IdiomDaily Life
French
FrenchAffirmer mordicus
Meaning: To insist on something absolutely and refuse to be moved.
Literally: To affirm by biting
Example: “Malgré les photos, il affirme mordicus qu'il n'était pas à la fête.” — Despite the photos, he's sticking to his guns that he wasn't at the party.
English equivalent: To stick to one's guns
Equivalents in other languages
Dutch: voet bij stuk houden Literally: To keep one's foot by the piece
English: stick to one's guns
Origin: Mordicus is Latin for biting, used of holding on with the teeth. The word entered French in the 17th century and has only ever been used for stubbornness.
More French idioms
- Trancher le nœud gordien To solve an intractable problem by refusing its terms.
- Chercher des noises To pick a quarrel deliberately.
- Être en odeur de sainteté To be in favor with someone in authority.
- Œil pour œil, dent pour dent Retaliation exactly proportionate to the injury.
- Tuer dans l'œuf To stop something before it can develop.
- À pied d'œuvre On site and ready to begin.
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