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Avoir d'autres chats à fouetter

Meaning: To have more important things to do.

Language: French

Literally: To have other cats to whip

Category: Animals

Origin: 17th century French expression.

More idioms — Animals

  • Da steppt der Bär — It's going to be a great party.
  • Ich glaub mein Schwein pfeift — I can't believe it! That's outrageous!
  • Schwein haben — Getting unexpectedly lucky — rooted in medieval tournaments where the last-place finisher…
  • Da liegt der Hund begraben — That's the crux of the matter.
  • 猫の手も借りたい — I'm so busy I'll take help from anyone.
  • 猿も木から落ちる — Even experts make mistakes.

More French idioms

  • Raconter des salades — To tell lies or tall tales.
  • En faire tout un fromage — To make a big deal out of nothing.
  • Couper les cheveux en quatre — To over-analyze or split hairs.
  • Se regarder le nombril — To be self-centered or narcissistic.
  • Avoir le cul entre deux chaises — To be indecisive, caught between two options.
  • Mettre son grain de sel — To give an unsolicited opinion.

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