.

Je m’en bats l’œil(pop.) = I don’t care a straw for it.

Il a les yeux battus= He has a tired look about his eyes.

Il a les yeux cernés= He has dark circles round his eyes.

Des yeux à fleur de tête= Goggle eyes. (SeeFleur.)

Ouvrez l’œil, et le bon!(fam.) = Look out!

Cela lui a tapé dans l’œil(pop.) = That took his fancy; He was much struck by that.

Œuf*Donner un œuf pour avoir un bœuf= To give a sprat to catch a herring (or, mackerel).[Also:Supporter peu pour avoir tout.]*Faire d’un œuf un bœuf= To make a mountain out of a molehill.Il tondrait sur un œuf= He would skin a flint. (SeeHuileandCheveux.)

Œuf

*Donner un œuf pour avoir un bœuf= To give a sprat to catch a herring (or, mackerel).[Also:Supporter peu pour avoir tout.]*Faire d’un œuf un bœuf= To make a mountain out of a molehill.Il tondrait sur un œuf= He would skin a flint. (SeeHuileandCheveux.)

*Donner un œuf pour avoir un bœuf= To give a sprat to catch a herring (or, mackerel).

[Also:Supporter peu pour avoir tout.]

*Faire d’un œuf un bœuf= To make a mountain out of a molehill.

Il tondrait sur un œuf= He would skin a flint. (SeeHuileandCheveux.)

Œuvre*La fin couronne l’œuvre= The end crowns all; All’s well that ends well.Mettez la main à l’œuvre= Put your shoulder to the wheel.*À l’œuvre on connaît l’artisan= A carpenter is known by his chips; The proof of the pudding is in the eating.[La Fontaine,Fables, i. 21,Les frelons et la mouche à miel.]

Œuvre

*La fin couronne l’œuvre= The end crowns all; All’s well that ends well.Mettez la main à l’œuvre= Put your shoulder to the wheel.*À l’œuvre on connaît l’artisan= A carpenter is known by his chips; The proof of the pudding is in the eating.[La Fontaine,Fables, i. 21,Les frelons et la mouche à miel.]

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

Mettez la main à l’œuvre= Put your shoulder to the wheel.

*À l’œuvre on connaît l’artisan= A carpenter is known by his chips; The proof of the pudding is in the eating.

[La Fontaine,Fables, i. 21,Les frelons et la mouche à miel.]

Oindre*Oignez vilain, il vous poindra:Poignez vilain, il vous oindra.[An old saying used by the French nobles during the middle ages, and found in a collection of proverbs of the thirteenth century.—Rab., i, 21. The Duc de Bourbon, in speaking before the États-Généraux in 1484, said: “Je connais le caractère des vilains. S’ils ne sont opprimés, il faut qu’ils oppriment.”Comp. “Tender-handed stroke a nettle,And it stings you for your pains;Grasp it like a man of mettle,And it soft as silk remains.”—Aaron Hill,Verses written on a window in Scotland.]

Oindre

*Oignez vilain, il vous poindra:Poignez vilain, il vous oindra.[An old saying used by the French nobles during the middle ages, and found in a collection of proverbs of the thirteenth century.—Rab., i, 21. The Duc de Bourbon, in speaking before the États-Généraux in 1484, said: “Je connais le caractère des vilains. S’ils ne sont opprimés, il faut qu’ils oppriment.”Comp. “Tender-handed stroke a nettle,And it stings you for your pains;Grasp it like a man of mettle,And it soft as silk remains.”—Aaron Hill,Verses written on a window in Scotland.]

*Oignez vilain, il vous poindra:Poignez vilain, il vous oindra.

[An old saying used by the French nobles during the middle ages, and found in a collection of proverbs of the thirteenth century.—Rab., i, 21. The Duc de Bourbon, in speaking before the États-Généraux in 1484, said: “Je connais le caractère des vilains. S’ils ne sont opprimés, il faut qu’ils oppriment.”

Comp. “Tender-handed stroke a nettle,And it stings you for your pains;Grasp it like a man of mettle,And it soft as silk remains.”—Aaron Hill,Verses written on a window in Scotland.]

OiseauIl a battu les buissons, un autre a pris l’oiseau= He did the work and another had the profit.[Donatus in his “Life of Virgil” quotes the famous line: “Sic vos non vobis nidificatis aves.” Hesiod says of drones: “ἀλλότριον κάματον σφετέρην ἑς γαστερ᾽ ἀμῶνται = Into their own bellies they scrape together the labour of others.” The Talmud says: “One says grace and another eats”; the New Testament: “One soweth, another reapeth.” Henry V. is reported to have said: “Shall I beat the bush and another take the bird?” when it was proposed to him to give up the Duke of Orleans to the Burgundians.]*À tout oiseau son nid est beau= Home is home, be it ever so homely. (SeeChez.)“Aux petits des oiseaux il donne leur pâture” = He that sends mouths sends meat.[Racine,Athalie, ii. 7.]À vue d’oiseau= A bird’s-eye view.À vol d’oiseau= As the crow flies.

Oiseau

Il a battu les buissons, un autre a pris l’oiseau= He did the work and another had the profit.[Donatus in his “Life of Virgil” quotes the famous line: “Sic vos non vobis nidificatis aves.” Hesiod says of drones: “ἀλλότριον κάματον σφετέρην ἑς γαστερ᾽ ἀμῶνται = Into their own bellies they scrape together the labour of others.” The Talmud says: “One says grace and another eats”; the New Testament: “One soweth, another reapeth.” Henry V. is reported to have said: “Shall I beat the bush and another take the bird?” when it was proposed to him to give up the Duke of Orleans to the Burgundians.]*À tout oiseau son nid est beau= Home is home, be it ever so homely. (SeeChez.)“Aux petits des oiseaux il donne leur pâture” = He that sends mouths sends meat.[Racine,Athalie, ii. 7.]À vue d’oiseau= A bird’s-eye view.À vol d’oiseau= As the crow flies.

Il a battu les buissons, un autre a pris l’oiseau= He did the work and another had the profit.

[Donatus in his “Life of Virgil” quotes the famous line: “Sic vos non vobis nidificatis aves.” Hesiod says of drones: “ἀλλότριον κάματον σφετέρην ἑς γαστερ᾽ ἀμῶνται = Into their own bellies they scrape together the labour of others.” The Talmud says: “One says grace and another eats”; the New Testament: “One soweth, another reapeth.” Henry V. is reported to have said: “Shall I beat the bush and another take the bird?” when it was proposed to him to give up the Duke of Orleans to the Burgundians.]

*À tout oiseau son nid est beau= Home is home, be it ever so homely. (SeeChez.)

“Aux petits des oiseaux il donne leur pâture” = He that sends mouths sends meat.

[Racine,Athalie, ii. 7.]

À vue d’oiseau= A bird’s-eye view.

À vol d’oiseau= As the crow flies.

Oisiveté*“L’oisiveté est la mère de tous les vices” = “For Satan finds some mischief still for idle hands to do.”—Watts,Divine Songs, xx. (SeeFille.)[Collé,La Partie de Chasse de Henri IV., iii. 1. Also:Négligence mène déchéance= Idle men tempt the devil.]

Oisiveté

*“L’oisiveté est la mère de tous les vices” = “For Satan finds some mischief still for idle hands to do.”—Watts,Divine Songs, xx. (SeeFille.)[Collé,La Partie de Chasse de Henri IV., iii. 1. Also:Négligence mène déchéance= Idle men tempt the devil.]

*“L’oisiveté est la mère de tous les vices” = “For Satan finds some mischief still for idle hands to do.”—Watts,Divine Songs, xx. (SeeFille.)

[Collé,La Partie de Chasse de Henri IV., iii. 1. Also:Négligence mène déchéance= Idle men tempt the devil.]

OnOnest un sot= “They-say-so” is half a liar.[Note that there is no liaison afterOnhere.]

Onest un sot= “They-say-so” is half a liar.[Note that there is no liaison afterOnhere.]

Onest un sot= “They-say-so” is half a liar.

[Note that there is no liaison afterOnhere.]

OngleIl a de l’esprit jusqu’au bout des ongles= He is witty to the tips of his fingers; He is extremely witty.Il a bec et ongles= He will fight with beak and claw, tooth and nail.

Ongle

Il a de l’esprit jusqu’au bout des ongles= He is witty to the tips of his fingers; He is extremely witty.Il a bec et ongles= He will fight with beak and claw, tooth and nail.

Il a de l’esprit jusqu’au bout des ongles= He is witty to the tips of his fingers; He is extremely witty.

Il a bec et ongles= He will fight with beak and claw, tooth and nail.

Onguent*Dans les petites boîtes les bons onguents= Small parcels hold fine wares. (SeeAune.)

Onguent

*Dans les petites boîtes les bons onguents= Small parcels hold fine wares. (SeeAune.)

OpinerIl opine du bonnet= He agrees with the previous speakers without saying a word.[From the custom of judges who agreed with the decision of a brother judge, taking off their caps and saying nothing. It is also said of a subordinate who always agrees with his superior.]

Opiner

Il opine du bonnet= He agrees with the previous speakers without saying a word.[From the custom of judges who agreed with the decision of a brother judge, taking off their caps and saying nothing. It is also said of a subordinate who always agrees with his superior.]

Il opine du bonnet= He agrees with the previous speakers without saying a word.

[From the custom of judges who agreed with the decision of a brother judge, taking off their caps and saying nothing. It is also said of a subordinate who always agrees with his superior.]

OreilleIl se fera tirer l’oreille= He will require pressing.Il se retira l’oreille basse= He went away crestfallen.J’ai les oreilles rebattues de cela= I am tired of hearing that.Il dort sur les deux oreilles= (lit.) He sleeps soundly; (fig.) His mind is quite easy.Il n’écoute que d’une oreille= He pays very little attention to what is being said.Ne venez pas ainsi me corner aux oreilles= Do not come and din it into my ears in that way.Il fait la sourde oreille= He turns a deaf ear; He pretends not to hear.Je n’entends pas de cette oreille-là= I will not listen to that.Par dessus les oreilles= Over head and ears.Autant lui en pend à l’oreille= He may expect the same (something unpleasant). (CompareNez.)Les oreilles ont dû vous corner (tinter)= Your ears must have burned.Je lui frotterai les oreilles= I will twist his tail for him.

Oreille

Il se fera tirer l’oreille= He will require pressing.Il se retira l’oreille basse= He went away crestfallen.J’ai les oreilles rebattues de cela= I am tired of hearing that.Il dort sur les deux oreilles= (lit.) He sleeps soundly; (fig.) His mind is quite easy.Il n’écoute que d’une oreille= He pays very little attention to what is being said.Ne venez pas ainsi me corner aux oreilles= Do not come and din it into my ears in that way.Il fait la sourde oreille= He turns a deaf ear; He pretends not to hear.Je n’entends pas de cette oreille-là= I will not listen to that.Par dessus les oreilles= Over head and ears.Autant lui en pend à l’oreille= He may expect the same (something unpleasant). (CompareNez.)Les oreilles ont dû vous corner (tinter)= Your ears must have burned.Je lui frotterai les oreilles= I will twist his tail for him.

Il se fera tirer l’oreille= He will require pressing.

Il se retira l’oreille basse= He went away crestfallen.

J’ai les oreilles rebattues de cela= I am tired of hearing that.

Il dort sur les deux oreilles= (lit.) He sleeps soundly; (fig.) His mind is quite easy.

Il n’écoute que d’une oreille= He pays very little attention to what is being said.

Ne venez pas ainsi me corner aux oreilles= Do not come and din it into my ears in that way.

Il fait la sourde oreille= He turns a deaf ear; He pretends not to hear.

Je n’entends pas de cette oreille-là= I will not listen to that.

Par dessus les oreilles= Over head and ears.

Autant lui en pend à l’oreille= He may expect the same (something unpleasant). (CompareNez.)

Les oreilles ont dû vous corner (tinter)= Your ears must have burned.

Je lui frotterai les oreilles= I will twist his tail for him.

Orfèvre*“Vous êtes orfèvre, Monsieur Josse!” = That is a bit of special pleading; That is not disinterested advice; There’s nothing like leather![Molière,L’Amour Médecin, i. 1. This quotation refers to Sganarelle’s daughter who suffers from an incurable lowness of spirits. All his neighbours give him advice as to how to cure her; among them, Monsieur Josse, a jeweller, suggests that a fine necklace of diamonds or rubies would undoubtedly cure her. The father, distracted though he be, is not so far gone as not to see through this remark, and he replies in the words that have since become proverbial.]

Orfèvre

*“Vous êtes orfèvre, Monsieur Josse!” = That is a bit of special pleading; That is not disinterested advice; There’s nothing like leather![Molière,L’Amour Médecin, i. 1. This quotation refers to Sganarelle’s daughter who suffers from an incurable lowness of spirits. All his neighbours give him advice as to how to cure her; among them, Monsieur Josse, a jeweller, suggests that a fine necklace of diamonds or rubies would undoubtedly cure her. The father, distracted though he be, is not so far gone as not to see through this remark, and he replies in the words that have since become proverbial.]

*“Vous êtes orfèvre, Monsieur Josse!” = That is a bit of special pleading; That is not disinterested advice; There’s nothing like leather!

[Molière,L’Amour Médecin, i. 1. This quotation refers to Sganarelle’s daughter who suffers from an incurable lowness of spirits. All his neighbours give him advice as to how to cure her; among them, Monsieur Josse, a jeweller, suggests that a fine necklace of diamonds or rubies would undoubtedly cure her. The father, distracted though he be, is not so far gone as not to see through this remark, and he replies in the words that have since become proverbial.]

Orgueil*Il n’est orgueil que de sot enrichi= Set a beggar on horseback, he’ll ride to the devil.

Orgueil

*Il n’est orgueil que de sot enrichi= Set a beggar on horseback, he’ll ride to the devil.

Orme*Attendez-moi sous l’orme= You may wait for me till doomsday.

Orme

*Attendez-moi sous l’orme= You may wait for me till doomsday.

OrtieRabelais jeta le froc aux orties= Rabelais was an unfrocked priest.

Ortie

Rabelais jeta le froc aux orties= Rabelais was an unfrocked priest.

ÔterÔte-toi de là que je m’y mette= You get out and let me get in.[Origin unknown; probably le Vicomte de Ségur first used it. Comp. Sancho Panza, “Imitando al juego de los muchachos que dicen ‘Salta tu y dámela tu’ doy un salto del gobierno.”]

Ôter

Ôte-toi de là que je m’y mette= You get out and let me get in.[Origin unknown; probably le Vicomte de Ségur first used it. Comp. Sancho Panza, “Imitando al juego de los muchachos que dicen ‘Salta tu y dámela tu’ doy un salto del gobierno.”]

Ôte-toi de là que je m’y mette= You get out and let me get in.

[Origin unknown; probably le Vicomte de Ségur first used it. Comp. Sancho Panza, “Imitando al juego de los muchachos que dicen ‘Salta tu y dámela tu’ doy un salto del gobierno.”]

OublierOublions le passé= Let bygones be bygones.

Oublier

Oublions le passé= Let bygones be bygones.

OursC’est un ours mal léché= He is an ill-licked cub; He is an ill-bred [or, ill-shapen] fellow.[La Fontaine,Fables, xi. 7.]C’est le pavé de l’ours= Save me from my friends.[“Rien n’est si dangereux qu’un ignorant amiMieux vaudrait un sage ennemi.”La Fontaine,Fables, viii. 10.An old gardener, feeling lonely, had adopted a bear as a companion. One day, when his master was asleep, he sees a fly on his face; he tries to drive it away, but it declines to move, so he takes up a huge paving-stone and kills the fly—and his master too.]

Ours

C’est un ours mal léché= He is an ill-licked cub; He is an ill-bred [or, ill-shapen] fellow.[La Fontaine,Fables, xi. 7.]C’est le pavé de l’ours= Save me from my friends.[“Rien n’est si dangereux qu’un ignorant amiMieux vaudrait un sage ennemi.”La Fontaine,Fables, viii. 10.An old gardener, feeling lonely, had adopted a bear as a companion. One day, when his master was asleep, he sees a fly on his face; he tries to drive it away, but it declines to move, so he takes up a huge paving-stone and kills the fly—and his master too.]

C’est un ours mal léché= He is an ill-licked cub; He is an ill-bred [or, ill-shapen] fellow.

[La Fontaine,Fables, xi. 7.]

C’est le pavé de l’ours= Save me from my friends.

[“Rien n’est si dangereux qu’un ignorant amiMieux vaudrait un sage ennemi.”La Fontaine,Fables, viii. 10.

An old gardener, feeling lonely, had adopted a bear as a companion. One day, when his master was asleep, he sees a fly on his face; he tries to drive it away, but it declines to move, so he takes up a huge paving-stone and kills the fly—and his master too.]

Ouvrier*Mauvais ouvrier n’a jamais bons outils= A bad workman always blames his tools.

Ouvrier

*Mauvais ouvrier n’a jamais bons outils= A bad workman always blames his tools.

OuvrirIl traduit à livre ouvert= He translates at sight.

Ouvrir

Il traduit à livre ouvert= He translates at sight.

PailleTout y va, la paille et le blé= He spends all he has.Il mourra sur la paille= He will die in the gutter.Il est sur la paille= He is exceedingly poor.Tirons à la courte paille= Let us draw lots.*Cela enlève la paille= “That takes the cake.”[The French is hardly as popular an expression as the English, which might be rendered in French bydécrocher la timbale. Quitard derivespaillefrompaîle, a kind of rich cloth given as a prize in athletic contests. Littré imagines it originated with amber, which has the property of raising light objects, such as straw. Madame de Sévigné writes (13th Jan. 1672): “Racine a fait une comédie qui s’appelle Bajazet et qui enlève la paille.” The English expression is said to come from the custom of negroes, when giving a ball, to provide a cake to be given to the best-dressed couple. The competitors walk round and are judged by the other guests. Hence the term cake-walk.]

Paille

Tout y va, la paille et le blé= He spends all he has.Il mourra sur la paille= He will die in the gutter.Il est sur la paille= He is exceedingly poor.Tirons à la courte paille= Let us draw lots.*Cela enlève la paille= “That takes the cake.”[The French is hardly as popular an expression as the English, which might be rendered in French bydécrocher la timbale. Quitard derivespaillefrompaîle, a kind of rich cloth given as a prize in athletic contests. Littré imagines it originated with amber, which has the property of raising light objects, such as straw. Madame de Sévigné writes (13th Jan. 1672): “Racine a fait une comédie qui s’appelle Bajazet et qui enlève la paille.” The English expression is said to come from the custom of negroes, when giving a ball, to provide a cake to be given to the best-dressed couple. The competitors walk round and are judged by the other guests. Hence the term cake-walk.]

Tout y va, la paille et le blé= He spends all he has.

Il mourra sur la paille= He will die in the gutter.

Il est sur la paille= He is exceedingly poor.

Tirons à la courte paille= Let us draw lots.

*Cela enlève la paille= “That takes the cake.”

[The French is hardly as popular an expression as the English, which might be rendered in French bydécrocher la timbale. Quitard derivespaillefrompaîle, a kind of rich cloth given as a prize in athletic contests. Littré imagines it originated with amber, which has the property of raising light objects, such as straw. Madame de Sévigné writes (13th Jan. 1672): “Racine a fait une comédie qui s’appelle Bajazet et qui enlève la paille.” The English expression is said to come from the custom of negroes, when giving a ball, to provide a cake to be given to the best-dressed couple. The competitors walk round and are judged by the other guests. Hence the term cake-walk.]

PainCet homme est bon comme le pain= That man is goodness itself.Il a mangé son pain blanc le premier= He had the best of his life first; His happiest days are over.[In many parts of the Continent white bread is not the matter of course that it is in England; brown or black bread is the usual fare of the poorer classes.]*Tel grain, tel pain= What you sow, you must mow.On lui a fait passer le goût du pain(fam.) = They killed him.C’est pain bénit= It serves you (him, her, them) right.Il a du pain sur la planche= He has saved money; He has enough to live upon; He has put something by for a rainy day; There is plenty of work for him to do.*De tout s’avise à qui pain faut (manque)= Necessity is the mother of invention.*Pain tant qu’il dure, vin à mesure= Eat at pleasure, drink by measure.*Il ne vaut pas le pain qu’il mange= He is not worth his salt.Il sait son pain manger= He knows on which side his bread is buttered.*C’est un long jour qu’un jour sans pain= ’Tis a long lane that has no turning.*Pain dérobé réveille appétit= Stolen joys are sweet.[“Pain qu’on dérobe et qu’on mange en cachette,Vaut mieux que pain qu’on cuit et qu’on achète.”La Fontaine,Les Troqueurs.]Je ne mange pas de ce pain-là= I don’t go in for that sort of thing.

Pain

Cet homme est bon comme le pain= That man is goodness itself.Il a mangé son pain blanc le premier= He had the best of his life first; His happiest days are over.[In many parts of the Continent white bread is not the matter of course that it is in England; brown or black bread is the usual fare of the poorer classes.]*Tel grain, tel pain= What you sow, you must mow.On lui a fait passer le goût du pain(fam.) = They killed him.C’est pain bénit= It serves you (him, her, them) right.Il a du pain sur la planche= He has saved money; He has enough to live upon; He has put something by for a rainy day; There is plenty of work for him to do.*De tout s’avise à qui pain faut (manque)= Necessity is the mother of invention.*Pain tant qu’il dure, vin à mesure= Eat at pleasure, drink by measure.*Il ne vaut pas le pain qu’il mange= He is not worth his salt.Il sait son pain manger= He knows on which side his bread is buttered.*C’est un long jour qu’un jour sans pain= ’Tis a long lane that has no turning.*Pain dérobé réveille appétit= Stolen joys are sweet.[“Pain qu’on dérobe et qu’on mange en cachette,Vaut mieux que pain qu’on cuit et qu’on achète.”La Fontaine,Les Troqueurs.]Je ne mange pas de ce pain-là= I don’t go in for that sort of thing.

Cet homme est bon comme le pain= That man is goodness itself.

Il a mangé son pain blanc le premier= He had the best of his life first; His happiest days are over.

[In many parts of the Continent white bread is not the matter of course that it is in England; brown or black bread is the usual fare of the poorer classes.]

*Tel grain, tel pain= What you sow, you must mow.

On lui a fait passer le goût du pain(fam.) = They killed him.

C’est pain bénit= It serves you (him, her, them) right.

Il a du pain sur la planche= He has saved money; He has enough to live upon; He has put something by for a rainy day; There is plenty of work for him to do.

*De tout s’avise à qui pain faut (manque)= Necessity is the mother of invention.

*Pain tant qu’il dure, vin à mesure= Eat at pleasure, drink by measure.

*Il ne vaut pas le pain qu’il mange= He is not worth his salt.

Il sait son pain manger= He knows on which side his bread is buttered.

*C’est un long jour qu’un jour sans pain= ’Tis a long lane that has no turning.

*Pain dérobé réveille appétit= Stolen joys are sweet.

[“Pain qu’on dérobe et qu’on mange en cachette,Vaut mieux que pain qu’on cuit et qu’on achète.”La Fontaine,Les Troqueurs.]

Je ne mange pas de ce pain-là= I don’t go in for that sort of thing.

PairHors de pair= Beyond all comparison; Above the level of others.Traiter quelqu’un de pair à compagnon= To be hail-fellow-well-met with any one; To treat any one on an equal footing.

Pair

Hors de pair= Beyond all comparison; Above the level of others.Traiter quelqu’un de pair à compagnon= To be hail-fellow-well-met with any one; To treat any one on an equal footing.

Hors de pair= Beyond all comparison; Above the level of others.

Traiter quelqu’un de pair à compagnon= To be hail-fellow-well-met with any one; To treat any one on an equal footing.

Paire*Les deux font la paire(fam.) = They are well matched;Arcades ambo.

Paire

*Les deux font la paire(fam.) = They are well matched;Arcades ambo.

Paître*Je l’ai envoyé paître(fam.) = I sent him about his business.

Paître

*Je l’ai envoyé paître(fam.) = I sent him about his business.

PaixPaix et peu= Anything for a quiet life.

Paix

Paix et peu= Anything for a quiet life.

Panier*Adieu paniers, vendanges sont faites= You come too late, it is all over.[The chorus of an old glee sung by the grape-pickers when their labours were finished. Comp.Rabelais,Gargantua, xxvii.]Vous me donnez le dessus du panier= You give me the best, the pick.[Le dessous du panier= the refuse.]C’est un panier percé= He is a spendthrift.

Panier

*Adieu paniers, vendanges sont faites= You come too late, it is all over.[The chorus of an old glee sung by the grape-pickers when their labours were finished. Comp.Rabelais,Gargantua, xxvii.]Vous me donnez le dessus du panier= You give me the best, the pick.[Le dessous du panier= the refuse.]C’est un panier percé= He is a spendthrift.

*Adieu paniers, vendanges sont faites= You come too late, it is all over.

[The chorus of an old glee sung by the grape-pickers when their labours were finished. Comp.Rabelais,Gargantua, xxvii.]

Vous me donnez le dessus du panier= You give me the best, the pick.

[Le dessous du panier= the refuse.]

C’est un panier percé= He is a spendthrift.

PanneauDonner dans le panneau= To fall into the trap.

Panneau

Donner dans le panneau= To fall into the trap.

PanseIl n’a pas fait une panse d’a aujourd’hui= He has not done a stroke all day.[Panse d’a= the round part of ana.]

Panse

Il n’a pas fait une panse d’a aujourd’hui= He has not done a stroke all day.[Panse d’a= the round part of ana.]

Il n’a pas fait une panse d’a aujourd’hui= He has not done a stroke all day.

[Panse d’a= the round part of ana.]

PapierIl n’est pas dans mes petits papiers= He is not in my good books.[“Oh! pourvu que je soisDans les petits papiers duMercure François.”Rostand,Cyrano de Bergerac, ii. 8.]

Papier

Il n’est pas dans mes petits papiers= He is not in my good books.[“Oh! pourvu que je soisDans les petits papiers duMercure François.”Rostand,Cyrano de Bergerac, ii. 8.]

Il n’est pas dans mes petits papiers= He is not in my good books.

[“Oh! pourvu que je soisDans les petits papiers duMercure François.”Rostand,Cyrano de Bergerac, ii. 8.]

PaquetJe lui ai donné son paquet= I gave him the sack.Faire un paquet= To make a parcel.Faire son paquet= To pack up and go.

Paquet

Je lui ai donné son paquet= I gave him the sack.Faire un paquet= To make a parcel.Faire son paquet= To pack up and go.

Je lui ai donné son paquet= I gave him the sack.

Faire un paquet= To make a parcel.

Faire son paquet= To pack up and go.

ParDe par le roi= By the king’s command.[“De par le roi, défense à DieuDe faire miracle en ce lieu.”A cynical couplet that arose when Louis XV. prohibited pilgrimages to the tomb of François de Pâris, behind the Church of St. Médard in Paris, because of the Convulsionnaires.]

Par

De par le roi= By the king’s command.[“De par le roi, défense à DieuDe faire miracle en ce lieu.”A cynical couplet that arose when Louis XV. prohibited pilgrimages to the tomb of François de Pâris, behind the Church of St. Médard in Paris, because of the Convulsionnaires.]

De par le roi= By the king’s command.

[“De par le roi, défense à DieuDe faire miracle en ce lieu.”

A cynical couplet that arose when Louis XV. prohibited pilgrimages to the tomb of François de Pâris, behind the Church of St. Médard in Paris, because of the Convulsionnaires.]

ParaîtreSans qu’il y paraisse, c’est un homme fort instruit= Without making any show he is a very well-informed man.A ce qu’il me paraît= As far as I can judge, see.Le livre vient de paraître= The book is just out, just published.Il n’y paraît plus= There is no trace of it.Il n’y paraît pas= One would not have thought it.

Paraître

Sans qu’il y paraisse, c’est un homme fort instruit= Without making any show he is a very well-informed man.A ce qu’il me paraît= As far as I can judge, see.Le livre vient de paraître= The book is just out, just published.Il n’y paraît plus= There is no trace of it.Il n’y paraît pas= One would not have thought it.

Sans qu’il y paraisse, c’est un homme fort instruit= Without making any show he is a very well-informed man.

A ce qu’il me paraît= As far as I can judge, see.

Le livre vient de paraître= The book is just out, just published.

Il n’y paraît plus= There is no trace of it.

Il n’y paraît pas= One would not have thought it.

PareilJ’ai le pareil= I have one like it.Je vous rendrai la pareille= 1. I will pay you out. 2. I will do the same for you.On n’a jamais vu chose pareille= One never heard of such a thing.

Pareil

J’ai le pareil= I have one like it.Je vous rendrai la pareille= 1. I will pay you out. 2. I will do the same for you.On n’a jamais vu chose pareille= One never heard of such a thing.

J’ai le pareil= I have one like it.

Je vous rendrai la pareille= 1. I will pay you out. 2. I will do the same for you.

On n’a jamais vu chose pareille= One never heard of such a thing.

Paresseux*Ce sont les paresseux qui font le plus de chemin= Lazy people take the most pains.Parier Il y a cent(or,gros)à parier qu’ils ne reviendront pas= The odds are that they will not come back.

Paresseux

*Ce sont les paresseux qui font le plus de chemin= Lazy people take the most pains.Parier Il y a cent(or,gros)à parier qu’ils ne reviendront pas= The odds are that they will not come back.

*Ce sont les paresseux qui font le plus de chemin= Lazy people take the most pains.

Parier Il y a cent(or,gros)à parier qu’ils ne reviendront pas= The odds are that they will not come back.

ParisIl prend Paris pour Corbeil, le Pirée pour un homme= “He does not know a hawk from a handsaw.”[Hamlet, ii. 2, where “handsaw” is a corruption of hernshaw = heron. This was an old proverb, corrupted before Shakespeare’s day.“Pour grain ne prenant paille ou Paris pour Corbeil.”—Régnier,Sat.xiv.]Le Tout-Paris de ce temps-là= The fashionable world of Paris of that day.

Paris

Il prend Paris pour Corbeil, le Pirée pour un homme= “He does not know a hawk from a handsaw.”[Hamlet, ii. 2, where “handsaw” is a corruption of hernshaw = heron. This was an old proverb, corrupted before Shakespeare’s day.“Pour grain ne prenant paille ou Paris pour Corbeil.”—Régnier,Sat.xiv.]Le Tout-Paris de ce temps-là= The fashionable world of Paris of that day.

Il prend Paris pour Corbeil, le Pirée pour un homme= “He does not know a hawk from a handsaw.”

[Hamlet, ii. 2, where “handsaw” is a corruption of hernshaw = heron. This was an old proverb, corrupted before Shakespeare’s day.

“Pour grain ne prenant paille ou Paris pour Corbeil.”—Régnier,Sat.xiv.]

Le Tout-Paris de ce temps-là= The fashionable world of Paris of that day.

ParlerNous parlions de la pluie et du beau temps= We were not talking of anything important or confidential; We were talking of indifferent matters.Parler de boucheAu cœur ne touche}=Lip worship does notreach the heart.C’est à vous à parler= It is your turn to speak.C’est à vous de parler= It is your duty to speak.Qu’il vienne, il trouvera à qui parler= Let him come, he will find his match.Trop gratter cuit, trop parler nuit= Least said, soonest mended; Speech is silvern, silence is golden.[Italian: Chi parla semina, chi tace raccoglie = Who speaks sows, who keeps silence reaps.Qui d’autruy parler voudraRegarde soi et il taira.]*Jamais beau parler n’écorcha la langue= Fair words never did harm; Civility costs nothing.Il a son franc parler= He is free-spoken.

Parler

Nous parlions de la pluie et du beau temps= We were not talking of anything important or confidential; We were talking of indifferent matters.Parler de boucheAu cœur ne touche}=Lip worship does notreach the heart.C’est à vous à parler= It is your turn to speak.C’est à vous de parler= It is your duty to speak.Qu’il vienne, il trouvera à qui parler= Let him come, he will find his match.Trop gratter cuit, trop parler nuit= Least said, soonest mended; Speech is silvern, silence is golden.[Italian: Chi parla semina, chi tace raccoglie = Who speaks sows, who keeps silence reaps.Qui d’autruy parler voudraRegarde soi et il taira.]*Jamais beau parler n’écorcha la langue= Fair words never did harm; Civility costs nothing.Il a son franc parler= He is free-spoken.

Nous parlions de la pluie et du beau temps= We were not talking of anything important or confidential; We were talking of indifferent matters.

C’est à vous à parler= It is your turn to speak.

C’est à vous de parler= It is your duty to speak.

Qu’il vienne, il trouvera à qui parler= Let him come, he will find his match.

Trop gratter cuit, trop parler nuit= Least said, soonest mended; Speech is silvern, silence is golden.

[Italian: Chi parla semina, chi tace raccoglie = Who speaks sows, who keeps silence reaps.Qui d’autruy parler voudraRegarde soi et il taira.]

*Jamais beau parler n’écorcha la langue= Fair words never did harm; Civility costs nothing.

Il a son franc parler= He is free-spoken.

Parole*Vous avez la parole= It is your turn to speak; You are allowed to speak (i.e.you have caught the Speaker’s eye). SeeAvoir.Je lui coupai la parole= I interrupted him.*Un homme d’honneur n’a que sa parole= An honest man’s word is as good as his bond.Être de parole= To be as good as one’s word.Manquer de parole(or,manquer à sa parole) = To break one’s word.Tenir parole= To keep one’s word.

Parole

*Vous avez la parole= It is your turn to speak; You are allowed to speak (i.e.you have caught the Speaker’s eye). SeeAvoir.Je lui coupai la parole= I interrupted him.*Un homme d’honneur n’a que sa parole= An honest man’s word is as good as his bond.Être de parole= To be as good as one’s word.Manquer de parole(or,manquer à sa parole) = To break one’s word.Tenir parole= To keep one’s word.

*Vous avez la parole= It is your turn to speak; You are allowed to speak (i.e.you have caught the Speaker’s eye). SeeAvoir.

Je lui coupai la parole= I interrupted him.

*Un homme d’honneur n’a que sa parole= An honest man’s word is as good as his bond.

Être de parole= To be as good as one’s word.

Manquer de parole(or,manquer à sa parole) = To break one’s word.

Tenir parole= To keep one’s word.

PartEn bonne ou mauvaise part= In a good or bad sense.Nous le savons de bonne part= We know it on good authority.

Part

En bonne ou mauvaise part= In a good or bad sense.Nous le savons de bonne part= We know it on good authority.

En bonne ou mauvaise part= In a good or bad sense.

Nous le savons de bonne part= We know it on good authority.

PartagerIl est bien partagé= The Fates have been kind to him.

Il est bien partagé= The Fates have been kind to him.

PartiIl a pris son parti= 1. He has made up his mind. 2. He has resigned himself to it.De parti pris= Deliberately.C’est un parti pris= His mind is made up; It is a foregone conclusion.C’est un parti pris chez lui de toujours contredire= He will always contradict.A parti pris point de conseil= Advice is useless when a man’s mind is made up.Il tire parti de tout= He makes a profit out of everything.Il sait tirer parti de la vie= He knows how to make the best of life.Il a épousé un bon parti= He made a good match.Il vous fera un mauvais parti= He will try and pick a quarrel with you so as to ill-use you, to do you harm.

Parti

Il a pris son parti= 1. He has made up his mind. 2. He has resigned himself to it.De parti pris= Deliberately.C’est un parti pris= His mind is made up; It is a foregone conclusion.C’est un parti pris chez lui de toujours contredire= He will always contradict.A parti pris point de conseil= Advice is useless when a man’s mind is made up.Il tire parti de tout= He makes a profit out of everything.Il sait tirer parti de la vie= He knows how to make the best of life.Il a épousé un bon parti= He made a good match.Il vous fera un mauvais parti= He will try and pick a quarrel with you so as to ill-use you, to do you harm.

Il a pris son parti= 1. He has made up his mind. 2. He has resigned himself to it.

De parti pris= Deliberately.

C’est un parti pris= His mind is made up; It is a foregone conclusion.

C’est un parti pris chez lui de toujours contredire= He will always contradict.

A parti pris point de conseil= Advice is useless when a man’s mind is made up.

Il tire parti de tout= He makes a profit out of everything.

Il sait tirer parti de la vie= He knows how to make the best of life.

Il a épousé un bon parti= He made a good match.

Il vous fera un mauvais parti= He will try and pick a quarrel with you so as to ill-use you, to do you harm.

PartieIl m’a pris à partie= He took me to task; (legally) He summoned me.[Partieis literally a man who pleads against any one in a lawsuit. Compare:“Va, je suis ta partie et non pas ton bourreau.”Corneille,Cid, 839.]C’était une partie nulle= It was a drawn game.

Partie

Il m’a pris à partie= He took me to task; (legally) He summoned me.[Partieis literally a man who pleads against any one in a lawsuit. Compare:“Va, je suis ta partie et non pas ton bourreau.”Corneille,Cid, 839.]C’était une partie nulle= It was a drawn game.

Il m’a pris à partie= He took me to task; (legally) He summoned me.

[Partieis literally a man who pleads against any one in a lawsuit. Compare:

“Va, je suis ta partie et non pas ton bourreau.”Corneille,Cid, 839.]

C’était une partie nulle= It was a drawn game.

PasMarcher à pas de géant= To put on one’s seven-league boots.Se tirer d’un mauvais pas= To get out of an awkward fix (scrape).*Il n’y a que le premier pas qui coûte= In everything the beginning is the most difficult part; The first step downward makes the others easier.[“Il n’y a que le premier obstacle qui coûte à vaincre.”—Bossuet,Pensées chrétiennes, 9.]Il prend le pas sur moi= He takes precedence of me.J’y vais de ce pas= I am going there directly.Je le mettrai au pas= I will put him on his good behaviour.Marquer le pas= (lit.) To mark time; (fig.) To wait for a post to which one has a right.Marchez au pas= Drive slowly; Walk in step.

Pas

Marcher à pas de géant= To put on one’s seven-league boots.Se tirer d’un mauvais pas= To get out of an awkward fix (scrape).*Il n’y a que le premier pas qui coûte= In everything the beginning is the most difficult part; The first step downward makes the others easier.[“Il n’y a que le premier obstacle qui coûte à vaincre.”—Bossuet,Pensées chrétiennes, 9.]Il prend le pas sur moi= He takes precedence of me.J’y vais de ce pas= I am going there directly.Je le mettrai au pas= I will put him on his good behaviour.Marquer le pas= (lit.) To mark time; (fig.) To wait for a post to which one has a right.Marchez au pas= Drive slowly; Walk in step.

Marcher à pas de géant= To put on one’s seven-league boots.

Se tirer d’un mauvais pas= To get out of an awkward fix (scrape).

*Il n’y a que le premier pas qui coûte= In everything the beginning is the most difficult part; The first step downward makes the others easier.

[“Il n’y a que le premier obstacle qui coûte à vaincre.”—Bossuet,Pensées chrétiennes, 9.]

Il prend le pas sur moi= He takes precedence of me.

J’y vais de ce pas= I am going there directly.

Je le mettrai au pas= I will put him on his good behaviour.

Marquer le pas= (lit.) To mark time; (fig.) To wait for a post to which one has a right.

Marchez au pas= Drive slowly; Walk in step.

PasseIl est en passe de devenir ministre= He is in a fair way (he stands a good chance) to become a Cabinet Minister.

Passe

Il est en passe de devenir ministre= He is in a fair way (he stands a good chance) to become a Cabinet Minister.

PasserIl faut bien que j’en passe par là= I must submit to that; I must put up with it.Nous ne pouvons nous passer de cela= We cannot do without that.*Passons au déluge= We know all about that, let us come to the point; Don’t let us go over all that again, we will take it for granted.[Racine,Plaideurs, iii. 3; where L’Intimé, the lawyer, wishes to relate the history of the world from the creation, and Dandin, the judge, begs him to skip all until the flood.]Cette couleur passera= That colour will fade.*Passe-moi la casse (rhubarbe), je te passerai le séné= Claw me and I’ll claw thee; One hand washes the other, and both wash the face.Passez-moi ce mot-là= Excuse the expression.J’en passe ... et des meilleurs= Some of the best I pass over.[Victor Hugo,Hernani, iii. 6.]On ne passe pas= No thoroughfare.[Rue barrée= Road stopped.]

Passer

Il faut bien que j’en passe par là= I must submit to that; I must put up with it.Nous ne pouvons nous passer de cela= We cannot do without that.*Passons au déluge= We know all about that, let us come to the point; Don’t let us go over all that again, we will take it for granted.[Racine,Plaideurs, iii. 3; where L’Intimé, the lawyer, wishes to relate the history of the world from the creation, and Dandin, the judge, begs him to skip all until the flood.]Cette couleur passera= That colour will fade.*Passe-moi la casse (rhubarbe), je te passerai le séné= Claw me and I’ll claw thee; One hand washes the other, and both wash the face.Passez-moi ce mot-là= Excuse the expression.J’en passe ... et des meilleurs= Some of the best I pass over.[Victor Hugo,Hernani, iii. 6.]On ne passe pas= No thoroughfare.[Rue barrée= Road stopped.]

Il faut bien que j’en passe par là= I must submit to that; I must put up with it.

Nous ne pouvons nous passer de cela= We cannot do without that.

*Passons au déluge= We know all about that, let us come to the point; Don’t let us go over all that again, we will take it for granted.

[Racine,Plaideurs, iii. 3; where L’Intimé, the lawyer, wishes to relate the history of the world from the creation, and Dandin, the judge, begs him to skip all until the flood.]

Cette couleur passera= That colour will fade.

*Passe-moi la casse (rhubarbe), je te passerai le séné= Claw me and I’ll claw thee; One hand washes the other, and both wash the face.

Passez-moi ce mot-là= Excuse the expression.

J’en passe ... et des meilleurs= Some of the best I pass over.

[Victor Hugo,Hernani, iii. 6.]

On ne passe pas= No thoroughfare.

[Rue barrée= Road stopped.]

PatteVous faites des pattes de mouche= You have a small, ill-formed handwriting.Il marche à quatre pattes= He walks on all-fours.

Patte

Vous faites des pattes de mouche= You have a small, ill-formed handwriting.Il marche à quatre pattes= He walks on all-fours.

Vous faites des pattes de mouche= You have a small, ill-formed handwriting.

Il marche à quatre pattes= He walks on all-fours.

PauvreAux pauvres la besace= The back is made for the burden.L’homme pauvre est toujours en pays étranger= The poor are never welcomed; All bite the bitten dog.

Pauvre

Aux pauvres la besace= The back is made for the burden.L’homme pauvre est toujours en pays étranger= The poor are never welcomed; All bite the bitten dog.

Aux pauvres la besace= The back is made for the burden.

L’homme pauvre est toujours en pays étranger= The poor are never welcomed; All bite the bitten dog.

Pauvreté*Pauvreté n’est pas vice= Poverty is no crime.

Pauvreté

*Pauvreté n’est pas vice= Poverty is no crime.

PavéLes pavés le disent= It is in every one’s mouth.Il est sur le pavé= He is out of work.Prendre le haut du pavé= To take the wall.

Pavé

Les pavés le disent= It is in every one’s mouth.Il est sur le pavé= He is out of work.Prendre le haut du pavé= To take the wall.

Les pavés le disent= It is in every one’s mouth.

Il est sur le pavé= He is out of work.

Prendre le haut du pavé= To take the wall.

PayerPayer de sa personne= To bravely expose oneself to danger; To risk one’s skin.Être payé pour savoir= To know a thing to one’s cost.Payer d’audace= To put on a bold face; To brazen a thing out.Payer les violons= To pay the piper.Je ne me paye pas de mauvaises raisons= I will only be satisfied with good reasons.Vous vous payez de mots= You are the dupe of words; You are taken in by empty words.Il me la payera= I will make him smart for it.Qui paye ses dettes s’enrichit= Debt is the worst kind of poverty.Payer son écot= To pay one’s share (scot).Il veut se payer ma tête= He wishes to have the laugh of me.

Payer

Payer de sa personne= To bravely expose oneself to danger; To risk one’s skin.Être payé pour savoir= To know a thing to one’s cost.Payer d’audace= To put on a bold face; To brazen a thing out.Payer les violons= To pay the piper.Je ne me paye pas de mauvaises raisons= I will only be satisfied with good reasons.Vous vous payez de mots= You are the dupe of words; You are taken in by empty words.Il me la payera= I will make him smart for it.Qui paye ses dettes s’enrichit= Debt is the worst kind of poverty.Payer son écot= To pay one’s share (scot).Il veut se payer ma tête= He wishes to have the laugh of me.

Payer de sa personne= To bravely expose oneself to danger; To risk one’s skin.

Être payé pour savoir= To know a thing to one’s cost.

Payer d’audace= To put on a bold face; To brazen a thing out.

Payer les violons= To pay the piper.

Je ne me paye pas de mauvaises raisons= I will only be satisfied with good reasons.

Vous vous payez de mots= You are the dupe of words; You are taken in by empty words.

Il me la payera= I will make him smart for it.

Qui paye ses dettes s’enrichit= Debt is the worst kind of poverty.

Payer son écot= To pay one’s share (scot).

Il veut se payer ma tête= He wishes to have the laugh of me.

Pays*Pays ruiné vaut mieux que pays perdu= Half a loaf is better than no bread.Je lui ferai voir du pays= I will lead him a pretty dance.

Pays

*Pays ruiné vaut mieux que pays perdu= Half a loaf is better than no bread.Je lui ferai voir du pays= I will lead him a pretty dance.

*Pays ruiné vaut mieux que pays perdu= Half a loaf is better than no bread.

Je lui ferai voir du pays= I will lead him a pretty dance.

Peau*Il ne faut pas vendre la peau de l’ours avant de l’avoir tué= Do not count your chickens before they are hatched; First catch your hare.[“Il m’a dit qu’il ne faut jamaisVendre la peau de l’ours qu’on ne l’ait mis par terre.”La Fontaine,Fables, v. 20.]Il crève dans sa peau(fam.) = (lit.) He is extremely fat; (fig.) He is bursting with pride, spite.Faire peau neuve= To turn over a new leaf.

Peau

*Il ne faut pas vendre la peau de l’ours avant de l’avoir tué= Do not count your chickens before they are hatched; First catch your hare.[“Il m’a dit qu’il ne faut jamaisVendre la peau de l’ours qu’on ne l’ait mis par terre.”La Fontaine,Fables, v. 20.]Il crève dans sa peau(fam.) = (lit.) He is extremely fat; (fig.) He is bursting with pride, spite.Faire peau neuve= To turn over a new leaf.

*Il ne faut pas vendre la peau de l’ours avant de l’avoir tué= Do not count your chickens before they are hatched; First catch your hare.

[“Il m’a dit qu’il ne faut jamaisVendre la peau de l’ours qu’on ne l’ait mis par terre.”La Fontaine,Fables, v. 20.]

Il crève dans sa peau(fam.) = (lit.) He is extremely fat; (fig.) He is bursting with pride, spite.

Faire peau neuve= To turn over a new leaf.

Péché*Péché avoué est à demi pardonné= A fault confessed is half redressed.Elle est laide comme les sept péchés capitaux= She is as ugly as sin.

Péché

*Péché avoué est à demi pardonné= A fault confessed is half redressed.Elle est laide comme les sept péchés capitaux= She is as ugly as sin.

*Péché avoué est à demi pardonné= A fault confessed is half redressed.

Elle est laide comme les sept péchés capitaux= She is as ugly as sin.

PécherOn est puni par où l’on a péché=“The Gods are just, and of our pleasant vicesMake instruments to scourge us.”[King Lear, v. 3.]

Pécher

On est puni par où l’on a péché=“The Gods are just, and of our pleasant vicesMake instruments to scourge us.”[King Lear, v. 3.]

On est puni par où l’on a péché=“The Gods are just, and of our pleasant vicesMake instruments to scourge us.”

[King Lear, v. 3.]

PeineCela ne vaut pas la peine= It is not worth the trouble; It is not worth while.Mourir à la peine= 1. To die in harness. 2. To work oneself to death.

Peine

Cela ne vaut pas la peine= It is not worth the trouble; It is not worth while.Mourir à la peine= 1. To die in harness. 2. To work oneself to death.

Cela ne vaut pas la peine= It is not worth the trouble; It is not worth while.

Mourir à la peine= 1. To die in harness. 2. To work oneself to death.

PeintureJe ne peux pas le voir même en peinture= I hate the very sight of that man.

Peinture

Je ne peux pas le voir même en peinture= I hate the very sight of that man.

PeléIl y avait quatre pelés et un tondu= There were only a few people and those of no importance; Only the tag, rag, and bobtail were there.

Pelé

Il y avait quatre pelés et un tondu= There were only a few people and those of no importance; Only the tag, rag, and bobtail were there.

Pelle*La pelle se moque du fourgon= It is the pot calling the kettle black.[Another English variant is: “The kiln calls the oven: Burnt house.” The Italians say: “La padella dice al pajuolo, ‘Fatti ni la che tu me tigni’” = The pan says to the pot, “Keep off or you’ll smutch me.” The Germans: “Ein Esel schimpft den andern Langohr” = One ass nicknames another Longears.]Remuer l’argent à la pelle= To have plenty of money.

Pelle

*La pelle se moque du fourgon= It is the pot calling the kettle black.[Another English variant is: “The kiln calls the oven: Burnt house.” The Italians say: “La padella dice al pajuolo, ‘Fatti ni la che tu me tigni’” = The pan says to the pot, “Keep off or you’ll smutch me.” The Germans: “Ein Esel schimpft den andern Langohr” = One ass nicknames another Longears.]Remuer l’argent à la pelle= To have plenty of money.

*La pelle se moque du fourgon= It is the pot calling the kettle black.

[Another English variant is: “The kiln calls the oven: Burnt house.” The Italians say: “La padella dice al pajuolo, ‘Fatti ni la che tu me tigni’” = The pan says to the pot, “Keep off or you’ll smutch me.” The Germans: “Ein Esel schimpft den andern Langohr” = One ass nicknames another Longears.]

Remuer l’argent à la pelle= To have plenty of money.

PeloteIl a fait sa pelote= He has feathered his nest.

Pelote

Il a fait sa pelote= He has feathered his nest.

PendantCet homme n’a pas son pendant(or,pareil) = That man has not his match.

Pendant

Cet homme n’a pas son pendant(or,pareil) = That man has not his match.

PendreIl a dit pis que pendre de vous= He said everything that was bad of you; According to him, hanging is too good for you.

Pendre

Il a dit pis que pendre de vous= He said everything that was bad of you; According to him, hanging is too good for you.

PenserÀ ce que je pense= To my mind.Sans penser à mal= Without meaning any mischief.Rien que d’y penser j’en ai le frisson= The bare thought of it makes me shudder.Cela donne furieusement à penser= That is very suggestive.Sans arrière-pensée= Without reserve; With no after-thought.

Penser

À ce que je pense= To my mind.Sans penser à mal= Without meaning any mischief.Rien que d’y penser j’en ai le frisson= The bare thought of it makes me shudder.Cela donne furieusement à penser= That is very suggestive.Sans arrière-pensée= Without reserve; With no after-thought.

À ce que je pense= To my mind.

Sans penser à mal= Without meaning any mischief.

Rien que d’y penser j’en ai le frisson= The bare thought of it makes me shudder.

Cela donne furieusement à penser= That is very suggestive.

Sans arrière-pensée= Without reserve; With no after-thought.

Perdre*Un de perdu, deux de retrouvés= When one door shuts, another opens.Je m’y perds= I am getting bewildered; I cannot make head or tail of it.Il perd la carte= He is getting confused.C’est du bien perdu= It is casting pearls before swine.*Qui perd pèche= He who loses sins; Nothing succeeds like success.

Perdre

*Un de perdu, deux de retrouvés= When one door shuts, another opens.Je m’y perds= I am getting bewildered; I cannot make head or tail of it.Il perd la carte= He is getting confused.C’est du bien perdu= It is casting pearls before swine.*Qui perd pèche= He who loses sins; Nothing succeeds like success.

*Un de perdu, deux de retrouvés= When one door shuts, another opens.

Je m’y perds= I am getting bewildered; I cannot make head or tail of it.

Il perd la carte= He is getting confused.

C’est du bien perdu= It is casting pearls before swine.

*Qui perd pèche= He who loses sins; Nothing succeeds like success.

Perdrix*Toujours des perdrix= The best things pall in time.

Perdrix

*Toujours des perdrix= The best things pall in time.

PerleNous ne sommes pas ici pour enfiler des perles= We are not here to trifle our time away.

Perle

Nous ne sommes pas ici pour enfiler des perles= We are not here to trifle our time away.

PérouCe n’est pas le Pérou(fam.) = It’s no great catch.

Pérou

Ce n’est pas le Pérou(fam.) = It’s no great catch.

PersonneC’est la bonté en personne= He (or, She) is kindness itself.

Personne

C’est la bonté en personne= He (or, She) is kindness itself.

PerteÀ perte de vue= As far as the eye can reach.Je suis en perte= I am out of pocket.J’ai fait cela en pure perte= What I have done is completely useless; All I have done is to no purpose.

Perte

À perte de vue= As far as the eye can reach.Je suis en perte= I am out of pocket.J’ai fait cela en pure perte= What I have done is completely useless; All I have done is to no purpose.

À perte de vue= As far as the eye can reach.

Je suis en perte= I am out of pocket.

J’ai fait cela en pure perte= What I have done is completely useless; All I have done is to no purpose.

PesantIl vaut son pesant d’or= He is worth his weight in gold.

Pesant

Il vaut son pesant d’or= He is worth his weight in gold.

PetitElles sont aux petits soins pour leur vieille mère= They are all attention to their old mother.*Les petits ruisseaux font les grandes rivières= Many a little makes a mickle.*Petit à petit l’oiseau fait son nid= Little strokes fell great oaks. (SeeMailleandRuisseau.)[Also:Grain à grain amasse la fourmi son pain.Peu à peu la vieille file sa quenouille.Latin: Adde parvum parvo tandem fit magnus acervus.Italian: A passo a passo se va lontana.Little and often fills the purse.]En petit= On a small scale.*Petit mercier, petit panier= A small pack becomes a small pedlar.[“Little boats should keep the shore,Larger ships may venture more.”Latin: Pauper agat caute.]*Petite cervelle, prompte colère= A little pot is soon hot.

Petit

Elles sont aux petits soins pour leur vieille mère= They are all attention to their old mother.*Les petits ruisseaux font les grandes rivières= Many a little makes a mickle.*Petit à petit l’oiseau fait son nid= Little strokes fell great oaks. (SeeMailleandRuisseau.)[Also:Grain à grain amasse la fourmi son pain.Peu à peu la vieille file sa quenouille.Latin: Adde parvum parvo tandem fit magnus acervus.Italian: A passo a passo se va lontana.Little and often fills the purse.]En petit= On a small scale.*Petit mercier, petit panier= A small pack becomes a small pedlar.[“Little boats should keep the shore,Larger ships may venture more.”Latin: Pauper agat caute.]*Petite cervelle, prompte colère= A little pot is soon hot.

Elles sont aux petits soins pour leur vieille mère= They are all attention to their old mother.

*Les petits ruisseaux font les grandes rivières= Many a little makes a mickle.

*Petit à petit l’oiseau fait son nid= Little strokes fell great oaks. (SeeMailleandRuisseau.)

[Also:Grain à grain amasse la fourmi son pain.Peu à peu la vieille file sa quenouille.

Latin: Adde parvum parvo tandem fit magnus acervus.

Italian: A passo a passo se va lontana.Little and often fills the purse.]

En petit= On a small scale.

*Petit mercier, petit panier= A small pack becomes a small pedlar.

[“Little boats should keep the shore,Larger ships may venture more.”Latin: Pauper agat caute.]

*Petite cervelle, prompte colère= A little pot is soon hot.

PétrinJe suis dans le pétrin(fam.) = I am in a mess, fix.Les finances sont en ce moment dans un pétrin impossible= The finances are in horrible disorder just now.

Pétrin

Je suis dans le pétrin(fam.) = I am in a mess, fix.Les finances sont en ce moment dans un pétrin impossible= The finances are in horrible disorder just now.

Je suis dans le pétrin(fam.) = I am in a mess, fix.

Les finances sont en ce moment dans un pétrin impossible= The finances are in horrible disorder just now.

PeuSi peu que rien= Next to nothing.Imaginez un peu!= Just fancy!Pour peu que cela vous ennuie= However little it annoys you.Tant soit peu meilleur= Be it ever so little better; A shade better.À peu de chose près= Not far off.

Peu

Si peu que rien= Next to nothing.Imaginez un peu!= Just fancy!Pour peu que cela vous ennuie= However little it annoys you.Tant soit peu meilleur= Be it ever so little better; A shade better.À peu de chose près= Not far off.

Si peu que rien= Next to nothing.

Imaginez un peu!= Just fancy!

Pour peu que cela vous ennuie= However little it annoys you.

Tant soit peu meilleur= Be it ever so little better; A shade better.

À peu de chose près= Not far off.

PeurElle était mise à faire peur= She looked a fright.Il a eu plus de peur que de mal= He was more frightened than hurt.

Peur

Elle était mise à faire peur= She looked a fright.Il a eu plus de peur que de mal= He was more frightened than hurt.

Elle était mise à faire peur= She looked a fright.

Il a eu plus de peur que de mal= He was more frightened than hurt.

PhraseFaire des phrases= To speak affectedly.

Phrase

Faire des phrases= To speak affectedly.

Pie*Il a trouvé la pie au nid= He has found a mare’s nest.Elle jase comme une pie borgne= She chatters like a magpie.

Pie

*Il a trouvé la pie au nid= He has found a mare’s nest.Elle jase comme une pie borgne= She chatters like a magpie.

*Il a trouvé la pie au nid= He has found a mare’s nest.

Elle jase comme une pie borgne= She chatters like a magpie.

PièceJ’ai fait cela de toutes pièces= I have done that entirely (i.e.every part of it).Je lui ai donné la pièce= I gave him a trifle, tip.C’est la pièce de résistance= It is the principal dish (of a meal).

Pièce

J’ai fait cela de toutes pièces= I have done that entirely (i.e.every part of it).Je lui ai donné la pièce= I gave him a trifle, tip.C’est la pièce de résistance= It is the principal dish (of a meal).

J’ai fait cela de toutes pièces= I have done that entirely (i.e.every part of it).

Je lui ai donné la pièce= I gave him a trifle, tip.

C’est la pièce de résistance= It is the principal dish (of a meal).

PiedIl a bon pied, bon œil= He is hale and hearty.Sur le pied où en sont les choses= Considering how matters stand.Il ne sait sur quel pied danser= He does not know which way to turn.Partir du bon pied= To put one’s best foot foremost.Je ferai des pieds et des mains pour vous être utile= I will do my utmost (strain every nerve) to serve you.Armé de pied en cap= Armed from head to foot, cap-à-pie.Le pied m’a manqué= My foot slipped.Mettre (quelqu’un) à pied= (fam.) To dismiss (a functionary); To deprive a cabman of his licence.Il a trouvé chaussure à son pied= He has found just what he wanted; He has found his match.Lâcher pied= 1. To lose ground. 2. To scamper away.Lever le pied= To decamp (of a dishonest banker, etc.).Vous m’avez tiré une épine du pied= (fig.) You have got me out of a difficulty. (SeeÉpine.)J’ai fait mon travail d’arraché pied= I did my work straight off, without stopping.De plain pied= On the same level (of rooms on the same floor, or on a level with the ground).Il a le pied marin= He has got his sea-legs; He is a good sailor.Sauter à pieds joints sur quelqu’un= (fig.) To ride rough-shod over any one.Il ne se mouche pas du pied(pop.) = 1. He is a man of importance; He gives himself airs. 2. He is no fool.[A favourite trick of a tumbler in olden times was to take one of his feet in his hands and pass it quickly under his nose. Hence the expression would be equivalent to: he is no tumbler or common fellow. “N’est pas un homme, non, qui se mouche du pied.”Molière,Tartufe, iv. 5.]Aller du pied(or,Courir)comme un chat maigre= To be a good walker.Il sèche sur pied= He is pining away.La mort l’a pris au pied levé= Death took him without a moment’s notice.[Literally, just at the moment he was starting to go out.]

Pied

Il a bon pied, bon œil= He is hale and hearty.Sur le pied où en sont les choses= Considering how matters stand.Il ne sait sur quel pied danser= He does not know which way to turn.Partir du bon pied= To put one’s best foot foremost.Je ferai des pieds et des mains pour vous être utile= I will do my utmost (strain every nerve) to serve you.Armé de pied en cap= Armed from head to foot, cap-à-pie.Le pied m’a manqué= My foot slipped.Mettre (quelqu’un) à pied= (fam.) To dismiss (a functionary); To deprive a cabman of his licence.Il a trouvé chaussure à son pied= He has found just what he wanted; He has found his match.Lâcher pied= 1. To lose ground. 2. To scamper away.Lever le pied= To decamp (of a dishonest banker, etc.).Vous m’avez tiré une épine du pied= (fig.) You have got me out of a difficulty. (SeeÉpine.)J’ai fait mon travail d’arraché pied= I did my work straight off, without stopping.De plain pied= On the same level (of rooms on the same floor, or on a level with the ground).Il a le pied marin= He has got his sea-legs; He is a good sailor.Sauter à pieds joints sur quelqu’un= (fig.) To ride rough-shod over any one.Il ne se mouche pas du pied(pop.) = 1. He is a man of importance; He gives himself airs. 2. He is no fool.[A favourite trick of a tumbler in olden times was to take one of his feet in his hands and pass it quickly under his nose. Hence the expression would be equivalent to: he is no tumbler or common fellow. “N’est pas un homme, non, qui se mouche du pied.”Molière,Tartufe, iv. 5.]Aller du pied(or,Courir)comme un chat maigre= To be a good walker.Il sèche sur pied= He is pining away.La mort l’a pris au pied levé= Death took him without a moment’s notice.[Literally, just at the moment he was starting to go out.]

Il a bon pied, bon œil= He is hale and hearty.

Sur le pied où en sont les choses= Considering how matters stand.

Il ne sait sur quel pied danser= He does not know which way to turn.

Partir du bon pied= To put one’s best foot foremost.

Je ferai des pieds et des mains pour vous être utile= I will do my utmost (strain every nerve) to serve you.

Armé de pied en cap= Armed from head to foot, cap-à-pie.

Le pied m’a manqué= My foot slipped.

Mettre (quelqu’un) à pied= (fam.) To dismiss (a functionary); To deprive a cabman of his licence.

Il a trouvé chaussure à son pied= He has found just what he wanted; He has found his match.

Lâcher pied= 1. To lose ground. 2. To scamper away.

Lever le pied= To decamp (of a dishonest banker, etc.).

Vous m’avez tiré une épine du pied= (fig.) You have got me out of a difficulty. (SeeÉpine.)

J’ai fait mon travail d’arraché pied= I did my work straight off, without stopping.

De plain pied= On the same level (of rooms on the same floor, or on a level with the ground).

Il a le pied marin= He has got his sea-legs; He is a good sailor.

Sauter à pieds joints sur quelqu’un= (fig.) To ride rough-shod over any one.

Il ne se mouche pas du pied(pop.) = 1. He is a man of importance; He gives himself airs. 2. He is no fool.

[A favourite trick of a tumbler in olden times was to take one of his feet in his hands and pass it quickly under his nose. Hence the expression would be equivalent to: he is no tumbler or common fellow. “N’est pas un homme, non, qui se mouche du pied.”Molière,Tartufe, iv. 5.]

Aller du pied(or,Courir)comme un chat maigre= To be a good walker.

Il sèche sur pied= He is pining away.

La mort l’a pris au pied levé= Death took him without a moment’s notice.

[Literally, just at the moment he was starting to go out.]

Pierre*Faire d’une pierre deux coups= To kill two birds with one stone.*Pierre qui roule n’amasse pas mousse= A rolling stone gathers no moss.[The Greek form was: λίθος κυλινδόμενος τὸ φῦκος οὐ ποιεῖ.]Cela ferait rire un tas de pierres= That would make a cat laugh.

Pierre

*Faire d’une pierre deux coups= To kill two birds with one stone.*Pierre qui roule n’amasse pas mousse= A rolling stone gathers no moss.[The Greek form was: λίθος κυλινδόμενος τὸ φῦκος οὐ ποιεῖ.]Cela ferait rire un tas de pierres= That would make a cat laugh.

*Faire d’une pierre deux coups= To kill two birds with one stone.

*Pierre qui roule n’amasse pas mousse= A rolling stone gathers no moss.

[The Greek form was: λίθος κυλινδόμενος τὸ φῦκος οὐ ποιεῖ.]

Cela ferait rire un tas de pierres= That would make a cat laugh.

PiétéSa montre est au mont de piété= His watch is at the pawnbroker’s. (SeeAccrocher.)

Piété

Sa montre est au mont de piété= His watch is at the pawnbroker’s. (SeeAccrocher.)

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