IdiomAnimals
French
FrenchÀ bride abattue
Meaning: At full tilt, at breakneck speed.
Literally: With the bridle down
Example: “Le cavalier a traversé le village à bride abattue.” — The rider tore through the village at breakneck speed.
English equivalent: Hell for leather
Equivalents in other languages
English: hell for leather
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 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.
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