avoir les pieds qui démangent
Meaning: Wanting to travel or move to a different place.
Language: French
Literally: to have itchy feet
Category: Body & Senses
Origin: No source manages to trace an actual first use for this one — every account restates the meaning (itchy feet, since feet are for walking) as though the metaphor's transparency were the same thing as its history. What can be said is that feet standing in for movement and departure is an old and common figure in French generally, and an itch is a discomfort that only stops with the specific action that answers it — scratching, or in this case, leaving. Some folk belief also reads itching feet as an omen that travel is imminent, though that superstition is as undated as the phrase itself.
Equivalents in other languages
- Filipino: Makati ang paa — literally: Itchy feet
More idioms — Body & Senses
- avoir une peur bleue — Being terrified or extremely frightened of something.
- avoir des étoiles dans les yeux — Being dreamy, hopeful, or enchanted by romantic ideals.
- avere un diavolo per capello — Be extremely angry or agitated, ready to argue with anyone about anything.
- 종로에서 뺨 맞고 한강 가서 눈 흘긴다 (Jongno-eseo ppyam matgo Hangang gaseo nun heulginda) — Venting frustration on innocent people due to humiliation elsewhere; displaced anger towa…
- душа нараспашку (dusha naraspashku) — Extremely open, trusting, or emotionally vulnerable with others.
- estar com a corda no pescoço — Be in serious financial or personal trouble with no easy escape.
More French idioms
- être aux petits soins — Receiving attentive, careful treatment and consideration from someone.
- montrer les dents — Displaying aggression, defiance, or readiness to fight.
- avoir les yeux plus gros que le ventre — Taking more food than one can actually eat; wanting too much.
- faire un esclandre — Creating a public disturbance or embarrassing scene.
- être un ours — Being unfriendly, grumpy, and difficult to approach socially.
- avoir une mémoire d'éléphant — Having exceptional ability to remember details over time.
From our proverbs
- To each their own — Everyone has their own preferences and choices.
- You can't teach an old dog new tricks — It's difficult to change established habits.
- The road less traveled makes all the difference — Unconventional choices often lead to the most meaningful outcomes.