Chapter M: Mâcher (2)

_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. (See _Épine_.)

_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.

Piété

_Sa montre est au mont de piété_ = His watch is at the
pawnbroker’s. (See _Accrocher_.)

Pignon

_Avoir pignon sur rue_ = To have a house of one’s own.

Pile

_Jouer à pile ou face_ = To play pitch and toss, heads or tails.

_Il n’a ni croix ni pile_ = He has not a rap.

[“Sans croix ne pile.”--LA FONTAINE, _Contes_, ii. “Whacum had
neither cross nor pile.”--BUTLER, _Hudibras_, ii. 3. _Pile_ is
literally the reverse of a coin.]

Pilier

_C’est un pilier d’estaminet_ (or, _de café_) = He is a
public-house lounger, a pub-loafer.

Pilule

_Dorer la pilule_ = To gild the pill.

Pipe

_Casser sa pipe_ (pop.) = To kick the bucket; To hop the twig; To
die.

Piquer

_Piquer la curiosité de quelqu’un_ = To rouse some one’s
curiosity.

_Il se pique d’un rien_ = He takes offence at the slightest thing.

_Il s’est piqué d’honneur_ = He made it a point of honour; He was
put upon his mettle.

_Piquer des deux_ = (lit.) To spur a horse with both heels; To
gallop off at full speed; (fig.) To run very fast.

_Piquer une tête_ (fam.) = To take a header.

_Voilà un discours qui n’est pas piqué des vers_ = That’s a fine
speech if you like [lit. not worm-eaten.]

_Se piquer au jeu_ = (lit.) To continue obstinately to play
although losing; (fig.) To go on in an enterprise in spite of all
obstacles.

Place

*_Qui va à la chasse perd sa place_ = If you leave your place,
you lose it.

Plaider

“_Accordez-vous si votre affaire est bonne, Si votre cause est
mauvaise, plaidez._” [J. B. ROUSSEAU, _Épigrammes_, ii. 19] = If
you’ve a good case, try and compromise; If you’ve a bad one, take
it into court.

Plaie

_Il ne demande que plaie et bosse_ = He seeks quarrels only to
draw profit from them.

_Il ne cherche que plaie et bosse_ = He is always hankering after
a black eye.

Plaisanterie

_Une bonne plaisanterie mérite les honneurs du bis_ = A good tale
is none the worse for being told twice.

Plan

_Reléguer (mettre) au second plan_ = To put into the background.

Planche

_Faire la planche_ = 1. To show others the way; 2. To float on
one’s back.

_C’est sa planche de salut_ = It is his last hope, his
sheet-anchor.

Plancher

_Le plancher des vaches_ (fam.) = Dry land; _Terra firma_.

_Débarrasse-moi le plancher_ (fam.) = Get out of my way.

Planter

_Vous m’avez planté là_ = You left me without any warning; You
left me in the lurch.

Plat

_Il nous a servi un plat de son métier_ (or, _de sa façon_) = He
played us one of his tricks.

_On mit les petits plats dans les grands pour le bien recevoir_
(fam.) = They spared neither trouble nor money to receive him
well; They received him with much fuss.

_Il a mis les pieds dans le plat_ (fam.) = He put his foot in it.

Plâtre

_Ce mari bat sa femme comme plâtre_ = That husband beats his wife
like a dog.

_Essuyer les plâtres_ = To live in a newly-built house (and
therefore damp). (See _Essuyer_.)

Plein

_Battre son plein_ = To be in full swing.

_Plein comme un œuf_ (fam.) = Chock-full.

_En pleine rue_ = In the open street.

_En pleine mer_ = On the high seas.

Pleurer

_La niaise! pleurer à chaudes larmes pour une vétille_ = The
silly girl! to cry her eyes out for a trifle.

Pleuvoir

_Pleuvoir des hallebardes_ = To rain cats, dogs, and pitchforks.

Pli

_Cela ne fera pas un pli_ = There will not be the slightest
difficulty.

_Si vous n’y prenez (pas) garde, il prendra un mauvais pli_ = If
you are not careful he will get into bad habits.

Pluie

*_Après la pluie le beau temps_ = Every cloud has a silver lining.

_Nous parlions de la pluie et du beau temps_ = We were talking of
indifferent matters.

_Il fait la pluie et le beau temps dans cette maison_ = His will
is law in that house; He is the boss of that show (fam.).

Plus

*_Plus on a, plus on veut avoir_ = Much would have more.

Poche

_Il connaît Paris comme sa poche_ = He knows Paris perfectly; He
knows all the ins and outs of Paris; His knowledge of Paris is
extensive and peculiar.

Poil

_Un brave à trois poils_ = The bravest of the brave; A hero of
the first water.

[This expression is derived from three-piled velvet. See MOLIÈRE,
_Les Précieuses Ridicules_, 12.]

_Monter à poil_ = To ride barebacked.

Point

*_Un point à temps en épargne cent_ = A stitch in time saves nine.

[Spanish: Quien no adoba gotera adoba casa entera = Who repairs
not his gutter repairs his whole house.]

_Cela vient à point_ = That comes opportunely.

_La viande est cuite à point_ = The meat is done to a turn.

_Vous venez à point nommé_ = You come in the nick of time, at the
necessary moment, just when you are wanted.

_Mettez les points sur les i_ = Be precise, clear (in speaking or
writing); Cross your t’s and dot your i’s.

_Il vous rendrait des points_ = He is more than a match for you;
He could give you points.

_Il vous rendra des points_ = He will give you odds (at a game).

_Il y a un point noir à l’horizon_ = There are breakers ahead.

Poire

*_Coupons la poire en deux_ = Let us split the difference.

_Elle faisait trop sa poire_ (pop.) = She needed pressing; She
played the prude (_or_, disdainful).

[“Il était trop homme pour faire sa poire.”]

_Nous en causerons entre la poire et le fromage_ = We will talk
it over at dessert.

_Garder une poire pour la soif_ = To lay up something for a rainy
day.

Poisson

_On lui a fait un poisson d’avril_ = They made him an April fool.

_Je suis comme un poisson sur la paille_ = I am like a fish out
of water.

Polichinelle

_C’est le secret de Polichinelle_ = It is an open secret; Every
one knows it.

_Il a avalé la pratique de Polichinelle_ = He is very hoarse.

[_La pratique de Polichinelle_ is the squeaker that a
Punch-and-Judy man puts in his mouth during a performance.]

Politesse

*_Force politesse, trop de finesse_ = Full of courtesy, full of
craft.

Pont

_Il se porte comme le Pont Neuf_ = He is in splendid health.

_C’est vieux comme le Pont Neuf_ = Queen Anne is dead; It is as
old as the hills.

[The Pont Neuf was finished in 1604 during the reign of Henry
IV., and is now the oldest bridge in Paris. The statue of Henry
IV. in the middle of the bridge was erected originally in 1635,
but the present one dates only from 1818.

Another expression is:

_Henri Quatre est sur le Pont Neuf_ = That’s stale news.]

Pontoise

_Il a l’air de revenir de Pontoise_ = He looks down in the mouth;
He answers in a silly fashion.

[The origin of this expression is said to be that in 1720 and in
1753 the Parlement was exiled to Pontoise, about twenty miles
north of Paris, for its rebellion to the King. Perhaps from the
fact that when they returned they were besieged with questions,
to which they gave confused answers, the saying arose and was
applied to anyone that had a simple, idiotic appearance.]

Porte

_Ils ont mis la clef sous la porte_ = They absconded.

_Il faut qu’une porte soit ouverte ou fermée_ = You must decide
one way or the other.

[The title of one of Alfred de Musset’s Proverbes.]

_On l’a mis à la porte_ = They turned him out.

_Il a été mis à la porte par les oreilles et les deux épaules_ =
He was turned out ignominiously, neck and crop.

_On a condamné la porte_ = The door is nailed up, blocked up.

Portée

_À sa portée_ (or, _à portée de sa main_) = Within his reach.

_À (la) portée de la voix_ = Within call.

_À (une) portée de fusil_ = Within gunshot.

Porter

_C’est elle qui porte la culotte_ = She is mistress in this house
(not her husband); The grey mare is the better horse.

_On le porte aux nues_ = They praise him to the skies.

_Ses plaisanteries portent coup_ = His jokes hit the mark.

Poseur

_C’est un poseur_ = He is a prig (lit. attitudiniser).

[There are several varieties of prigs, _e.g._--

_un savantasse_ = a learned prig.
_un collet monté_ = a stiff-and-starched prig.
_un cafard_ = a Pecksniff.
_un fat_ = a conceited ass.
_un freluquet_ = a whipper-snapper.
See _Journal of Education_, March 1896.]

Possession

*_En fait de meubles possession vaut titre_ = Possession is nine
points of the law.

Possible

_Pas possible!_ = You don’t say so! “Well, I never!”

Pot

_Il découvrit bientôt le pot aux roses_ = He soon found out the
secret.

*_Un pot fêlé dure longtemps_ = A creaking door hangs long:
Ailing folk live longest.

*_Il n’y a si méchant pot qui ne trouve son couvercle_ = Every
Jack must have his Jill.

[Also: _À un boiteux, femme qui cloche_.]

_Il a reçu un pot-de-vin_ = He received a bribe, an illicit
commission.

[A _pot-de-vin_ is a gratuity given to B by A because B obtained
for A an order from C. It implies the idea of a bribe, for if
everything had been fair A would not have obtained his order from
C, either because his terms were too high or his wares not good
enough.]

_Payer les pots cassés_ = To stand the racket; To pay the damage;
To face the music.

_Tourner autour du pot_ = To beat about the bush.

_C’est le pot de terre contre le pot de fer_ = It is a most
unequal combat.

Potasser

_Je vais potasser (piocher) un brin_ (students’ slang) = I’m
going to swot (mug up) a bit.

Potin

_Faire du potin (chambard, boucan)_ (pop.) = To kick up a
row, a shindy.

Pouce

_Manger sur le pouce_ = To take a snack.

_Mettre les pouces_ = To give in, to knuckle under.

_Lire du pouce_ (or, _doigt_) = To skip in reading (_i.e._ to do
more work with the thumb than the brain).

Poudre

*_Il n’a pas inventé la poudre_ = He will never set the Thames on
fire.

Poule

_C’est une poule mouillée_ = He is a milk-sop.

Pourpoint

_Mettre un homme en pourpoint_ = To pull a man’s cloak off; To
ruin a man.

_Se mettre en pourpoint_ = To be ready to fight; To roll up one’s
sleeves.

_Tirer un coup_ (_de pistolet_, etc.) _à brûle-pourpoint_ = To fire
point-blank.

_Un argument à brûle-pourpoint_ = A convincing argument.

_Donner à quelqu’un un pourpoint de pierre_ = To give any one a
stone doublet; To imprison any one.

Pouvoir

_Je n’y puis rien_ = I cannot help it; I can do nothing in the
matter.

_Si faire se peut_ = If possible.

_Je n’en puis plus_ = I am done up, exhausted.

_Je n’en puis mais_ = I cannot help it; It is no fault of mine.
(See _Mais_.)

_Cela se peut_ = That may be.

_Cela ne se peut pas_ = It cannot possibly be; It cannot be done.

_On fait comme on peut_ = We must do the best we can; We have
done the best we could.

_Il est toujours on ne peut plus aimable_ = He is always as nice
as can be.

Prêcher

_Il prêche dans le désert_ = (lit.) He preaches to empty benches;
(fig.) All his talking will not convince any one.

_Chacun prêche pour son saint_ = Every one has an eye to his own
interest.

Premier

_Nous sommes au premier_ = We are on the first floor.

_Nous sommes en première_ = We are in a first-class railway
carriage.

_Le premier venu_ = (fig.) No matter who (_or_, whom); The man in
the street.

*_Les premiers vont devant_ = First come, first served.

[“Whoso first cometh to the mill, first grint.”--CHAUCER.]

Prendre

_Il prend sur son sommeil pour étudier_ = He works far into the
night.

_C’est autant de pris sur l’ennemi_ = So much saved out of the
fire; So much to the good.

_Bien lui en prit d’avoir fermé sa porte_ = It was lucky for him
that he shut his door.

_Il prend le chemin de l’hôpital_ = He is on the highway to ruin.

_Je m’en prends à vous_ = I lay the blame at your door.

_Je vous y prends_ = I catch you at it.

_Ça ne prend pas_ (fam.) = “That’s no go.”

_Je sors d’en prendre_ (fam.) = I had rather be excused; You will
not catch me again so soon.

_Qu’est-ce qui vous prend?_ = What is the matter with you?

[This is said to persons doing something suddenly without any
apparent reason, or suddenly becoming bad-tempered, etc., not to
invalids.]

_Je vais vous montrer comment il faut s’y prendre_ = I am going
to show you how to set about it.

*_Ce qui est bon à prendre est bon à garder_ = What is worth
taking is worth keeping; “Findings, keepings.”

_Prenez-vous-en à vous-même_ = You have yourself to thank for it.

_À tout prendre_ = On the whole; Everything considered.

Près

_À cela près il est bon enfant_ = Except for that he is a good
fellow.

Presse

_Il n’y a pas presse_ = There is no hurry!

*_Plus on se presse, moins on arrive_ = The more haste, the less
speed.

_Fendre la presse_ = To make one’s way through the crowd.

Pretentaine

_Courir la pretentaine_ = To gad about.

Prêter

_Il prête de l’argent à la petite semaine_ = He lends money for a
short time at a high rate of interest.

_Un prêté pour un rendu_ = A Roland for an Oliver.

_Prêter le flanc à ..._ = To lay oneself open to...

_Prêter serment_ = To take the oath.

_Ce drap prête_ = This stuff gives, stretches.

Primer

_Elle prime par sa laideur_ = She takes the cake for ugliness.

Princesse

_Aux frais de la Princesse_ = At another’s expense (chiefly of
the State Government).

Prise

_Ils étaient aux prises_ = They had closed; They were at close
quarters.

_Je les ai mis aux prises_ = I have set them one against the
other.

_Je leur ai donné prise sur moi_ = I gave them a handle on me.

_Lâcher prise_ = To let go one’s hold.

Procès

_Sans autre forme de procès_ = Without any more ado.

Promener

_Je l’ai envoyé promener_ (or, _paître_) = I sent him about his
business.

_Va te promener!_ (fam.) = Go to Jericho! Get along with you!

[Compare: “Βάλλ᾽ εἰς μακαρίαν” = Go to Glory.--PLATO, _Hipp.
Major_, 293A--a euphemism for Βάλλ᾽ εἰς ἅδον.]

Promettre

*_Chose promise, chose due_ = Promises should be kept.

_Promettre et tenir sont deux_ = It is one thing to promise,
another to perform.

Propos

_Il est venu fort à propos_ = He came very opportunely.

_À propos, viendrez-vous ce soir?_ = By the way, shall you come
this evening?

_L’à-propos fait le mérite_ = Seasonableness gives everything its
price.

_À propos de bottes_ = With reference to nothing in particular;
With no reference to the subject in hand.

_Il le dit à tout propos_ = He says it on every occasion, at
every turn.

_Il l’a fait de propos délibéré_ = He did it of set purpose; He
had made up his mind to do it.

_Il l’a fait fort mal à propos_ = He did it very unseasonably,
just at the wrong time.

Propre

_C’est du propre_ (ironic.) = A fine thing indeed.

_Il n’a rien en propre_ = He has nothing of his own.

_Un propre-à-rien_ = A good-for-naught.

_Propre à tout et bon à rien_ = Jack of all trades and master of
none.

_Propre comme un sou neuf_ = As clean as a whistle; As neat as a
new pin.

Prune

_Je ne le ferai pas pour des prunes_ (fam.) = I shall not do it
for nothing.

[Also: _Je ne le ferai pas pour le roi de Prusse._ This latter
saying is said to have originated with Voltaire, who, after
having been exceedingly intimate with Frederick the Great, King
of Prussia, finally quarrelled with him. Both this King and his
father, Frederick William I., were known to be exacting and
miserly.]

Puce

_Je lui ai mis la puce à l’oreille_ = I made him feel uneasy (by
rousing his suspicions, etc.); I sent him away with a flea in his
ear.

Puits

_Cet homme est un puits de science_ = He is a man of deep
learning.

Q.

Quand

_Je le ferai quand même_ = I shall do it just the same; I shall
do it whatever it may cost.

Quant

_Se tenir sur son quant-à-soi_ = To stand on one’s dignity.

Quart

_Le quart d’heure de Rabelais_ = The moment of payment. (See
_Heure_.)

_Passer un mauvais quart d’heure_ = To have a bad time of it.

Quatorze

_Avoir quinte et quatorze_ = To have the game in one’s own hand.

[This phrase refers to terms used in the game of piquet. _Quinte_
is to have five cards of the same colour, which counts fifteen.
_Quatorze_ is to have four cards of the same value (_i.e._ four
knaves, aces, etc.), and counts fourteen.]

Quatre

_Il se mettrait en quatre pour un ami_ = He would go through fire
and water for a friend.

_Faire le diable à quatre_ = To kick up a terrible noise; To
exert oneself to the utmost.

[This expression originated in the time of the miracle plays,
when four performers represented _la grande diablerie_, and less
than four _la petite diablerie_.]

_Entre quatre-z-yeux_ (fam.) = Between ourselves.

_On le tenait à quatre_ = It needed four men to hold him down.

_Il se tenait à quatre pour ne pas lui dire des injures_ = It was
as much as he could do not to abuse him.

_Travailler comme quatre_ = To work like a nigger.

Que

*_Ce que c’est que la vie!_ = What a strange thing life is! What
poor mortals we are! (See _Ce_.)

_Ses louanges ne laissent pas que de me faire plaisir_ = I cannot
help feeling pleased at his kind words.

Quelconque

_La pièce n’est que quelconque_ = The piece (_i.e._ the play) is
quite an ordinary one.

Quenouille

_C’est une famille où l’esprit est tombé en quenouille_ = In that
family only the women are clever; In that family the brains are
on the distaff side.

Querelle

_N’épousez pas sa querelle_ = Do not take up his quarrel.

_Ils veulent vider leur querelle_ = They want to fight it out.

Quérir

_Il serait bon à aller quérir la mort_ = He is very slow.

Question

_Mettre en question_ = To call in question; To doubt.

_Mettre à la question_ = To put to the torture.

_Qu’il n’en soit plus question_ = Do not bother me about it any
more; Let bygones be bygones. (See _Oublier_.)

Queue

_J’ai fait queue au théâtre pendant une heure_ = I waited outside
the theatre for an hour (before I could get in).

_On fait queue au théâtre_ = There is a crowd at the door of the
theatre (waiting for admittance).

_À la queue gît le venin_ = The sting is in the tail.

_Aller à la queue leu-leu_ = To go in Indian file.

[_Leu_ was the old French form of _loup_, so the phrase means to
walk as wolves do, one after the other.]

_Tenir la queue de la poêle_ = To be the leading spirit in an
affair.

Qui

_Pour qui connaît_ = To any one who knows.

_Ils s’échappèrent qui par la porte, qui par les fenêtres_ = Some
escaped through the door, others through the windows.

*_Qui s’excuse s’accuse_ = A guilty conscience needs no accuser.

_C’est à qui le fera_ = They all wish to do it; They vie with one
another to do it. (See _Mieux_.)

Quia

_Être réduit à quia_ = To be reduced to “because....”; To be
nonplussed.

Quitte

_Me voilà quitte envers lui_ = I owe him nothing now.

_Vous en êtes quitte à bon marché_ = You come off cheap.

_J’en ai été quitte pour la peur_ = I escaped with a good fright.

_J’irai, quitte à être grondé_ = I shall go, even if I am
scolded; I shall go, and chance the scolding.

Quoi

_J’ai de quoi payer_ = I have enough to pay.

_Il n’y a pas là de quoi pleurer_ = It is not worth crying about.

_Il n’y a pas de quoi rire_ = It is no laughing matter.

_Il n’y a pas de quoi_ (fam.) = Pray don’t mention it; There is
no necessity to apologise. (See _Avoir_.)

_De quoi vous mêlez-vous?_ = What business is that of yours?

_Un je ne sais quoi_ = A “something” (I know not what).

[_Elle avait je ne sais quoi de charmant_ = She had a vague,
indescribable charm.]

_C’est un filou, quoi!_ (pop.) = In a word, he’s a scamp.

R.

Rabais

_Vente au rabais_ = Sale at reduced prices; “Selling off.”

Rabattre

_Rabattre le caquet à quelqu’un_ (pop.) = To take a person down a
peg; To stop his jaw; To cut his cackle.

Radis

_Il n’a pas un radis_ (fam.) = He has not a brass farthing. (See
_Liard_.)

Raillerie

_Cela passe la raillerie_ = That is beyond a joke. (See
_Entendre_.)

Raison

_Il n’entend pas raison là-dessus_ = He will not listen to reason
on that point.

_Se faire raison à soi-même_ = To take the law into one’s own
hands.

_Comme de raison_ = Rightly enough; As might be expected.

_Plus que de raison_ = More than is reasonable.

_Raison de plus_ = All the more reason.

_Avoir des raisons avec quelqu’un_ = To have words with any one;
To quarrel with any one.

_Il faut se faire une raison_ = We must be guided by reason; We
must look at things from a reasonable point of view.

[_E.g._ not go on worrying after a great loss.]

_Donner raison à quelqu’un_ = To say any one is right; To give
satisfaction to any one (either legally or by a duel).

Rancart

_On l’a mis au rancart_ = He has been put on the shelf.

[Also: _Il est sous la remise._]

Rang

*_Tel qui brille au second rang s’éclipse au premier_ = A good
subordinate often makes a bad leader.

Ranger

_Il s’est rangé_ = He has settled down (after sowing his wild
oats).

Rare

_Vous devenez bien rare_ = You are quite a stranger.

Raseur

_C’est un raseur_ (fam.) = He is a bore.

[_Une bassinoire_ = a passive bore.]

Rat

_Il est gueux comme un rat d’église_ = He is as poor as a church
mouse.

Rate

_Il ne se foule pas la rate_ (pop.) = He does not overwork
himself; He takes things easily.

[Also: _Il ne se foule pas le poignet._]

_Cela lui désopilera la rate_ = That will cheer him up.

Râtelier

_Il mange à plus d’un râtelier_ = He has more than one string to
his bow; He gains money from different sources.

Rattraper

*_Bien fin qui me rattrapera_ = Once bit, twice shy; They won’t
catch me doing that again.

Rebours

_Il prend les choses à rebours_ = He misconstrues everything.

Rebrousse

_À rebrousse poil_ = Against the grain; (To rub) the wrong way.

Reconnaître

_Je vous reconnais bien là_ = That is just like you.

_Je ne m’y reconnais plus_ = I don’t know where I am, what I am
about; I am quite at sea.

Reculer

_Il a reculé pour mieux sauter_ = 1. He waited for something
better. 2. (ironic.) He avoided a small evil to fall into a
greater.

[Compare: _Mieux reculer que mal assaillir._]

_Marcher à reculons_ = To walk backwards.

Redire

_Il trouve toujours à redire_ = He is always finding fault.

_Il n’y a rien à redire à cela_ = There is no fault to be found
with that; That is quite all right.

Réflexion

_Réflexion faite_ = After due reflection; On second thoughts.

Refrain

_C’est le refrain de la ballade_ = It is the old story over again.

[“C’est toujours le refrain qu’ils font à leur
ballade.”--RÉGNIER, _Sat._ i.]

Refus

_Cela n’est pas de refus_ (fam.) = That is very acceptable; I
won’t say no to that.

Refuser

*_Qui refuse muse_ =

“He who will not when he may,
When he will he shall have nay.”

Regarder

_N’y regardez pas de si près_ = Do not be so particular.

_Cela ne me regarde pas_ = That is not my business; That does not
concern me.

_J’y regarderai à deux fois_ = I shall think twice before doing
it.

Régler

_Il est réglé comme un papier de musique_ = He is as regular as
clockwork.

Rein

_Nous poursuivîmes l’ennemi l’épée dans les reins_ = We followed
the enemy close at his heels.

_Il s’est donné un tour de reins_ = He sprained his back.

_Il a les reins solides_ = (lit.) He is strong; (fig.) He has a
long purse.

Réjouir

_C’est un gros réjoui_ = He is a big jolly fellow.

Remède

*_À chose faite point de remède_ = What is done cannot be undone.

[“Factum est illud: fieri infectum non potest.”--PLAUTUS.]

Remontrer

_Gros Jean qui en remontre à son curé_ = Hodge tries to teach the
Parson how to preach; He teaches his grandmother to suck eggs.

Remporter

_Il a remporté la victoire_ = He carried the day.

Renard

*_Renard qui dort la matinée
N’a pas la gueule emplumée_ =

’Tis the early bird that catches the worm.

Renchérir

_Il renchérit sur tout ce qu’il entend dire_ = He caps every
story he hears told.

Rencontrer

_Les beaux esprits se rencontrent_ = Great wits jump together.

[When two persons happen to say the same thing at the same time.]

Renfort

_Pour renfort de potage_ = Into the bargain; In addition.
[MOLIÈRE, _Le Bourgeois Gentilhomme_, iii. 3.]

Rengaine

_C’est toujours la même rengaine_ (fam.) = It is always the same
old story.

Renommée

*_Bonne renommée vaut mieux que ceinture dorée_ = A good name is
better than riches. (See _Ceinture_.)

Répandre

_C’est un homme très répandu_ = He is a man who goes into society
a great deal.

Repentir

*_Le repentir vient ordinairement trop tard_ = Do a thing in
haste and repent at leisure.

Répondre

_Je vous en réponds!_ = I will be bound it is; I should think so,
indeed! You take my word for it.

Reprise

_J’ai appelé mon domestique à plusieurs reprises_ = I called my
servant several times.

Reprocher

_Il me reproche les morceaux_ = He grudges me the very food I eat.

Résoudre

_Je ne puis m’y résoudre_ = I cannot make up my mind to do it.

Ressort

_Ce n’est pas de mon ressort_ = That is not within my province,
“not in my line.”

_Il a fait jouer tous les ressorts_ = He used all the means in
his power.

_Ce tribunal juge en dernier ressort_ = This court tries without
appeal; There is no appeal from the findings of this court.

Reste

_Je ne veux pas être en reste avec vous_ = I do not want to do
less for you than you have done for me.

_J’en ai de reste_ = I have more than enough.

_Il n’a pas demandé son reste!_ = He soon took himself off, I can
tell you! He soon shut up, I can tell you!

Retour

_Il est perdu sans retour_ = He is past all hope.

_Il demeure à l’étranger sans esprit de retour_ = He is living
abroad without thinking of returning.

_Il me paie de retour_ = He loves (_or_, hates) me as much as I
love (_or_ hate) him.

[_E.g._ “Vous dites que vous aimez votre mère, mais elle vous
paie bien de retour.”]

Retourner

_Je sais de quoi il retourne_ = I know how matters stand.

Retraite

_Battre la retraite_ = To beat tattoo (_or_, the retreat.)

_Battre en retraite_ = To retreat.

Retrouver

_Je le retrouverai bien_ = He will not escape me.

Revendre

_Avoir d’une chose à revendre_ = To have more than enough of a
thing.

Revenir

*_Revenons à nos moutons_ = But to return to our subject. (See
_Mouton_.)

_Vous en revenez toujours là_ = You are always harping on that
string.

_Je n’en reviens pas_ = I cannot get over it (astonishment).

[Or, pop., “j’en suis baba.”]

_N’y revenez pas_ = (lit.) Do not come here again; (fig.) Do not
do that again.

_Cela revient à dire_ = That amounts to saying.

_Cela revient au même_ = That is just the same thing.

_Je reviens de loin_ = (lit.) I come from a long distance; (fig.)
I am recovering from a long illness.

_Son nom ne me revient pas_ = I do not recollect his name.

_Sa figure me revient_ = I like his face.

_Je suis bien revenu sur le compte de votre frère_ = I have lost
all the illusions I had of your brother.

Rêver

_Cet homme rêve tout éveillé_ = That man dreams with his eyes
open.

Revers

*_Toute médaille a son revers_ = There is a dark side to every
picture.

Revoir

_À revoir_ = To be revised.

_Au revoir!_ = Till we meet again.

Richesse

_La richesse rend honnête_ = Rich men have no faults.

[The bishop’s pun may be repeated: “Get on, get honour, get
honest.”

“Quand on est couronnée, on a toujours le nez bien
fait.”--PERRAULT, _Les Souhaits ridicules_.]

Rien

“Dans le siècle où nous sommes,
On ne donne rien pour rien”

= At the present day people give nothing for nothing, and
precious little for sixpence.
[MOLIÈRE, _École des Femmes_, iii. 2. _Rien_ here shows its
derivation from _rem_ (a thing). It was not always used with
_ne_.]

_Ne faites semblant de rien_ = Look as if nothing were the matter.

_Comme si de rien n’était_ = As if nothing were the matter.

*_Qui ne risque rien n’a rien_ = Nothing venture, nothing win.

[“Qui ne s’aventure perd cheval et mule.”]

*_Qui ne demande rien n’a rien_ = Lose nothing for want of
asking; If you do not ask, you will not get.

_Il ne sait rien de rien_ = 1. He knows absolutely nothing. 2. He
is quite in the dark.

_En un rien de temps_ = In a trice.

_En moins de rien_ = In less than no time.

_Pas plus gros que rien_ = Next to nothing.

_Il n’est rien moins que courageux_ = He is anything but
courageous.

_Pour rien au monde_ = Not for the life of me.

Rincer

_Se rincer la dalle_ (pop.) = To wet one’s whistle.

Rire

*_Rira bien qui rira le dernier_ = They have most to laugh at who
laugh last; Let them laugh that win.

*_Tel qui rit vendredi dimanche pleurera_ = Sorrow treads on the
heels of mirth; Laugh to-day and cry to-morrow.

*_Marchand qui perd ne peut rire_ = Let those laugh who win.

_Il a toujours le mot pour rire_ = He is ever ready with a joke;
He is full of fun.

_Il m’a ri au nez_ = He laughed in my face.

_Rire aux éclats_ = To roar with laughter.

_Je me tordais de rire_ (fam.) = I was splitting my sides with
laughter.

_Il riait à gorge déployée_ = He was roaring with laughter.

_Rire dans sa barbe_ (or, _sous cape_) = To laugh in one’s
sleeve. (See _Cape_.)

_Rire du bout des dents_ = To force a laugh.

_Rire jaune_ = To laugh on the wrong side of one’s mouth.

_Rire aux anges_ = 1. To laugh immoderately; 2. To laugh to
oneself.

_C’est un pince-sans-rire_ = He is a dry joker.

Risée

_Il est la risée de tout le monde_ = He is the laughing-stock of
every one.

Roche

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

_Clair comme de l’eau de roche_ = As clear as crystal.

Roi

_C’est la cour du roi Pétaud_ = This is bedlam let loose; Dover
Court--all speakers, no hearers.

[Le roi Pétaud (Lat. _peto_ = I ask) was the chief that beggars
used to choose for themselves. As he had no more authority than
his subjects, the name is given to a house where every one is
master. Comp. MOLIÈRE, _Tartufe_, i. 1.--

“On n’y respecte rien, chacun y parle haut,
Et c’est tout justement la cour du roi Pétaud.”

A variant is: “C’est une vraie pétaudière.”]

_Le roi n’est pas son cousin_ = He is very haughty (so that he
would not acknowledge the king as his cousin).

Rompre

_Applaudir un acteur à tout rompre_ = To applaud an actor so as
to bring the house down (to lift the roof).

Rondement

_Il y va rondement_ = He acts frankly and quickly.

_Il mènera cette affaire rondement_ = He will not dally about
that matter.

Rose

_Il n’est point de rose sans épines_ = Every rose has its thorn;
No rose without a thorn.

Rôti

_Il ne faut pas s’endormir sur le rôti_ = We must keep our wits
about us; We must not neglect our work; We must not be too slow
over it; We must not rest on our laurels.

[Literally, to go to sleep whilst cooking the meat.]

Roue

_Il fait la roue_ = He shows off.

Rouge

_Se fâcher tout rouge_ = To get into a passion.

_Voir rouge_ = To be seized with a sudden thirst for blood.

Roulette

_Cela marche comme sur des roulettes_ = That is getting on
swimmingly.

Royaliste

_Être plus royaliste que le roi (plus catholique que le pape)_
= To out-Herod Herod.

Royauté

“_La royauté, place noyée de lumière où toute tache paraît une
fange sordide_” =
“In that fierce light which beats upon a throne
And blackens every blot.”
[TENNYSON, _Idylls of the King_, Dedication.]

Rubis

_Faire_ (or, _payer_) _rubis sur l’ongle_ = To pay to the last
farthing.

[This expression means literally to drain a tumbler so completely
that there just remains in it one drop of wine, which being put
on the nail looks like a ruby.

“Je sirote mon vin, quel qu’il soit, vieux, nouveau;
Je fais rubis sur l’ongle, et n’y mets jamais d’eau.”
REGNARD, _Folies Amoureuses_, iii. 4.]

Ruisseau

*_Les petits ruisseaux font les grandes rivières_ = Many a little
makes a mickle.

S.

Sac

*_Autant pèche celui qui tient le sac que celui qui met dedans_ =
The receiver is as bad as the thief.

[_Wer die Letter hält ist so schuldig wie der Dieb._]

_Tu sais que je n’ai plus le sac_ = You know I have no more
money.

_Un homme de sac et de corde_ = A regular ruffian.

_Prendre quelqu’un la main dans le sac_ = To catch any one in the
very act.

_Il m’a laissé voir le fond du sac_ = I guessed his intentions in
spite of him.

_Juger sur l’étiquette du sac_ = To judge by appearances.

*_Dans les petits sacs sont les fines épices_ = Little fellows
are often great wits; Small parcels hold fine wares. (See _Aune_
and _Onguent_.)

Saint

_Tout le saint-frusquin_ (fam.) = The whole jolly lot (referring
to money or clothes).

_Toute la sainte journée_ = The whole blessed (_or_, livelong)
day.

Salut

*_À bon entendeur salut_ = A word to the wise is enough. _Verb.
sap._ (See _Avis_.)

Sang

_Cela fait faire du mauvais sang_ = That causes one to worry.

_Suer sang et eau_ (fam.) = To strain every nerve.

*_Bon sang ne peut mentir_ = Good breeding always shows itself;
Like father, like son.

Sapin

_Sa toux sent le sapin_ = He has a churchyard cough.

[_Sapin_ = deal, of which coffins are made.]

Sauce

_On ne sait à quelle sauce le mettre_ = There is no knowing what
to do with him.

*_Trop de cuisiniers gâtent la sauce_ = Too many cooks spoil the
broth.

[Although this may be but a translation of the English proverb,
it is of constant use in France.]

Saut

_Il fait tout par sauts et par bonds_ = He does everything by
fits and starts.

Sauter

_Il s’est fait sauter la tête_ (or, _la cervelle_, more fam. _le
caisson_) = He blew his brains out.

_Faire sauter la banque_ = To break the bank (gambling).

Sauver

*_Sauve qui peut_ = Every one for himself; Run for your lives.

_Je me sauve_ = I must be off.

Savoir

_Je ne sais comment cela est arrivé_ = I am at a loss to explain
how it happened.

_Pas que je sache_ = Not to my knowledge.

_Je suis tout je ne sais comment_ = I am out of sorts.

_C’est à savoir_ = That remains to be seen.

_Il en sait plus d’une_ (fam.) = He knows more than one trick; He
knows a trick or two.

_Il a beaucoup de savoir faire_ = He has his wits about him; He
knows how to manage people.

_Il a du savoir vivre_ = He knows how to behave; He is well bred.

_Un je ne sais quoi_ = A “something” (I know not what).

*_De savoir vient avoir_ = Knowledge is power.

*_Qui plus sait plus se tait_ = A still tongue shows a wise head.

*_Qui rien ne sait, de rien ne doute_ = Who knows nothing, doubts
nothing; Ignorance is bliss.

Savon

_Je lui donnerai un savon_ (fam.) = I will blow him up.

[German: _Ich werde ihm den Kopf waschen._]

Scène

_Je lui ai fait une scène_ = 1. I had a row with him. 2. I
reproached (_or_, abused) him violently.

Scie

_Quelle scie!_ (fam.) = What a bother!

Séance

_Séance tenante_ = Forthwith; There and then.

Sec

_C’est un grand sec_ = He is a tall, spare man.

_Sec comme un pendu_ = As thin as a lath.

_Boire sec_ = To drink hard.

_Il est à sec_ (pop.) = He is hard up, broke, in low water.

Sécher

_Sécher sur pied_ = To pine away.

Secours

_Crier au secours_ = To cry for help.

Secret

*_Secret de deux, secret de Dieu,
Secret de trois, secret de tous_ = No secret but between two.

Seigneur

*_À tout seigneur tout honneur_ = Honour to whom honour is due.

Sel

_Mettre du sel sous la queue d’un oiseau_ = To put salt on a
bird’s tail.

Sellette

_Mettre sur la sellette_ = To cross-question; To haul over the
coals (fam.).

[_La sellette_ was the small wooden seat on which a culprit sat
during his trial.]

Semaine

_Cet officier est de semaine_ = He is officer of the week.

_Il dépensa toute sa semaine_ = He spent all his week’s wages
(_or_, pocket-money).

_Je le ferai la semaine des trois (quatre) jeudis_ = I shall do
it in a week of Sundays (_i.e._ never).

[Also: _Je le ferai quand les poules auront des dents._]

_Prêter à la petite semaine_ = To lend money at high interest for
a short time.

Semblable

_A-t-on jamais vu rien de semblable?_ = Did you ever see such a
thing?

_Rien de semblable_ = Nothing of the sort.

Sembler

_Comme bon vous semble_ = Just as you please.

_Si bon vous semble_ = If you think fit.

Semelle

_Lever la semelle devant quelqu’un_ = To show any one a clean
pair of heels.

Sens

_Cela tombe sous le sens_ = That is self-evident, obvious.

_Sens dessus dessous_ = Upside down; Topsy-turvy.

_Sens devant derrière_ = Wrong side first.

_À contresens_ = Contrary to the meaning; In the wrong way.

Sentir

_Cela ne sent pas bon_ = (fig.) I don’t like the look of that.

_Je ne me sens pas de joie_ = I am beside myself with joy.

Service

_Qu’y a-t-il pour votre service?_ = What can I do for you?

Servir

_Madame est servie_ = Dinner is served.

*_À quoi sert de vous mettre en colère?_ = What is the use of
getting angry?

Seul

_Cela va tout seul_ = That is no trouble; That works of its own
accord.

Si

_Il n’y a pas de si qui fasse_ = There is no excuse for it.

_Avec un si on mettrait Paris dans une bouteille_ = Such
suppositions are idle; If wishes were horses, beggars would ride.

_Il n’est pas riche._--_Oh! que si_ = He is not rich.--Isn’t he,
though!

Sien

*_Chacun le sien n’est pas trop_ = Let each have his own, then
all is fair.

_Il fait des siennes_ = He is up to his old tricks again.

_Il en sera du sien_ = He will be a loser by it.

_On n’est jamais trahi que par les siens_ = It is always one’s
friends (_or_, confederates) who betray one.

Singe

_Le singe est toujours singe, fût-il vêtu de pourpre_ =

An ape’s an ape, a varlet’s a varlet,
Though they be clad in silk or scarlet.

_Il l’a payé en monnaie de singe_ = He paid him with promises; He
jeered at him instead of paying him.

[This expression originated in the ordinance of St. Louis
regulating the payment of the tolls at the gates of Paris.
Showmen were exempted from payment on causing their apes to skip
and dance in front of the toll-keeper. Comp. ESTIENNE BOILEAU,
_Establissements des métiers de Paris_, Chapitre del péage de
Petit Pont:--“Li singes au marchant doibt quatre deniers, se il
por vendre le porte: se li singes est a homme qui l’aist acheté
por son déduit, si est quites, et se li singes est au joueur,
jouer en doibt devant le péagier, et por son jeu doibt estre
quites de toute la chose qu’il achète à son usage et aussitôt le
jongleur sont quite por un ver de chanson.”]

Soif

*_On ne saurait faire boire un âne s’il n’a soif_ = One man can
take a horse to the water, but twenty cannot make him drink.

Solide

_Il songe au solide_ = He has an eye to the main chance.

Soleil

_Montrer le soleil avec un flambeau_ = To hold a farthing
rushlight to the sun; To paint the lily.

Somme (_m._)

_Je n’ai fait qu’un somme_ = I never woke all night.

Somme (_f._)

_Somme toute_ = After all; Taking everything into consideration;
To conclude.

_En somme_ = On the whole; In the main.

Songe

“_Puisqu’en vous il est faux que songes sont mensonges_” = Since
with you, it is untrue that dreams go by contraries.
[MOLIÈRE, _Étourdi_, iv. 3.]

*_Mal d’autrui n’est que songe_ = Other people’s woes do not
affect us much.

_C’est un songe-creux_ = He is full of idle fancies (or, day
dreams); He is a wool-gatherer.

Sonner

_Elle a quarante ans bien sonnés_ = She is over forty.

_Il est trois heures sonnées_ = It has struck three.

_Payer en bonnes espèces sonnantes (et trébuchantes)_ = To pay
in hard cash.

Sornette

_Il nous berce de sornettes_ = He puts us off with silly tales.

Sort

_Le sort en est jeté_ = The die is cast; _Alea jacta est._

_Elle lui a jeté un sort_ = She cast a spell over him; He is
infatuated with her.

_Tirer au sort_ = To draw lots (for the army, etc.).

Sorte

_Je lui ai parlé de la bonne sorte_ = I gave it him soundly; I
gave him a piece of my mind.

Sortie

_Il a fait une sortie_ = He flew into a passion.

Sot

_C’est un sot en trois lettres_ = He is a thorough fool.

_Quelque sot le ferait_ = One would be a fool to do that.

*_A sotte question point de réponse_ = Answer a fool according to
his folly; A silly question needs no answer.

_Un sot trouve toujours un plus sot qui l’admire_ = Even a fool
will always find admirers.
[BOILEAU, _Art Poétique_, 1.]

_Il n’y a pas de sots métiers, il n’y a que de sottes gens_ =
People may be petty, but work never is.

Sou

_Il a fait de cent sous quatre livres, et de quatre livres rien_
= He has brought his noble to ninepence, and his ninepence to
nothing.

[_Livre_ here has nothing to do with our English pound sterling.
It is practically the equivalent of the modern franc. Hence the
proverb means: He reduced 100 sous to 80 sous.]

_Une affaire de deux sous_ = A twopenny-halfpenny affair.

_Cela vaut mille francs comme un sou_ = It is worth £40 if it is
worth a penny.

Souche

_C’est une vraie souche_ = He is a regular log.

_Faire souche_ = To found a family.

Soufflet

_Donner un soufflet à Vaugelas_ = To murder the King’s English;
To offend Lindley Murray.

[Vaugelas (1585-1650) was a celebrated writer on French grammar,
one of the first members of the Académie Française, and one of
the chief contributors to its Dictionary. Comp. MOLIÈRE, _Les
Femmes Savantes_, ii. 7: “Elle y met Vaugelas en pièces tous les
jours.” _Donner un soufflet à Ronsard_ was also used, and, in
the Middle Ages, _Casser la tête de Priscien_, from the famous
grammarian of the fourth century.]

Souhait

*_Si souhaits fussent vrais_, } = { If wishes were horses,
_Pastoureaux rois seraient_. } { Beggars would ride.

[Compare _Si_.]

Souhaiter

_Je t’en souhaite!_ (pop.) = I wish you may get it.

_Souhaiter la bonne année à quelqu’un_ = To wish some one a happy
new year.

Soûl

*_A merle soûl cerises sont amères_ = Plenty makes dainty.

_Parler tout son soûl_ (pop.) = To speak to one’s heart’s content.

Soulier

_Être dans ses petits souliers_ = To be uneasy in one’s mind; To
be on pins and needles.

Soumettre

_Il faut se soumettre ou se démettre_ = One must knuckle under or
clear out.

[Gambetta said this to Marshal MacMahon during the crisis of 16th
May 1875.]

Soupe

_S’emporter comme une soupe au lait_ = To fly into a passion
without warning; To be of a very hasty temper.

_Trempé comme une soupe_ = Wet to the skin; Dripping wet.

_C’est un marchand de soupe._ (See _Marchand_.)

Sourd

_Sourd comme un pot_ = As deaf as a post.

*_Vous faites la sourde oreille_ = None so deaf as those who will
not hear.

_Frapper comme un sourd_ = To beat unmercifully.

_Il court un bruit sourd_ = A rumour is being whispered.

_Ils ont recours à des menées sourdes_ = They have recourse to
underhand dealings.

Sourdine

_Il fait ses coups à la sourdine_ = He acts secretly, in an
underhand manner.

Sourire

_Cela me sourit assez_ = I rather like this.

Souris

*_Souris qui n’a qu’un trou est bientôt prise_ = It is good to
have more than one string to one’s bow.

*_On entendrait trotter une souris_ (or, _voler une mouche_) =
One could hear a pin drop.

_Elle est éveillée comme une petite souris_ (or, _comme une potée
de souris_) = She is as brisk as a bee.

Souvenir

_Autant que je puisse m’en souvenir_ = To the best of my
recollection.

_C’est du plus loin qu’il me souvienne_ = 1. I can barely
remember it. 2. It is as far back as I can recollect.

Souvent

_Plus souvent!_ (fam.) = Not if I know it! Twice!

Sucre

_Casser du sucre sur la tête de quelqu’un_ (pop.) = To speak ill
of any one in his absence.

Suite

_Cette maladie peut avoir des suites_ = That illness may have
serious consequences.

_Il n’a pas d’esprit de suite_ = He is not consistent; He keeps
at nothing long.

_Suite_ (of a serial story or article) = Continuation; Continued.

[Also:

_Suite et fin_ = Conclusion.
_À suivre_ = To be continued.

_La suite au prochain numéro_ = To be continued in our next.]

Sujet

_Être sujet à l’heure_ = To be tied to time.

_Être sujet à caution_ = Not to be relied upon. (See _Caution_.)

_C’est un mauvais sujet_ = He is a scamp, “a bad lot.”

[This is used in speaking of tiresome children, of flighty young
men, and of real rogues.]

_Petit mauvais sujet!_ = Little rascal! (to children).

Supplice

_Être au supplice_ = To be on thorns.

Sûr

_Pour sûr!_ (fam.) = I should think so, indeed!

T.

Table

_Tenir table ouverte_ = To keep open house.

_Faire table rase_ = To make a clean sweep and begin again; To
start everything afresh.

_Jouer cartes sur table_ = To act frankly, above board.

Tâche

_Prendre à tâche_ = To make it one’s business.

_Travailler à la tâche_ = To work by the piece.

Taillable

_Vilains taillables et corvéables à merci_ = Serfs taxable and
workable at their lord’s will and pleasure.

Taille

_Il est de taille à se défendre_ = He is big enough to defend
himself.

“_Ils nous ont fait une France à leur taille_” (BÉRANGER) = They
have brought France down to their level.

_Se tenant par la taille_ = With their arms round each other’s
waists.

_Frapper d’estoc et de taille_ = 1. To cut and thrust. 2. To hit
right and left; To lay about one.

Talon

_Il a l’esprit aux talons_ = He shines at the wrong end; He is
not witty.

_La bande se dispersa, les talons aux épaules_ = The gang took to
their heels.

_J’ai l’estomac dans les talons_ = I am very hungry.

Tambour

_On l’a mené tambour battant_ = They led him with a high hand;
They played the martinet with him.

_Il sortirent tambour battant, mèche allumée_ = They went out
with all the honours of war.

Tant

_Tous tant que nous sommes_ = Every one of us.

_Être tant à tant_ = To be even (in a game).

_Si cela vous ennuie tant soit peu, ne le faites pas_ = If that
is the least trouble, do not do it.

_Elle n’est pas jolie, tant s’en faut_ = She is not pretty, far
from it; She is anything but good-looking.

_Vous m’en direz tant_ = That alters the case; Ah! now I
understand. (See _Dire_.)

_Est-ce qu’elle est belle?--Elle est comme il y en a tant_ = Is
she beautiful?--Nothing to stare at; Nothing out of the common.

_Vous l’avez fait tant bien que mal_ = You did it in a casual
(off-hand) way.

_Je l’ai fait tant bien que mal_ = I did it as well as I could,
though I know it is not well done.

_Si tant est que_ .... = If it be true that....

Tapis

_Être sur le tapis_ = To be the subject of general conversation;
To be broached.

_Amuser le tapis_ (or, _la galerie_) = To amuse people by talking
the time away.

Tapisserie

_Faire tapisserie_ (fam.) = To be a wall-flower at a ball.

Tard

*_Mieux vaut tard que jamais_ = Better late than never.

[This is first found in Dionysius of Halicarnassus (ix. 11): “It
is better beginning late doing our duties than never.”]

Tarder

_Il me tarde de parler_ = I am anxious to speak.

_Il ne tardera pas à venir_ = It will not be long before he comes.

Tarte

_C’est sa tarte à la crème_ = It is his one constant objection.
[MOLIÈRE, _École des Femmes_, i. 1.]

Tel

*_Tel maître, tel valet_ = Like master, like man; Like well, like
bucket.

[“Selon le clerc est deu le maistre.”--VILLON, _Grand Testament_,
568.]

*_Telle vie, telle fin_ = Men die as they live.

_Je vous le rends tel quel_ = I return it to you just as it was
lent to me.

_Je la prendrai telle quelle_ = I will take it just as it is.