IdiomDaily Life
French
FrenchÀ son corps défendant
Meaning: Reluctantly; against one's own will.
Literally: While defending one's body
Example: “Il a pris la présidence du club à son corps défendant.” — He took over as club president kicking and screaming.
English equivalent: Kicking and screaming
Equivalents in other languages
English: kicking and screaming
Origin: Originally a legal term: a killing committed à son corps défendant was one done in self-defense. It drifted from acting under physical necessity to acting under any reluctance at all.
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