Home › Idioms

avoir une mémoire d'éléphant

Meaning: Having exceptional ability to remember details over time.

Language: French

Literally: to have an elephant's memory

Category: Animals

Origin: Elephants are famously known for their excellent long-term memory.

More idioms — Animals

  • avoir une langue de vipère — Speaking maliciously, spreading rumors, or being verbally cruel.
  • faire ses griffes — Practicing or preparing oneself for a challenging task or confrontation.
  • jemandem einen Bären aufbinden — To tell someone a deliberate lie or deceptive story for amusement or manipulation.
  • mit jemandem Katz und Maus spielen — To tease or toy with someone's emotions, alternating between kind and cruel treatment for…
  • tener un rabo de paja — To feel guilty or anxious about something, fearing exposure of a personal fault or secret.
  • essere un osso duro — Be a difficult, stubborn person who is challenging to deal with or influence.

More French idioms

  • faire la fortune de quelqu'un — Bringing great wealth or success to another person.
  • être sur la brèche — Being actively engaged in battle or difficult work.
  • manger du bout des lèvres — Eating without appetite or showing disinterest in the meal.
  • avoir une peur bleue — Being terrified or extremely frightened of something.
  • être du voyage — Being involved in an illicit or questionable scheme.
  • faire le gendarme — Acting authoritarian or enforcing rules with excessive zeal.

← Back to Idioms

Loading the full interactive collection…