IdiomAnimals
French
FrenchAvoir la queue entre les jambes
Meaning: To slink off humiliated.
Literally: To have one's tail between one's legs
Example: “Après sa défaite au tournoi, il est rentré la queue entre les jambes.” — After his defeat at the tournament, he came home with his tail between his legs.
English equivalent: With one's tail between one's legs
Equivalents in other languages
Albanian: Iku me bishtin ndër shalë Literally: He left with his tail between his legs
Spanish: con el rabo entre las piernas Literally: With the tail between the legs
English: with one's tail between one's legs
Origin: A dog that has been beaten or cowed clamps its tail down, which is legible across species and languages. English formed the identical phrase from the same observation.
More French idioms
- Secouer comme un prunier To shake someone violently.
- Le marchand de sable est passé The children are getting sleepy.
- Cracher dans la soupe To disparage the thing that sustains you.
- Trempé comme une soupe Drenched to the skin.
- Payer rubis sur l'ongle To pay in full, immediately and to the last penny.
- Faire avancer le schmilblick To make actual progress on something.
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