IdiomBody & Senses
French
FrenchAvoir plus d'un tour dans son sac
Meaning: To have resources in reserve.
Literally: To have more than one trick in one's bag
Example: “Ne t'inquiète pas pour la panne, le mécanicien a plus d'un tour dans son sac.” — Don't worry about the breakdown; the mechanic has a few tricks up his sleeve.
English equivalent: To have a few tricks up one's sleeve
Equivalents in other languages
English: have a few tricks up one's sleeve
Origin: The bag is the conjuror's, holding more than the one trick already performed. It is a compliment, unlike most French phrases about having something up a sleeve.
More French idioms
- De la poudre de perlimpinpin A worthless remedy sold with great confidence.
- Un lit de Procuste A standard imposed regardless of what it does to the thing being measured.
- Le rocher de Sisyphe A labor that must be repeated forever and never completes.
- Le supplice de Tantale Having what one wants permanently in sight and permanently out of reach.
- Une solution de continuité A break or gap — not, despite appearances, a solution to anything.
- Demain, on rase gratis A promise perpetually postponed.
Explore another collection: Proverbs
Short sayings of timeless wisdom from more than 50 cultures, each with its meaning and origin.
- Le singe est toujours singe, fût-il vêtu de pourpre Finery can't change someone's true nature.
- Vent au visage rend un homme sage Hardship makes a person wiser.
- Un tiens vaut mieux que deux tu l'auras A certain small gain beats a larger promised one.
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