Avoir le feu au cul
Meaning: To be in a tearing hurry; or, to be highly sexually eager.
Language: French
Literally: To have fire in one's backside
Category: Daily Life
Origin: The hurrying sense is attested from the end of the 17th century, alongside avoir le feu aux trousses with the same meaning — trousses being the hauts-de-chausses that covered thigh and buttock, the same word that survives in avoir quelqu'un à ses trousses, to have someone on your heels. The image needs no explaining: a man whose backside is alight will run, on the reflex hope of leaving the fire behind him, which is not in fact the recommended response. The sexual sense is older still, from the middle of the 16th century, and belongs with être en chaleur (to be in heat), normally said of animals, with the heat placed below the belt. In Quebec the expression means something else entirely — to be angry.
More idioms — Daily Life
- Prendre la poudre d'escampette — To clear off in a hurry.
- Que dalle — Nothing at all.
- Pédaler dans la semoule — To be confused and getting nowhere.
- Avoir d'autres chats à fouetter — To have more important things to do.
- Avoir le cul entre deux chaises — To be indecisive, caught between two options.
- Les carottes sont cuites — It's too late, nothing can be done.
More French idioms
- Mi-figue, mi-raisin — Torn between pleasure and displeasure; half in earnest, half in jest.
- Ça ne casse pas trois pattes à un canard — It's nothing special or impressive.
- C'est comme pisser dans un violon — A completely pointless effort.
- Avoir le cafard — To feel depressed or down.
- Poser un lapin — To stand someone up on a date.
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