IdiomDaily Life
French
FrenchAu bout du rouleau
Meaning: Completely exhausted; at the end of one's resources.
Literally: At the end of the roll
Example: “Après trois nuits sans dormir, la jeune maman était au bout du rouleau.” — After three sleepless nights, the new mother was at the end of her rope.
English equivalent: At the end of one's rope
Equivalents in other languages
English: at the end of one's rope
Origin: The rouleau is the scroll, and reaching its end meant there was nothing further written. The reading of it as a roll of money is later and probably wrong.
More French idioms
- 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.
- Ce n'est pas une sinécure It is not an easy job.
- Une chasse aux sorcières A campaign of persecution driven by suspicion rather than evidence.
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