À bride abattue
Meaning: At full tilt, at breakneck speed.
Language: French
Literally: With the bridle down
Category: Animals
Origin: A rider who lets the bridle fall slack stops restraining the horse and lets it run flat out. The opposite figure, à bride tenue, never took hold in the same way.
More idioms — Animals
- Vouloir faire passer un chameau par le chas d'une aiguille — To attempt something manifestly impossible.
- Acheter chat en poche — To buy something sight unseen, and be cheated.
- Il n'y a pas un chat — There is nobody around at all.
- À cheval donné on ne regarde pas les dents — Do not find fault with a gift.
- Monter sur ses grands chevaux — To take offense and react with indignant superiority.
- Un cheval de Troie — A gift or arrangement that conceals a hostile purpose.
More French idioms
- C'est le chien de Jean de Nivelle — Said of someone who makes himself scarce precisely when he is called.
- Les chiens ne font pas des chats — Children inevitably resemble their parents.
- Les chiens aboient et la caravane passe — Criticism from bystanders does not stop those who are getting on with it.
- Ne pas attacher son chien avec des saucisses — To be extremely tight-fisted.
- Un temps de chien — Filthy, miserable weather.
- Mettre les bouchées doubles — To work twice as hard in order to catch up.
From our compliments & insults
- Tu es mon rayon de soleil — A warm way to tell someone they brighten your day.
- Joli comme un cœur — Utterly charming or adorable.
- Tu as un cœur d'or — You are genuinely kind and generous.
Browse all compliments & insults →
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