IdiomDaily Life
French
FrenchÀ tombeau ouvert
Meaning: At reckless, life-threatening speed.
Literally: With the tomb open
Example: “Le chauffard roulait à tombeau ouvert sur la route de la plage.” — The reckless driver was going like a bat out of hell on the beach road.
English equivalent: Like a bat out of hell
Other ways to say this
Latvian: Kā pliks pa nātrēm Literally: Like a naked man through nettles
Welsh: Rhedeg fel cath i gythraul Literally: To run like a cat to the devil
Portuguese: Tirar o pai da forca Literally: To take your father off the gallows- French: Sur les chapeaux de roues Literally: On the wheel hubcaps
English: like a bat out of hell
Origin: The grave is figured as already dug and waiting, so the speed is not merely dangerous but presumptuous. It is used almost exclusively of driving and riding.
More French idioms
- Le bout du tunnel The first sign that a long difficulty is ending.
- Brûler ses vaisseaux To destroy any possibility of retreat.
- Vérité en deçà des Pyrénées, erreur au-delà What counts as true depends on which side of a border you stand.
- Un vieux de la vieille A veteran of long standing.
- En quatrième vitesse At top speed; as fast as possible.
- Au temps pour moi My mistake.
Explore another collection: Proverbs
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- Bien mal acquis ne profite jamais What is gained dishonestly brings no lasting good.
- Chaque chose en son temps Deal with things one at a time, when the right moment comes.
- À chacun son goût Everyone has their own preferences, and that's fine.
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