IdiomDaily Life
French
FrenchAvoir maille à partir avec quelqu'un
Meaning: To have a quarrel or a bone to pick with someone.
Literally: To have a maille to divide with someone
Example: “Le restaurateur a eu maille à partir avec les services d'hygiène.” — The restaurant owner had a bone to pick with the health inspectors.
English equivalent: To have a bone to pick with someone
Equivalents in other languages
Dutch: Een appeltje met iemand te schillen hebben Literally: To have a little apple to peel with someone
Norwegian: Å ha en høne å plukke med noen Literally: To have a hen to pluck with someone
English: a bone to pick
Origin: Both words are traps: a maille was the smallest medieval coin, half a denier, and partir here means to divide, not to leave. Two people with a single maille between them cannot split it, so a dispute is guaranteed.
More French idioms
- Des yeux de merlan frit A soppy, languishing look.
- Payer en monnaie de singe To pay with worthless promises instead of money.
- La montagne accouche d'une souris A vast effort or grand announcement produces something trivial.
- La mouche du coche Someone who bustles importantly while contributing nothing.
- On n'attrape pas les mouches avec du vinaigre Gentleness achieves what harshness cannot.
- Prendre la mouche To take sudden and disproportionate offense.
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