U.

TendreIl vaut mieux tendre la main que le cou= It is better to beg than to steal.L’arc toujours tendu se gâte= All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy.[“Neque semper arcum tendit Apollo.”—Horace,Carm, II. x. 20.]

Tendre

Il vaut mieux tendre la main que le cou= It is better to beg than to steal.L’arc toujours tendu se gâte= All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy.[“Neque semper arcum tendit Apollo.”—Horace,Carm, II. x. 20.]

Il vaut mieux tendre la main que le cou= It is better to beg than to steal.

L’arc toujours tendu se gâte= All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy.

[“Neque semper arcum tendit Apollo.”—Horace,Carm, II. x. 20.]

TendresseTendresse maternelleToujours se renouvelle.} = {A mother’s truthKeeps constant youth.[Archbishop Trench quotes the French and German forms as rhyming equally well in both languages; the English, he confesses, is not such a good translation. The German is:Mutter treu’Wird täglich neu.]

Tendresse

Tendresse maternelleToujours se renouvelle.} = {A mother’s truthKeeps constant youth.[Archbishop Trench quotes the French and German forms as rhyming equally well in both languages; the English, he confesses, is not such a good translation. The German is:Mutter treu’Wird täglich neu.]

[Archbishop Trench quotes the French and German forms as rhyming equally well in both languages; the English, he confesses, is not such a good translation. The German is:Mutter treu’Wird täglich neu.]

TenirIl ne tint à rien qu’ils ne se battissent= They were within an ace of fighting.Quand on est bien, on ne s’y peut tenir= The love of change makes us give up even a comfortable position.Un tiens vaut mieux que deux tu l’auras= A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush.[Also:Un bon aujourd’hui vaut mieux que deux demain.]Il tient de son père= He takes after his father.Il tient à ce livre= He treasures that book.Je ne tiens plus à rien= I no longer care for anything.Il ne tiendra pas à moi qu’il ne réussisse= It will not be my fault if he does not succeed.Je le tiens de bonne source= I have it on good authority.Tenir le loup par les oreilles= To be in a critical situation, dilemma.On le tient à quatre= It needs four men to hold him down.Je me suis tenu à quatre pour ne pas lui dire ses vérités= It was almost more than I could do not to tell him what I thought of him.Il n’y a pas d’amitié qui tienne= Friendship has nothing to do with the question; It must be done in spite of friendship.Qu’à cela ne tienne= Do not let that be any objection; Never mind that.Je n’y tiens pas= I am not particular about it; I am not keen on it.Je n’y tiens plus= I cannot stand it any longer.Je n’y ai pas tenu= I could not contain myself.Je ne sais à quoi m’en tenir= I do not know what to believe.Tenir comme teigne(pop.) = To stick like wax.À quoi cela tient-il?= What is that owing to?Il ne tient qu’à lui de commencer= It rests entirely with him to begin; He can begin when he likes.Cela lui tient au cœur= He is anxious about it.Il n’a pas cédé, il a tenu bon= He did not give away, he stuck to it.Tenez-vous-le pour dit= Take it for granted; Bear that in mind.Il en tient= 1. He is smitten. 2. He is caught.Tenez-vous-en là= Stop there, go no further in the matter; Be satisfied with what you have already obtained.Tiens! c’est vous?= Hullo! is that you?Tiens, tiens!= Indeed, you don’t say so!

Tenir

Il ne tint à rien qu’ils ne se battissent= They were within an ace of fighting.Quand on est bien, on ne s’y peut tenir= The love of change makes us give up even a comfortable position.Un tiens vaut mieux que deux tu l’auras= A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush.[Also:Un bon aujourd’hui vaut mieux que deux demain.]Il tient de son père= He takes after his father.Il tient à ce livre= He treasures that book.Je ne tiens plus à rien= I no longer care for anything.Il ne tiendra pas à moi qu’il ne réussisse= It will not be my fault if he does not succeed.Je le tiens de bonne source= I have it on good authority.Tenir le loup par les oreilles= To be in a critical situation, dilemma.On le tient à quatre= It needs four men to hold him down.Je me suis tenu à quatre pour ne pas lui dire ses vérités= It was almost more than I could do not to tell him what I thought of him.Il n’y a pas d’amitié qui tienne= Friendship has nothing to do with the question; It must be done in spite of friendship.Qu’à cela ne tienne= Do not let that be any objection; Never mind that.Je n’y tiens pas= I am not particular about it; I am not keen on it.Je n’y tiens plus= I cannot stand it any longer.Je n’y ai pas tenu= I could not contain myself.Je ne sais à quoi m’en tenir= I do not know what to believe.Tenir comme teigne(pop.) = To stick like wax.À quoi cela tient-il?= What is that owing to?Il ne tient qu’à lui de commencer= It rests entirely with him to begin; He can begin when he likes.Cela lui tient au cœur= He is anxious about it.Il n’a pas cédé, il a tenu bon= He did not give away, he stuck to it.Tenez-vous-le pour dit= Take it for granted; Bear that in mind.Il en tient= 1. He is smitten. 2. He is caught.Tenez-vous-en là= Stop there, go no further in the matter; Be satisfied with what you have already obtained.Tiens! c’est vous?= Hullo! is that you?Tiens, tiens!= Indeed, you don’t say so!

Il ne tint à rien qu’ils ne se battissent= They were within an ace of fighting.

Quand on est bien, on ne s’y peut tenir= The love of change makes us give up even a comfortable position.

Un tiens vaut mieux que deux tu l’auras= A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush.

[Also:Un bon aujourd’hui vaut mieux que deux demain.]

Il tient de son père= He takes after his father.

Il tient à ce livre= He treasures that book.

Je ne tiens plus à rien= I no longer care for anything.

Il ne tiendra pas à moi qu’il ne réussisse= It will not be my fault if he does not succeed.

Je le tiens de bonne source= I have it on good authority.

Tenir le loup par les oreilles= To be in a critical situation, dilemma.

On le tient à quatre= It needs four men to hold him down.

Je me suis tenu à quatre pour ne pas lui dire ses vérités= It was almost more than I could do not to tell him what I thought of him.

Il n’y a pas d’amitié qui tienne= Friendship has nothing to do with the question; It must be done in spite of friendship.

Qu’à cela ne tienne= Do not let that be any objection; Never mind that.

Je n’y tiens pas= I am not particular about it; I am not keen on it.

Je n’y tiens plus= I cannot stand it any longer.

Je n’y ai pas tenu= I could not contain myself.

Je ne sais à quoi m’en tenir= I do not know what to believe.

Tenir comme teigne(pop.) = To stick like wax.

À quoi cela tient-il?= What is that owing to?

Il ne tient qu’à lui de commencer= It rests entirely with him to begin; He can begin when he likes.

Cela lui tient au cœur= He is anxious about it.

Il n’a pas cédé, il a tenu bon= He did not give away, he stuck to it.

Tenez-vous-le pour dit= Take it for granted; Bear that in mind.

Il en tient= 1. He is smitten. 2. He is caught.

Tenez-vous-en là= Stop there, go no further in the matter; Be satisfied with what you have already obtained.

Tiens! c’est vous?= Hullo! is that you?

Tiens, tiens!= Indeed, you don’t say so!

Terme*Il y a terme à tout= There is an end to everything.[A German proverb says: “Everything has an end—a sausage two.”]*Qui a terme ne doit rien= No one is obliged to pay before a debt is due.Le terme vaut l’argent= Time is money.Ménagez un peu vos termes= Moderate your expressions a little; Be a little careful in what you say.

Terme

*Il y a terme à tout= There is an end to everything.[A German proverb says: “Everything has an end—a sausage two.”]*Qui a terme ne doit rien= No one is obliged to pay before a debt is due.Le terme vaut l’argent= Time is money.Ménagez un peu vos termes= Moderate your expressions a little; Be a little careful in what you say.

*Il y a terme à tout= There is an end to everything.

[A German proverb says: “Everything has an end—a sausage two.”]

*Qui a terme ne doit rien= No one is obliged to pay before a debt is due.

Le terme vaut l’argent= Time is money.

Ménagez un peu vos termes= Moderate your expressions a little; Be a little careful in what you say.

TerrainEn mathématiques il est sur son terrain= He is quite in his element at mathematics.Tâter le terrain= To feel one’s way (fig.).

Terrain

En mathématiques il est sur son terrain= He is quite in his element at mathematics.Tâter le terrain= To feel one’s way (fig.).

En mathématiques il est sur son terrain= He is quite in his element at mathematics.

Tâter le terrain= To feel one’s way (fig.).

TerroirIl sent le terroir= He is racy of the soil; He savours of his country.

Terroir

Il sent le terroir= He is racy of the soil; He savours of his country.

TêteIl a la tête près du bonnet= He is hasty, hot-headed.*Ce sont deux têtes dans un bonnet= They are hand and glove together.Cet homme y va tête baissée= That man rushes blindly into it; That man sets to work energetically.C’est un homme de tête= He has a head on his shoulders; He is a man of resource.Il s’est monté la tête= He got excited over fancied or exaggerated wrongs.C’est une tête carrée= He is an obstinate fellow.J’en ai par-dessus la tête= 1. I am sick and tired of it. 2. I am head over ears in it.Je lui laverai la tête(pop.) = I will give it to him; I will give him a sound drubbing.Il ne sait où donner de la tête= He does not know which way to turn.[Donnerhere has the meaning ofheurter,frapper de la tête.]Donner de la tête contre le mur= To hit one’s head against a stone wall.La tête me tourne= I feel giddy; my head swims.Il a mauvaise tête= He is a wrong-headed fellow.Il fait à sa tête= He will have his own way.Cet homme a mauvaise tête et bon cœur= That man is quick-tempered, but kind-hearted.Vous lui avez tenu tête= You did not give in to him.Cet homme a de la tête= That man has his head screwed on the right way.

Tête

Il a la tête près du bonnet= He is hasty, hot-headed.*Ce sont deux têtes dans un bonnet= They are hand and glove together.Cet homme y va tête baissée= That man rushes blindly into it; That man sets to work energetically.C’est un homme de tête= He has a head on his shoulders; He is a man of resource.Il s’est monté la tête= He got excited over fancied or exaggerated wrongs.C’est une tête carrée= He is an obstinate fellow.J’en ai par-dessus la tête= 1. I am sick and tired of it. 2. I am head over ears in it.Je lui laverai la tête(pop.) = I will give it to him; I will give him a sound drubbing.Il ne sait où donner de la tête= He does not know which way to turn.[Donnerhere has the meaning ofheurter,frapper de la tête.]Donner de la tête contre le mur= To hit one’s head against a stone wall.La tête me tourne= I feel giddy; my head swims.Il a mauvaise tête= He is a wrong-headed fellow.Il fait à sa tête= He will have his own way.Cet homme a mauvaise tête et bon cœur= That man is quick-tempered, but kind-hearted.Vous lui avez tenu tête= You did not give in to him.Cet homme a de la tête= That man has his head screwed on the right way.

Il a la tête près du bonnet= He is hasty, hot-headed.

*Ce sont deux têtes dans un bonnet= They are hand and glove together.

Cet homme y va tête baissée= That man rushes blindly into it; That man sets to work energetically.

C’est un homme de tête= He has a head on his shoulders; He is a man of resource.

Il s’est monté la tête= He got excited over fancied or exaggerated wrongs.

C’est une tête carrée= He is an obstinate fellow.

J’en ai par-dessus la tête= 1. I am sick and tired of it. 2. I am head over ears in it.

Je lui laverai la tête(pop.) = I will give it to him; I will give him a sound drubbing.

Il ne sait où donner de la tête= He does not know which way to turn.

[Donnerhere has the meaning ofheurter,frapper de la tête.]

Donner de la tête contre le mur= To hit one’s head against a stone wall.

La tête me tourne= I feel giddy; my head swims.

Il a mauvaise tête= He is a wrong-headed fellow.

Il fait à sa tête= He will have his own way.

Cet homme a mauvaise tête et bon cœur= That man is quick-tempered, but kind-hearted.

Vous lui avez tenu tête= You did not give in to him.

Cet homme a de la tête= That man has his head screwed on the right way.

TiersIl ne faut pas dire vos affaires au tiers et au quart= You must not tell your business to all the world, to everybody.Le tiers et le quart= Tom, Dick, and Harry.

Tiers

Il ne faut pas dire vos affaires au tiers et au quart= You must not tell your business to all the world, to everybody.Le tiers et le quart= Tom, Dick, and Harry.

Il ne faut pas dire vos affaires au tiers et au quart= You must not tell your business to all the world, to everybody.

Le tiers et le quart= Tom, Dick, and Harry.

TimbreIl a le timbre fêlé(fam.) = He is cracked; He has a screw loose.

Timbre

Il a le timbre fêlé(fam.) = He is cracked; He has a screw loose.

TirerIl se fera tirer l’oreille= He will require pressing.Il tire le diable par la queue= He leads a struggling existence.Vous ne me tirerez pas les vers du nez= You will not pump me (i.e.make me tell secrets).Cet homme se tirerait d’un puits= That man would get out of any difficulty, is full of resource.Je me ferais tirer à quatre avant de parler= Wild horses would not make me speak.Il tire (touche) à sa fin= He is on his last legs.Je saurai en tirer parti= I shall be able to turn it to account.*Tirez le rideau, la farce est jouée= Ring down the curtain, the play is over.[Words reported to have been said by Rabelais just before his death.]

Tirer

Il se fera tirer l’oreille= He will require pressing.Il tire le diable par la queue= He leads a struggling existence.Vous ne me tirerez pas les vers du nez= You will not pump me (i.e.make me tell secrets).Cet homme se tirerait d’un puits= That man would get out of any difficulty, is full of resource.Je me ferais tirer à quatre avant de parler= Wild horses would not make me speak.Il tire (touche) à sa fin= He is on his last legs.Je saurai en tirer parti= I shall be able to turn it to account.*Tirez le rideau, la farce est jouée= Ring down the curtain, the play is over.[Words reported to have been said by Rabelais just before his death.]

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

Il tire le diable par la queue= He leads a struggling existence.

Vous ne me tirerez pas les vers du nez= You will not pump me (i.e.make me tell secrets).

Cet homme se tirerait d’un puits= That man would get out of any difficulty, is full of resource.

Je me ferais tirer à quatre avant de parler= Wild horses would not make me speak.

Il tire (touche) à sa fin= He is on his last legs.

Je saurai en tirer parti= I shall be able to turn it to account.

*Tirez le rideau, la farce est jouée= Ring down the curtain, the play is over.

[Words reported to have been said by Rabelais just before his death.]

TitreOn m’a donné cela à titre gratuit(or,gracieux) = They gave me that for nothing.Cet or n’est pas au titre légal= This gold is not up to the standard.À ce titre (compte) j’y perds= At that rate I am a loser.

Titre

On m’a donné cela à titre gratuit(or,gracieux) = They gave me that for nothing.Cet or n’est pas au titre légal= This gold is not up to the standard.À ce titre (compte) j’y perds= At that rate I am a loser.

On m’a donné cela à titre gratuit(or,gracieux) = They gave me that for nothing.

Cet or n’est pas au titre légal= This gold is not up to the standard.

À ce titre (compte) j’y perds= At that rate I am a loser.

ToitCrier par-dessus les toits= To proclaim from the housetops.

Toit

Crier par-dessus les toits= To proclaim from the housetops.

TomberJe tombe d’accord avec vous sur ce point= I am at one with you on that head.Je tombe des nues= I am astounded.Cet homme-là est bien tombé= That man has fallen on his feet; That man has applied to the right person (or, ironic), to the wrong person.L’enfant tombe par terre, mais le fruit tombe à terre= A child falls on the ground, while fruit falls to the earth.[Par terre= from one’s own height;à terre= from any height.]

Tomber

Je tombe d’accord avec vous sur ce point= I am at one with you on that head.Je tombe des nues= I am astounded.Cet homme-là est bien tombé= That man has fallen on his feet; That man has applied to the right person (or, ironic), to the wrong person.L’enfant tombe par terre, mais le fruit tombe à terre= A child falls on the ground, while fruit falls to the earth.[Par terre= from one’s own height;à terre= from any height.]

Je tombe d’accord avec vous sur ce point= I am at one with you on that head.

Je tombe des nues= I am astounded.

Cet homme-là est bien tombé= That man has fallen on his feet; That man has applied to the right person (or, ironic), to the wrong person.

L’enfant tombe par terre, mais le fruit tombe à terre= A child falls on the ground, while fruit falls to the earth.

[Par terre= from one’s own height;à terre= from any height.]

TordreJe me tordais de rire(fam.) = I was splitting my sides (or, convulsed) with laughter.

Tordre

Je me tordais de rire(fam.) = I was splitting my sides (or, convulsed) with laughter.

TortVous vous êtes mis dans votre tort= You put yourself in the wrong.À tort ou à raison= Rightly or wrongly.À tort et à travers= At random, thoughtlessly.

Tort

Vous vous êtes mis dans votre tort= You put yourself in the wrong.À tort ou à raison= Rightly or wrongly.À tort et à travers= At random, thoughtlessly.

Vous vous êtes mis dans votre tort= You put yourself in the wrong.

À tort ou à raison= Rightly or wrongly.

À tort et à travers= At random, thoughtlessly.

Tôt*Le plus tôt sera le mieux= The sooner, the better.

Tôt

*Le plus tôt sera le mieux= The sooner, the better.

ToucherElle a l’air de ne pas y toucher= She looks as if butter would not melt in her mouth; She is very sarcastic without appearing to mean anything. (Comp.Nitouche.)C’est un touche-à-tout= He is a Jack of all trades; He meddles with everything.Cela touche à la folie= That is but one remove from madness; That borders on lunacy.Touchez-là= Here’s my hand on it.

Toucher

Elle a l’air de ne pas y toucher= She looks as if butter would not melt in her mouth; She is very sarcastic without appearing to mean anything. (Comp.Nitouche.)C’est un touche-à-tout= He is a Jack of all trades; He meddles with everything.Cela touche à la folie= That is but one remove from madness; That borders on lunacy.Touchez-là= Here’s my hand on it.

Elle a l’air de ne pas y toucher= She looks as if butter would not melt in her mouth; She is very sarcastic without appearing to mean anything. (Comp.Nitouche.)

C’est un touche-à-tout= He is a Jack of all trades; He meddles with everything.

Cela touche à la folie= That is but one remove from madness; That borders on lunacy.

Touchez-là= Here’s my hand on it.

TourFaire ses quinze(or,trente-six)tours= To do a hundred useless things.*À chacun son tour= Every dog has his day; Now it ismyturn.Elle est faite au tour(or,moule) = She has a splendid figure.Il fit cela en un tour de main= He did that in a moment.Un tour de faveur= Permission to go (or, do anything) before one’s turn.

Tour

Faire ses quinze(or,trente-six)tours= To do a hundred useless things.*À chacun son tour= Every dog has his day; Now it ismyturn.Elle est faite au tour(or,moule) = She has a splendid figure.Il fit cela en un tour de main= He did that in a moment.Un tour de faveur= Permission to go (or, do anything) before one’s turn.

Faire ses quinze(or,trente-six)tours= To do a hundred useless things.

*À chacun son tour= Every dog has his day; Now it ismyturn.

Elle est faite au tour(or,moule) = She has a splendid figure.

Il fit cela en un tour de main= He did that in a moment.

Un tour de faveur= Permission to go (or, do anything) before one’s turn.

TracAvoir le trac(fam.) = To be funky.

Trac

Avoir le trac(fam.) = To be funky.

TrainMettre une affaire en train= To put a thing in hand.Pas dans le train= Not up-to-date; Of an older school.Il le mène bon train dans cette affaire= He drives him hard in that matter.Il nous a menés bon train= He brought us along at a great rate.Allez toujours votre train= Go on as usual.Il est en train d’écrire= He is in the act of writing; He is just writing.Je ne suis pas en train ce matin= I do not feel myself this morning.Il est en train(pop.) = He is slightly intoxicated.Faire du train(pop.) = To kick up a dust.Il mène grand train= He lives like a lord.À fond de train= At full speed.

Train

Mettre une affaire en train= To put a thing in hand.Pas dans le train= Not up-to-date; Of an older school.Il le mène bon train dans cette affaire= He drives him hard in that matter.Il nous a menés bon train= He brought us along at a great rate.Allez toujours votre train= Go on as usual.Il est en train d’écrire= He is in the act of writing; He is just writing.Je ne suis pas en train ce matin= I do not feel myself this morning.Il est en train(pop.) = He is slightly intoxicated.Faire du train(pop.) = To kick up a dust.Il mène grand train= He lives like a lord.À fond de train= At full speed.

Mettre une affaire en train= To put a thing in hand.

Pas dans le train= Not up-to-date; Of an older school.

Il le mène bon train dans cette affaire= He drives him hard in that matter.

Il nous a menés bon train= He brought us along at a great rate.

Allez toujours votre train= Go on as usual.

Il est en train d’écrire= He is in the act of writing; He is just writing.

Je ne suis pas en train ce matin= I do not feel myself this morning.

Il est en train(pop.) = He is slightly intoxicated.

Faire du train(pop.) = To kick up a dust.

Il mène grand train= He lives like a lord.

À fond de train= At full speed.

TraitCe que vous dites n’a pas trait à la question= What you say has nothing to do with the question.Ce sont là de vos traits= That is just like you.Avaler d’un trait= To drink off at one gulp, at a draught.

Trait

Ce que vous dites n’a pas trait à la question= What you say has nothing to do with the question.Ce sont là de vos traits= That is just like you.Avaler d’un trait= To drink off at one gulp, at a draught.

Ce que vous dites n’a pas trait à la question= What you say has nothing to do with the question.

Ce sont là de vos traits= That is just like you.

Avaler d’un trait= To drink off at one gulp, at a draught.

TraiteTout d’une traite= At a stretch, without stopping.

Traite

Tout d’une traite= At a stretch, without stopping.

TraiterIl m’a traité de fat= He called me a fop.Il m’a traité en roi= He treated me like a lord.

Traiter

Il m’a traité de fat= He called me a fop.Il m’a traité en roi= He treated me like a lord.

Il m’a traité de fat= He called me a fop.

Il m’a traité en roi= He treated me like a lord.

TraîtreIl n’a pas dit un traître mot= He never spoke a single word.

Traître

Il n’a pas dit un traître mot= He never spoke a single word.

TramontanePerdre la tramontane= Not to know which way to turn; To lose one’s head.[Literally, to lose one’s bearings. Tramontane is derived from the Italiantramontana, and originally meant the pole-star, which was the star seen from the Mediterranean across the mountains (the Alps). Compares’orienter. SeeBoule.]

Tramontane

Perdre la tramontane= Not to know which way to turn; To lose one’s head.[Literally, to lose one’s bearings. Tramontane is derived from the Italiantramontana, and originally meant the pole-star, which was the star seen from the Mediterranean across the mountains (the Alps). Compares’orienter. SeeBoule.]

Perdre la tramontane= Not to know which way to turn; To lose one’s head.

[Literally, to lose one’s bearings. Tramontane is derived from the Italiantramontana, and originally meant the pole-star, which was the star seen from the Mediterranean across the mountains (the Alps). Compares’orienter. SeeBoule.]

TrancherCet homme n’est pas très honnête, tranchons le mot, c’est un coquin= That man is not very honourable, in plain English, he is a rascal. (SeeMot.)Trancher la question, la difficulté= To cut the Gordian knot; To solve the difficulty.Trancher du grand seigneur= To try and play the lord.Trancher dans le vif= (lit.) To cut to the quick; (fig.) To set to work in earnest.

Trancher

Cet homme n’est pas très honnête, tranchons le mot, c’est un coquin= That man is not very honourable, in plain English, he is a rascal. (SeeMot.)Trancher la question, la difficulté= To cut the Gordian knot; To solve the difficulty.Trancher du grand seigneur= To try and play the lord.Trancher dans le vif= (lit.) To cut to the quick; (fig.) To set to work in earnest.

Cet homme n’est pas très honnête, tranchons le mot, c’est un coquin= That man is not very honourable, in plain English, he is a rascal. (SeeMot.)

Trancher la question, la difficulté= To cut the Gordian knot; To solve the difficulty.

Trancher du grand seigneur= To try and play the lord.

Trancher dans le vif= (lit.) To cut to the quick; (fig.) To set to work in earnest.

TraversIl a l’esprit de travers= He has an awkward temper; He does not see things as they are; He is cross-grained.Il me regarda de travers= He looked black (askance) at me.Il prend tout de travers= He takes everything amiss.

Travers

Il a l’esprit de travers= He has an awkward temper; He does not see things as they are; He is cross-grained.Il me regarda de travers= He looked black (askance) at me.Il prend tout de travers= He takes everything amiss.

Il a l’esprit de travers= He has an awkward temper; He does not see things as they are; He is cross-grained.

Il me regarda de travers= He looked black (askance) at me.

Il prend tout de travers= He takes everything amiss.

TréfondsJ’en sais le fonds et le tréfonds= I know the ins and outs of it, the long and the short of it.[Also:Je connais les tenants et aboutissants de l’affaire.]

Tréfonds

J’en sais le fonds et le tréfonds= I know the ins and outs of it, the long and the short of it.[Also:Je connais les tenants et aboutissants de l’affaire.]

J’en sais le fonds et le tréfonds= I know the ins and outs of it, the long and the short of it.

[Also:Je connais les tenants et aboutissants de l’affaire.]

TremperNous fûmes trempés jusqu’aux os= We were wet to the skin.

Tremper

Nous fûmes trempés jusqu’aux os= We were wet to the skin.

TrenteÊtre sur son trente-et-un(fam.) = To be dressed up to the nines.

Trente

Être sur son trente-et-un(fam.) = To be dressed up to the nines.

Tricherie*Tricherie revient à son maître= Curses, like chickens, come home to roost.

Tricherie

*Tricherie revient à son maître= Curses, like chickens, come home to roost.

TrierLes soldats de la Garde étaient tous triés sur le volet= The soldiers of the Guard were all picked men.[Voletis a gardener’s board on which he sorts seeds.]

Trier

Les soldats de la Garde étaient tous triés sur le volet= The soldiers of the Guard were all picked men.[Voletis a gardener’s board on which he sorts seeds.]

Les soldats de la Garde étaient tous triés sur le volet= The soldiers of the Guard were all picked men.

[Voletis a gardener’s board on which he sorts seeds.]

TristeC’est un triste sire= He is a despicable, dishonourable fellow.

Triste

C’est un triste sire= He is a despicable, dishonourable fellow.

TromperIl n’y a pas à s’y tromper= There is no mistake about it.

Tromper

Il n’y a pas à s’y tromper= There is no mistake about it.

TropJe ne sais trop= I don’t exactly know.*Qui dit trop ne dit rien= He who wants to prove too much proves nothing.

Trop

Je ne sais trop= I don’t exactly know.*Qui dit trop ne dit rien= He who wants to prove too much proves nothing.

Je ne sais trop= I don’t exactly know.

*Qui dit trop ne dit rien= He who wants to prove too much proves nothing.

TrouFaire un trou à la lune(fam.) = To shoot the moon; To fly from one’s creditors.

Trou

Faire un trou à la lune(fam.) = To shoot the moon; To fly from one’s creditors.

TroublerC’est un trouble-fête= He is a mar-joy, a wet blanket.

Troubler

C’est un trouble-fête= He is a mar-joy, a wet blanket.

TrousseLe voleur fuyait, mais nous étions à ses trousses= The thief made off, but we were at his heels.

Trousse

Le voleur fuyait, mais nous étions à ses trousses= The thief made off, but we were at his heels.

TrouverCela se trouve bien= That is lucky.

Trouver

Cela se trouve bien= That is lucky.

TuÊtre à tu et à toi= To be on very familiar terms with.

Être à tu et à toi= To be on very familiar terms with.

TuerCrier à tue-tête= To shout at the top of one’s voice.

Tuer

Crier à tue-tête= To shout at the top of one’s voice.

UnNe faire ni une ni deux= To make no bones about it; To make up one’s mind quickly.C’est tout un= It is all the same.

Ne faire ni une ni deux= To make no bones about it; To make up one’s mind quickly.C’est tout un= It is all the same.

Ne faire ni une ni deux= To make no bones about it; To make up one’s mind quickly.

C’est tout un= It is all the same.

UnionL’union fait la force= United we stand, divided we fall.

Union

L’union fait la force= United we stand, divided we fall.

UsineCe ne sont que des usines à bachot(pop.) = They are mere cramming shops.[Bachot=baccalauréat= matriculation. The French equivalent for our B.A. is ratherlicencié-ès-lettres, although the examinations in the two countries are so different that any comparison is very difficult.]

Usine

Ce ne sont que des usines à bachot(pop.) = They are mere cramming shops.[Bachot=baccalauréat= matriculation. The French equivalent for our B.A. is ratherlicencié-ès-lettres, although the examinations in the two countries are so different that any comparison is very difficult.]

Ce ne sont que des usines à bachot(pop.) = They are mere cramming shops.

[Bachot=baccalauréat= matriculation. The French equivalent for our B.A. is ratherlicencié-ès-lettres, although the examinations in the two countries are so different that any comparison is very difficult.]

VacheParler français comme une vache espagnole= To talk horribly bad French. (SeeFrançais.)“Un homme qui n’a jamais mangé de la vache enragée n’est jamais qu’une poule mouillée” (Mme.de Girardin) = A man who has never roughed it is always a milksop.C’est le grand chemin des vaches= That is the beaten track.Le plancher des vaches(fam.) = Terra firma.

Vache

Parler français comme une vache espagnole= To talk horribly bad French. (SeeFrançais.)“Un homme qui n’a jamais mangé de la vache enragée n’est jamais qu’une poule mouillée” (Mme.de Girardin) = A man who has never roughed it is always a milksop.C’est le grand chemin des vaches= That is the beaten track.Le plancher des vaches(fam.) = Terra firma.

Parler français comme une vache espagnole= To talk horribly bad French. (SeeFrançais.)

“Un homme qui n’a jamais mangé de la vache enragée n’est jamais qu’une poule mouillée” (Mme.de Girardin) = A man who has never roughed it is always a milksop.

C’est le grand chemin des vaches= That is the beaten track.

Le plancher des vaches(fam.) = Terra firma.

Vaincre*“À vaincre sans péril, on triomphe sans gloire” = Where there is no danger, there is no glory.[Corneille,Cid, ii. 2. Compare: “Scit eum sine gloria vinci qui sine periculo vincitur.”—Seneca,De Providentia, iii.]

Vaincre

*“À vaincre sans péril, on triomphe sans gloire” = Where there is no danger, there is no glory.[Corneille,Cid, ii. 2. Compare: “Scit eum sine gloria vinci qui sine periculo vincitur.”—Seneca,De Providentia, iii.]

*“À vaincre sans péril, on triomphe sans gloire” = Where there is no danger, there is no glory.

[Corneille,Cid, ii. 2. Compare: “Scit eum sine gloria vinci qui sine periculo vincitur.”—Seneca,De Providentia, iii.]

ValetIl n’y a pas de grand homme pour son valet de chambre= No man is a hero to his valet.On ne prend pas de valet pour se servir soi-même= What! keep a dog and bark thyself!

Valet

Il n’y a pas de grand homme pour son valet de chambre= No man is a hero to his valet.On ne prend pas de valet pour se servir soi-même= What! keep a dog and bark thyself!

Il n’y a pas de grand homme pour son valet de chambre= No man is a hero to his valet.

On ne prend pas de valet pour se servir soi-même= What! keep a dog and bark thyself!

Valeur“Aux âmes bien néesLa valeur n’attend pas le nombre des années.”Corneille,Cid, ii. 2.= Really brave men show their valour when quite young.

Valeur

“Aux âmes bien néesLa valeur n’attend pas le nombre des années.”Corneille,Cid, ii. 2.= Really brave men show their valour when quite young.

“Aux âmes bien néesLa valeur n’attend pas le nombre des années.”Corneille,Cid, ii. 2.

= Really brave men show their valour when quite young.

ValoirCela vaut fait= That is as good as done.Vaut bien que mal=Vaille que vaille= At all events; For better, for worse.Il se fait trop valoir= He brags too much.

Valoir

Cela vaut fait= That is as good as done.Vaut bien que mal=Vaille que vaille= At all events; For better, for worse.Il se fait trop valoir= He brags too much.

Cela vaut fait= That is as good as done.

Vaut bien que mal=Vaille que vaille= At all events; For better, for worse.

Il se fait trop valoir= He brags too much.

VeineJe suis en veine de le faire= I am just in the humour to do it.J’ai de la veine(pop.) = I am in luck.

Veine

Je suis en veine de le faire= I am just in the humour to do it.J’ai de la veine(pop.) = I am in luck.

Je suis en veine de le faire= I am just in the humour to do it.

J’ai de la veine(pop.) = I am in luck.

VeloursFaire patte de velours= To speak smoothly; To draw in one’s claws.*Habit de velours, ventre de son= Silks and satins put out the kitchen fire.[Compare:“Dress drains our cellar dry,And keeps our larder lean.”Cowper,Task, ii. 614.An old French dicton says:“Ne sois paon en ton parer,Ny perroquet en ton parler,Ny cicogne en ton manger,Ny oye aussi en ton marcher.”]

Velours

Faire patte de velours= To speak smoothly; To draw in one’s claws.*Habit de velours, ventre de son= Silks and satins put out the kitchen fire.[Compare:“Dress drains our cellar dry,And keeps our larder lean.”Cowper,Task, ii. 614.An old French dicton says:“Ne sois paon en ton parer,Ny perroquet en ton parler,Ny cicogne en ton manger,Ny oye aussi en ton marcher.”]

Faire patte de velours= To speak smoothly; To draw in one’s claws.

*Habit de velours, ventre de son= Silks and satins put out the kitchen fire.

[Compare:“Dress drains our cellar dry,And keeps our larder lean.”Cowper,Task, ii. 614.An old French dicton says:“Ne sois paon en ton parer,Ny perroquet en ton parler,Ny cicogne en ton manger,Ny oye aussi en ton marcher.”]

Vendre*Chose qui plaît est à moitié vendue= Good wares make quick market; Please the eye and fill the purse.[“Chose qui plaist est à demy vendue.”—Charles D’Orléans,Rondeau194.]

Vendre

*Chose qui plaît est à moitié vendue= Good wares make quick market; Please the eye and fill the purse.[“Chose qui plaist est à demy vendue.”—Charles D’Orléans,Rondeau194.]

*Chose qui plaît est à moitié vendue= Good wares make quick market; Please the eye and fill the purse.

[“Chose qui plaist est à demy vendue.”—Charles D’Orléans,Rondeau194.]

Venir*Tout vient à point à qui sait attendre= Everything comes to the man who waits.[The older form of the proverb omittedà; forqui=si on.]C’est un beau venir y voir= A pretty sight indeed!Où voulez-vous en venir?= What are you driving at? What is your drift?Il se vante d’en venir à bout= He says he is sure to succeed.

Venir

*Tout vient à point à qui sait attendre= Everything comes to the man who waits.[The older form of the proverb omittedà; forqui=si on.]C’est un beau venir y voir= A pretty sight indeed!Où voulez-vous en venir?= What are you driving at? What is your drift?Il se vante d’en venir à bout= He says he is sure to succeed.

*Tout vient à point à qui sait attendre= Everything comes to the man who waits.

[The older form of the proverb omittedà; forqui=si on.]

C’est un beau venir y voir= A pretty sight indeed!

Où voulez-vous en venir?= What are you driving at? What is your drift?

Il se vante d’en venir à bout= He says he is sure to succeed.

VentIl fait un vent à décorner(or,écorner)un bœuf= There is a wind enough to blow one’s head off.Autant en emporte le vent= That is but so much breath spent in vain; It is not of the slightest consequence.*Vent au visage rend un homme sage= Adversity makes a man wise, not rich.Celui qui sème le vent récolte la tempête= He who sows the wind reaps the whirlwind; Those who live in glass houses should not throw stones.

Vent

Il fait un vent à décorner(or,écorner)un bœuf= There is a wind enough to blow one’s head off.Autant en emporte le vent= That is but so much breath spent in vain; It is not of the slightest consequence.*Vent au visage rend un homme sage= Adversity makes a man wise, not rich.Celui qui sème le vent récolte la tempête= He who sows the wind reaps the whirlwind; Those who live in glass houses should not throw stones.

Il fait un vent à décorner(or,écorner)un bœuf= There is a wind enough to blow one’s head off.

Autant en emporte le vent= That is but so much breath spent in vain; It is not of the slightest consequence.

*Vent au visage rend un homme sage= Adversity makes a man wise, not rich.

Celui qui sème le vent récolte la tempête= He who sows the wind reaps the whirlwind; Those who live in glass houses should not throw stones.

Ventre*Ventre affamé prend tout en gré=“They that have no other meat,Bread and butter are glad to eat.”*Ventre affamé n’a point d’oreilles= A hungry man will not listen to reason; A hungry man is an angry man.Cela lui remet du cœur au ventre(fam.) = That gives him courage again.Savoir ce que quelqu’un a dans le ventre(fam.) = To know what a person is worth, what he thinks; To know the stuff a man is made of.Il n’a pas trois mois dans le ventre(fam.) = He cannot live three months.Le cheval courait ventre à terre= The horse was running as hard as he could tear.Il était à plat ventre= He was flat on his face.

Ventre

*Ventre affamé prend tout en gré=“They that have no other meat,Bread and butter are glad to eat.”*Ventre affamé n’a point d’oreilles= A hungry man will not listen to reason; A hungry man is an angry man.Cela lui remet du cœur au ventre(fam.) = That gives him courage again.Savoir ce que quelqu’un a dans le ventre(fam.) = To know what a person is worth, what he thinks; To know the stuff a man is made of.Il n’a pas trois mois dans le ventre(fam.) = He cannot live three months.Le cheval courait ventre à terre= The horse was running as hard as he could tear.Il était à plat ventre= He was flat on his face.

*Ventre affamé prend tout en gré=“They that have no other meat,Bread and butter are glad to eat.”

*Ventre affamé n’a point d’oreilles= A hungry man will not listen to reason; A hungry man is an angry man.

Cela lui remet du cœur au ventre(fam.) = That gives him courage again.

Savoir ce que quelqu’un a dans le ventre(fam.) = To know what a person is worth, what he thinks; To know the stuff a man is made of.

Il n’a pas trois mois dans le ventre(fam.) = He cannot live three months.

Le cheval courait ventre à terre= The horse was running as hard as he could tear.

Il était à plat ventre= He was flat on his face.

VerNu comme un ver= Stark naked; As naked as when one was born.

Ver

Nu comme un ver= Stark naked; As naked as when one was born.

Vérité*On dit souvent la vérité en riant= There is many a true word spoken in jest.Toute vérité n’est pas bonne à dire= All truths are not to be spoken at all times.La vérité comme l’huile vient au-dessus= Truth will out; It takes a good many shovelfuls of earth to bury the Truth.[The Spaniards say: La verdad es hija de Dios = Truth is the daughter of God.]C’est une vérité de Monsieur de la Palisse= It is an evident truth.[M. de la Palisse is the hero of a lengthy poem, one of the verses of which runs as follows:“M. de la Palisse est mortMort de maladieUn quart d’heure avant sa mortIl était encore en vie.”]

Vérité

*On dit souvent la vérité en riant= There is many a true word spoken in jest.Toute vérité n’est pas bonne à dire= All truths are not to be spoken at all times.La vérité comme l’huile vient au-dessus= Truth will out; It takes a good many shovelfuls of earth to bury the Truth.[The Spaniards say: La verdad es hija de Dios = Truth is the daughter of God.]C’est une vérité de Monsieur de la Palisse= It is an evident truth.[M. de la Palisse is the hero of a lengthy poem, one of the verses of which runs as follows:“M. de la Palisse est mortMort de maladieUn quart d’heure avant sa mortIl était encore en vie.”]

*On dit souvent la vérité en riant= There is many a true word spoken in jest.

Toute vérité n’est pas bonne à dire= All truths are not to be spoken at all times.

La vérité comme l’huile vient au-dessus= Truth will out; It takes a good many shovelfuls of earth to bury the Truth.

[The Spaniards say: La verdad es hija de Dios = Truth is the daughter of God.]

C’est une vérité de Monsieur de la Palisse= It is an evident truth.

[M. de la Palisse is the hero of a lengthy poem, one of the verses of which runs as follows:“M. de la Palisse est mortMort de maladieUn quart d’heure avant sa mortIl était encore en vie.”]

VerrierIl court comme un verrier déchargé= He runs like a lamplighter. (SeeChat.)[Glaziers, when carrying glass, have to walk carefully and slowly. When they have got rid of their load they make up for lost time.]

Verrier

Il court comme un verrier déchargé= He runs like a lamplighter. (SeeChat.)[Glaziers, when carrying glass, have to walk carefully and slowly. When they have got rid of their load they make up for lost time.]

Il court comme un verrier déchargé= He runs like a lamplighter. (SeeChat.)

[Glaziers, when carrying glass, have to walk carefully and slowly. When they have got rid of their load they make up for lost time.]

Vers“Les plus beaux vers sont ceux qu’on ne peut pas écrire.”—(Lamartine,Voyage en Orient) =“Ah! the best prayers that faith may ever thinkAre untranslatable by pen and ink.”BishopAlexander.

Vers

“Les plus beaux vers sont ceux qu’on ne peut pas écrire.”—(Lamartine,Voyage en Orient) =“Ah! the best prayers that faith may ever thinkAre untranslatable by pen and ink.”BishopAlexander.

VertVous ne le prendrez pas sans vert= You will not catch him napping.[An old game that used to be played in May was for two people to undertake to be able always to show a green twig: failure to do so lost the game.]Une verte vieillesse= A hale old age.Ils sont trop verts= The grapes are sour.[La Fontaine,Le Renard et les Raisins, iii. 11.]Mettre un cheval au vert= To send a horse to grass.

Vert

Vous ne le prendrez pas sans vert= You will not catch him napping.[An old game that used to be played in May was for two people to undertake to be able always to show a green twig: failure to do so lost the game.]Une verte vieillesse= A hale old age.Ils sont trop verts= The grapes are sour.[La Fontaine,Le Renard et les Raisins, iii. 11.]Mettre un cheval au vert= To send a horse to grass.

Vous ne le prendrez pas sans vert= You will not catch him napping.

[An old game that used to be played in May was for two people to undertake to be able always to show a green twig: failure to do so lost the game.]

Une verte vieillesse= A hale old age.

Ils sont trop verts= The grapes are sour.

[La Fontaine,Le Renard et les Raisins, iii. 11.]

Mettre un cheval au vert= To send a horse to grass.

VessieIl veut nous faire prendre des vessies pour des lanternes= He wishes us to believe the moon is made of green cheese.[“Me voulez vous faire entendantDe vecies que ce sont lanternes?”Maistre Pierre Pathelin, 800.]

Vessie

Il veut nous faire prendre des vessies pour des lanternes= He wishes us to believe the moon is made of green cheese.[“Me voulez vous faire entendantDe vecies que ce sont lanternes?”Maistre Pierre Pathelin, 800.]

Il veut nous faire prendre des vessies pour des lanternes= He wishes us to believe the moon is made of green cheese.

[“Me voulez vous faire entendantDe vecies que ce sont lanternes?”Maistre Pierre Pathelin, 800.]

VieFaire vie qui dure= To live temperately; To husband one’s resources.Avoir la vie dure= 1. To have a hard time. 2. To have nine lives.

Vie

Faire vie qui dure= To live temperately; To husband one’s resources.Avoir la vie dure= 1. To have a hard time. 2. To have nine lives.

Faire vie qui dure= To live temperately; To husband one’s resources.

Avoir la vie dure= 1. To have a hard time. 2. To have nine lives.

VieuxVieux comme les rues, comme le monde= As old as the hills.C’est un homme de la vieille roche= He is a man of the old school; he belongs to the good old stock.Un vieux de la vieille= A veteran of the old Imperial Guard; One of the old brigade.Vieil ami et vieux vin sont vraiment deux bons vieux, mais vieux écus sont encore mieux= Old friends and old wine are good, but old gold is better than both.[“Alonzo of Arragon was wont to say in commendation of Age, that Age appeared to be best in four things: Old wood best to burn, old wine to drink, old friends to trust, and old authors to read.”—Bacon,Apophthegms, 101.]

Vieux

Vieux comme les rues, comme le monde= As old as the hills.C’est un homme de la vieille roche= He is a man of the old school; he belongs to the good old stock.Un vieux de la vieille= A veteran of the old Imperial Guard; One of the old brigade.Vieil ami et vieux vin sont vraiment deux bons vieux, mais vieux écus sont encore mieux= Old friends and old wine are good, but old gold is better than both.[“Alonzo of Arragon was wont to say in commendation of Age, that Age appeared to be best in four things: Old wood best to burn, old wine to drink, old friends to trust, and old authors to read.”—Bacon,Apophthegms, 101.]

Vieux comme les rues, comme le monde= As old as the hills.

C’est un homme de la vieille roche= He is a man of the old school; he belongs to the good old stock.

Un vieux de la vieille= A veteran of the old Imperial Guard; One of the old brigade.

Vieil ami et vieux vin sont vraiment deux bons vieux, mais vieux écus sont encore mieux= Old friends and old wine are good, but old gold is better than both.

[“Alonzo of Arragon was wont to say in commendation of Age, that Age appeared to be best in four things: Old wood best to burn, old wine to drink, old friends to trust, and old authors to read.”—Bacon,Apophthegms, 101.]

VifTrancher(or,couper)dans le vif= (lit.) To cut to the quick; (fig.) To set to work in earnest.Ce reproche l’a piqué au vif= That reproach stung him to the quick.Il est vif comme la poudre= 1. He is quick-tempered. 2. He is bustling, quick at work.De vive voix= By word of mouth; Orally.Ce sont des descriptions prises sur le vif= Those descriptions are life-like.Les paysans dans ce tableau sont pris sur le vif= The peasants in that picture are life-like.

Vif

Trancher(or,couper)dans le vif= (lit.) To cut to the quick; (fig.) To set to work in earnest.Ce reproche l’a piqué au vif= That reproach stung him to the quick.Il est vif comme la poudre= 1. He is quick-tempered. 2. He is bustling, quick at work.De vive voix= By word of mouth; Orally.Ce sont des descriptions prises sur le vif= Those descriptions are life-like.Les paysans dans ce tableau sont pris sur le vif= The peasants in that picture are life-like.

Trancher(or,couper)dans le vif= (lit.) To cut to the quick; (fig.) To set to work in earnest.

Ce reproche l’a piqué au vif= That reproach stung him to the quick.

Il est vif comme la poudre= 1. He is quick-tempered. 2. He is bustling, quick at work.

De vive voix= By word of mouth; Orally.

Ce sont des descriptions prises sur le vif= Those descriptions are life-like.

Les paysans dans ce tableau sont pris sur le vif= The peasants in that picture are life-like.

VigneIl est dans les vignes du Seigneur= He is in his cups.

Vigne

Il est dans les vignes du Seigneur= He is in his cups.

VinDu vin à faire danser les chèvres= Sour wine not fit to drink.*À bon vin point d’enseigne= Good wine needs no bush.[It was a Roman custom to hang out a branch of ivy at the doors of taverns in honour of Bacchus. Branches of green stuff may still be seen at the doors of wineshops along the Loire and in Burgundy. Kelly traces the word “bosky” (i.e.drunk) to this bush.]Être entre deux vins= To be half seas over (pop.).*Le vin entre, la raison sort= When ale is in, wit is out.On ne connaît pas le vin aux cercles= You can’t judge cigars by the picture on the box.Tremper son vin= To water one’s wine.[Tremper=tempérer, not to wet, but to moderate.]Vous mouillez trop votre vin= You are drowning the miller.

Vin

Du vin à faire danser les chèvres= Sour wine not fit to drink.*À bon vin point d’enseigne= Good wine needs no bush.[It was a Roman custom to hang out a branch of ivy at the doors of taverns in honour of Bacchus. Branches of green stuff may still be seen at the doors of wineshops along the Loire and in Burgundy. Kelly traces the word “bosky” (i.e.drunk) to this bush.]Être entre deux vins= To be half seas over (pop.).*Le vin entre, la raison sort= When ale is in, wit is out.On ne connaît pas le vin aux cercles= You can’t judge cigars by the picture on the box.Tremper son vin= To water one’s wine.[Tremper=tempérer, not to wet, but to moderate.]Vous mouillez trop votre vin= You are drowning the miller.

Du vin à faire danser les chèvres= Sour wine not fit to drink.

*À bon vin point d’enseigne= Good wine needs no bush.

[It was a Roman custom to hang out a branch of ivy at the doors of taverns in honour of Bacchus. Branches of green stuff may still be seen at the doors of wineshops along the Loire and in Burgundy. Kelly traces the word “bosky” (i.e.drunk) to this bush.]

Être entre deux vins= To be half seas over (pop.).

*Le vin entre, la raison sort= When ale is in, wit is out.

On ne connaît pas le vin aux cercles= You can’t judge cigars by the picture on the box.

Tremper son vin= To water one’s wine.

[Tremper=tempérer, not to wet, but to moderate.]

Vous mouillez trop votre vin= You are drowning the miller.

ViolentCela est un peu violent= That is too bad.

Violent

Cela est un peu violent= That is too bad.

ViolonPayer les violons= To pay the piper.

Violon

Payer les violons= To pay the piper.

VisièreJe lui ai rompu en visière= I attacked (or, contradicted) him openly.[“Je n’y puis plus tenir, j’enrage; et mon desseinEst de rompre en visière à tout le genre humain.”Molière,Le Misanthrope, i. 1.Literally the phrase means: to break one’s lance against the visor of one’s enemy.]

Visière

Je lui ai rompu en visière= I attacked (or, contradicted) him openly.[“Je n’y puis plus tenir, j’enrage; et mon desseinEst de rompre en visière à tout le genre humain.”Molière,Le Misanthrope, i. 1.Literally the phrase means: to break one’s lance against the visor of one’s enemy.]

Je lui ai rompu en visière= I attacked (or, contradicted) him openly.

[“Je n’y puis plus tenir, j’enrage; et mon desseinEst de rompre en visière à tout le genre humain.”Molière,Le Misanthrope, i. 1.

Literally the phrase means: to break one’s lance against the visor of one’s enemy.]

VitePlus vite que ça(fam.) = Look sharp about it.

Vite

Plus vite que ça(fam.) = Look sharp about it.

VivreJe n’ai pas trouvé âme qui vive= I did not find a soul.*Qui vivra verra= He who lives longest will see most; Time will show (tell).Monsieur vit de ses rentes= The gentleman is independent (i.e.has an income of his own).Apprendre à vivre= To learn manners.Je lui apprendrai à vivre= I will teach him better manners (as a threat).Comme c’est vécu!= How true to life!

Vivre

Je n’ai pas trouvé âme qui vive= I did not find a soul.*Qui vivra verra= He who lives longest will see most; Time will show (tell).Monsieur vit de ses rentes= The gentleman is independent (i.e.has an income of his own).Apprendre à vivre= To learn manners.Je lui apprendrai à vivre= I will teach him better manners (as a threat).Comme c’est vécu!= How true to life!

Je n’ai pas trouvé âme qui vive= I did not find a soul.

*Qui vivra verra= He who lives longest will see most; Time will show (tell).

Monsieur vit de ses rentes= The gentleman is independent (i.e.has an income of his own).

Apprendre à vivre= To learn manners.

Je lui apprendrai à vivre= I will teach him better manners (as a threat).

Comme c’est vécu!= How true to life!

VoieIls en sont venus aux voies de fait= They came to blows.Il est toujours par voies et par chemins= He is always on the move, rambling.Les affaires sont en voie de hausse= Things are looking up.Être sur la voie= To be on the scent.Je suis en voie de le finir= I am in a fair way to finish it.

Voie

Ils en sont venus aux voies de fait= They came to blows.Il est toujours par voies et par chemins= He is always on the move, rambling.Les affaires sont en voie de hausse= Things are looking up.Être sur la voie= To be on the scent.Je suis en voie de le finir= I am in a fair way to finish it.

Ils en sont venus aux voies de fait= They came to blows.

Il est toujours par voies et par chemins= He is always on the move, rambling.

Les affaires sont en voie de hausse= Things are looking up.

Être sur la voie= To be on the scent.

Je suis en voie de le finir= I am in a fair way to finish it.

VoilàComme le voilà sale!= Just see how dirty he is!Ne voilà-t-il pas qu’il est revenu= Who should come back but he?Voilà comme vous êtes= That is just like you.Voilà comme je suis= You must take me as I am; That’s my way.

Voilà

Comme le voilà sale!= Just see how dirty he is!Ne voilà-t-il pas qu’il est revenu= Who should come back but he?Voilà comme vous êtes= That is just like you.Voilà comme je suis= You must take me as I am; That’s my way.

Comme le voilà sale!= Just see how dirty he is!

Ne voilà-t-il pas qu’il est revenu= Who should come back but he?

Voilà comme vous êtes= That is just like you.

Voilà comme je suis= You must take me as I am; That’s my way.

VoirOn n’y voit goutte= One can see nothing.J’y vois trouble= I see dimly; My sight is dim.Vous n’avez rien à y voir= That is no business of yours.Au vu et au su de tout le village= Openly, before the whole village.Je vous vois venir= I see what you are driving at.J’ai voulu voir par moi-même= I wish to see with my own eyes.Il nous en a fait voir de toutes les couleurs= He told us all sorts of tales; He worried us beyond all bearing.

Voir

On n’y voit goutte= One can see nothing.J’y vois trouble= I see dimly; My sight is dim.Vous n’avez rien à y voir= That is no business of yours.Au vu et au su de tout le village= Openly, before the whole village.Je vous vois venir= I see what you are driving at.J’ai voulu voir par moi-même= I wish to see with my own eyes.Il nous en a fait voir de toutes les couleurs= He told us all sorts of tales; He worried us beyond all bearing.

On n’y voit goutte= One can see nothing.

J’y vois trouble= I see dimly; My sight is dim.

Vous n’avez rien à y voir= That is no business of yours.

Au vu et au su de tout le village= Openly, before the whole village.

Je vous vois venir= I see what you are driving at.

J’ai voulu voir par moi-même= I wish to see with my own eyes.

Il nous en a fait voir de toutes les couleurs= He told us all sorts of tales; He worried us beyond all bearing.

VoixJe n’ai pas voix au chapitre= (lit.) I have no right to speak; (fig.) My opinion is not listened to.

Voix

Je n’ai pas voix au chapitre= (lit.) I have no right to speak; (fig.) My opinion is not listened to.

VoléeIl a obtenu cela entre bond et volée= He obtained that at a lucky moment.À toute volée= At random; At full swing.Il est de la haute volée= He is a tip-top swell, of the first water, of the upper ten.Voler (to fly)On pouvait entendre voler une mouche= One could hear a pin drop.Voler (to steal)*Il ne l’a pas volé= He richly deserves it.

Volée

Il a obtenu cela entre bond et volée= He obtained that at a lucky moment.À toute volée= At random; At full swing.Il est de la haute volée= He is a tip-top swell, of the first water, of the upper ten.Voler (to fly)On pouvait entendre voler une mouche= One could hear a pin drop.Voler (to steal)*Il ne l’a pas volé= He richly deserves it.

Il a obtenu cela entre bond et volée= He obtained that at a lucky moment.

À toute volée= At random; At full swing.

Il est de la haute volée= He is a tip-top swell, of the first water, of the upper ten.

Voler (to fly)

On pouvait entendre voler une mouche= One could hear a pin drop.

Voler (to steal)

*Il ne l’a pas volé= He richly deserves it.

Voleur*Quand les voleurs se battent, les larcins se découvrent= When thieves fall out, honest men get their own.

Voleur

*Quand les voleurs se battent, les larcins se découvrent= When thieves fall out, honest men get their own.

Volonté*La bonne volonté est reputée pour le fait= The will is as good as (is taken for) the deed.

Volonté

*La bonne volonté est reputée pour le fait= The will is as good as (is taken for) the deed.

VôtreJe serai des vôtres= I shall be one of your party; I shall be on your side.Vous avez fait des vôtres= You have committed follies yourself; You have played pranks too.

Vôtre

Je serai des vôtres= I shall be one of your party; I shall be on your side.Vous avez fait des vôtres= You have committed follies yourself; You have played pranks too.

Je serai des vôtres= I shall be one of your party; I shall be on your side.

Vous avez fait des vôtres= You have committed follies yourself; You have played pranks too.

VouerJe ne sais à quel saint me vouer= I do not know which way to turn.

Vouer

Je ne sais à quel saint me vouer= I do not know which way to turn.

Vouloir*Vouloir c’est pouvoir= Where there’s a will there’s a way.[Also:La volonté rend tout possible.“Impossible est un mot que je ne dis jamais.”—Collin d’Harleville,Malice pour Malice, i. 8.Napoléon I., in a letter to Lemarois, 9th July 1813, wrote: “Ce n’est pas possible, m’écrivez vous, cela n’est pas Français.”“Mirabeau disait un jour à son secrétaire: ‘Impossible! ne me dites jamais ce bête de mot.’”—Dumont,Vie de Mirabeau, quoted in Carlyle’sFrench Revolution, vol. ii. p. 118.]Que voulez-vous?= 1. What do you want? What can I do for you? 2. What was to be done? 3. What can you expect?Vous l’avez voulu!= It is your own fault; You would have it.[“Vous l’avez voulu, George Dandin!”Molière,George Dandin, i. 9.]On ne peut lui en vouloir= One cannot be angry with him, blame him.En veux-tu? en voilà!= As much as ever you like.Il y en avait à bouche que veux-tu= There was an abundant supply of it; There was plenty for every one.Il sait ce que parler veut dire= He understands the hidden meaning; He takes the hint.Je le veux bien= With pleasure! I have no objection.

Vouloir

*Vouloir c’est pouvoir= Where there’s a will there’s a way.[Also:La volonté rend tout possible.“Impossible est un mot que je ne dis jamais.”—Collin d’Harleville,Malice pour Malice, i. 8.Napoléon I., in a letter to Lemarois, 9th July 1813, wrote: “Ce n’est pas possible, m’écrivez vous, cela n’est pas Français.”“Mirabeau disait un jour à son secrétaire: ‘Impossible! ne me dites jamais ce bête de mot.’”—Dumont,Vie de Mirabeau, quoted in Carlyle’sFrench Revolution, vol. ii. p. 118.]Que voulez-vous?= 1. What do you want? What can I do for you? 2. What was to be done? 3. What can you expect?Vous l’avez voulu!= It is your own fault; You would have it.[“Vous l’avez voulu, George Dandin!”Molière,George Dandin, i. 9.]On ne peut lui en vouloir= One cannot be angry with him, blame him.En veux-tu? en voilà!= As much as ever you like.Il y en avait à bouche que veux-tu= There was an abundant supply of it; There was plenty for every one.Il sait ce que parler veut dire= He understands the hidden meaning; He takes the hint.Je le veux bien= With pleasure! I have no objection.

*Vouloir c’est pouvoir= Where there’s a will there’s a way.

[Also:La volonté rend tout possible.

“Impossible est un mot que je ne dis jamais.”—Collin d’Harleville,Malice pour Malice, i. 8.

Napoléon I., in a letter to Lemarois, 9th July 1813, wrote: “Ce n’est pas possible, m’écrivez vous, cela n’est pas Français.”

“Mirabeau disait un jour à son secrétaire: ‘Impossible! ne me dites jamais ce bête de mot.’”—Dumont,Vie de Mirabeau, quoted in Carlyle’sFrench Revolution, vol. ii. p. 118.]

Que voulez-vous?= 1. What do you want? What can I do for you? 2. What was to be done? 3. What can you expect?

Vous l’avez voulu!= It is your own fault; You would have it.

[“Vous l’avez voulu, George Dandin!”Molière,George Dandin, i. 9.]

On ne peut lui en vouloir= One cannot be angry with him, blame him.

En veux-tu? en voilà!= As much as ever you like.

Il y en avait à bouche que veux-tu= There was an abundant supply of it; There was plenty for every one.

Il sait ce que parler veut dire= He understands the hidden meaning; He takes the hint.

Je le veux bien= With pleasure! I have no objection.

Vrai*“Le vrai peut quelquefois n’être pas vraisemblable” = Truth is stranger than fiction.[Boileau,Art Poétique, iii. 48.]

Vrai

*“Le vrai peut quelquefois n’être pas vraisemblable” = Truth is stranger than fiction.[Boileau,Art Poétique, iii. 48.]

*“Le vrai peut quelquefois n’être pas vraisemblable” = Truth is stranger than fiction.

[Boileau,Art Poétique, iii. 48.]

ZèleSurtout, messieurs, pas de zèle!= Above all, gentlemen, don’t be too anxious! Don’t try to hurry things on.[Words attributed to Talleyrand on receiving the staff of the Ministère des Affaires Étrangères.]

Zèle

Surtout, messieurs, pas de zèle!= Above all, gentlemen, don’t be too anxious! Don’t try to hurry things on.[Words attributed to Talleyrand on receiving the staff of the Ministère des Affaires Étrangères.]

Surtout, messieurs, pas de zèle!= Above all, gentlemen, don’t be too anxious! Don’t try to hurry things on.

[Words attributed to Talleyrand on receiving the staff of the Ministère des Affaires Étrangères.]

“Trop gratter cuit,Trop parler nuit,Trop manger n’est pas sage.A barbon grisJeune souris:L’Amour est de tout âge.Enfants de Paris, quel temps fait-il?Il pleut là-bas, il neige iciPendant la nuitTous chats sont gris.Pour faire route sûreSi l’amour vaCahin-cahaMénage ta monture.”

Charles Collé (1709-1783).

INDEX

Absents always wrong,2

Ace, within an,220

Adam delved and Eve span, when,123,219

Adversity makes man wise,229

Against the grain,201

Akimbo, to put one’s arms,17

Ale is in, wit is out,232

All is not gold that glitters,49

All men are not alike,114

All’s well that ends well,124,172

All work and no play,220

Almost and very nigh,160

Ambush,8

Among the blind, one-eyed is king,44

And the rest!170

Answer a fool according to his folly,214

Appearances, for the sake of,17

Appetite, good,18

April fool,191

Arm in arm,47

As you make your bed,41,81

At first sight,2

Average, on an,15,129

Awkward fix, to get out of an,180

Background, to put in,188

Back made for burden,181

Bad day, bad night,75

Bad thing never dies,152

Bag and baggage,106

Band-box, come out of a,110

Bark worse than bite,69

Bay, to be at,2

Beak and claw,173

Beat about the bush, to,24,33,65,193

Beat black and blue,84,99

Beat hollow, to,86

Bedlam let loose,207

Bee in one’s bonnet,19

Beer, no small, of oneself,167

Beggars cannot be choosers,106

Beginning not everything,74

Behind the scenes,55

Bell the cat, to,22,137

Best cheapest in the end,158

Best of friends must part,75

Be the day short,147

Better dry bread at home,38

Better late than never,218

Better the day, better the deed,42,148

Between devil and deep sea,107

Between ourselves,198

Between two stools,63

B from a bull’s foot, not to know,1

Bigwig,43

Billingsgate,140

Bird fouls its own nest, an ill,169

Bird in hand,220

Birds flown, to find the,51,169

Birds of a feather,22,140

Bird that catches the worm,150,203

Bird told me so, a little,99

Bit by bit,9

Biter bit, the,139,149

Black eyes, a couple of,170

Blood from a stone, to get,67

Blow brains out,50,58,209

Blues, to have the,169

Boat, to be in same,108

Bone to pick, to have a,154

Bore,201

Born to be hanged, never drowned,94

Borrowing sorrowing,21

Bow to circumstances,32,50

Boycott, to,144

Boys will be boys,147

Brand new,33

Bread is buttered, which side,176

Bred in the bone, what is,54,63

Broken reed,19

Broom sweeps clean, a new,30,96

Bull by the horns, to seize the,22

Burn candle at both ends,60

Burnt child dreads the fire,63

Business, to mind one’s own,5

Business is business,7

Butter would not melt in mouth,169

Bygones be bygones, to let,174,198

Cake and eat it, to have one’s,101,112

Cake, to take the,19,104,175

Candles away, all cats grey,64

Cap a story,203

Cap fits, wear it, if the,134,165

Carpenter known by chips,172

Carry coals to Newcastle,102

Cart before horse, to put the,62

Cast in the teeth, to,168

Castles in the air,64

Cat after kind,69

Cat and dog life, to lead a,3

Catch it, to,6,28

Cat may look at a king,69

Cat on hot bricks,64

Cat’s away, mice will play,64

Caught a Tartar, to have,152

Chaff, to catch with,17

Chalk and cheese,147

Chalk it up,66

Change not a clout,28

Charity begins at home,62

Chatterbox, a regular,36,166

Cheats never prosper,4

Chip of the old block,63,124

Christmas comes but once a year,121,148

Civility costs nothing,104,179

Claw me, and I’ll claw thee,181

Clean as a whistle,196

Clean sweep,217

Clear as noonday,71

Clear as crystal,207

Clockwork, like,54

Cloud and a silver lining,189

Clover, to be in,78

Coach-and-four through Act of Parliament,148

Coat does not make gentleman,139

Cobbler stick to last, let,161

Cock and bull story,78

Cock of the walk,78

Cold shoulder,33

Come off cheap,199

Come to blows,233

Come to the point,117,181

Coming—like Christmas,169

Comparisons are odious,72

Confession good for soul,26

Cost what it may,86

Count chickens before hatched, 70,76,182

Cram,43

Cramming-shop,227

Creaking door hangs long,47,192

Cream of the army,125

Crown his misfortune, to,74,156

Crumb and crust,10

Cry out before hurt,16

Cry over spilt milk,115

Curses come home to roost,20,155

Cut coat according to cloth,45

Cut ground under feet,141

Cut long story short,165

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