IdiomDaily Life
French
FrenchÀ tour de rôle
Meaning: Each in turn.
Literally: By turn of the roll
Example: “Les parents conduisent les enfants à l'école à tour de rôle.” — The parents take turns driving the children to school.
Origin: The rôle was the rolled parchment listing names in order, the same word that gives an actor's part. Taking turns by the roll means following a fixed written order rather than an agreed one.
More French idioms
- Bon sang ! Good grief — an exclamation of exasperation.
- Bon sang ne saurait mentir Breeding shows in the end.
- Séance tenante Then and there, without adjournment.
- Un coup de semonce A deliberate warning, delivered before real consequences.
- Un train de sénateur A slow, dignified gait.
- Nourri dans le sérail Brought up inside an institution and knowing all its workings.
Explore another collection: Proverbs
Short sayings of timeless wisdom from more than 50 cultures, each with its meaning and origin.
- L'absence est à l'amour ce qu'est au feu le vent Separation kills a weak love and strengthens a strong one.
- On ne fait pas boire un âne qui n'a pas soif You can't force someone to do what they don't want to do.
- Ne fais pas à autrui ce que tu ne voudrais pas qu'on te fasse Treat others as you would want to be treated.
Keep exploring