IdiomThe Absurd
French
FrenchÀ vos souhaits
Meaning: Bless you — said when someone sneezes.
Literally: To your wishes
Example: “Tu as éternué trois fois d'affilée ? À tes souhaits !” — You sneezed three times in a row? Bless you!
Origin: From the belief that a sneeze briefly opened the body to harm, making a wish for the sneezer's protection necessary. French wishes for what you want; English blesses you; the anxiety underneath is the same.
More French idioms
- Les petits ruisseaux font les grandes rivières Small contributions accumulate into something substantial.
- Un soleil de plomb A crushing, oppressive heat.
- Une planche de salut A last resort; the only remaining hope.
- Sentir le sapin To be close to death.
- Mettre à pied To suspend someone from their duties.
- Jeter la première pierre To be the first to condemn someone.
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