
IdiomDaily Life
French
Bien luné
Meaning: In a good mood — and mal luné, in a bad one.
Literally: Well-mooned
Example: “Évite de lui demander un service ce matin, il n'est pas bien luné.” — Don't ask him for a favor this morning; he got up on the wrong side of the bed.
Origin: From the belief that the moon's phase governed temperament, the same idea that gave English lunatic. French kept the mild everyday version and dropped the medical one.
More French idioms
- S'en laver les mains To disclaim all responsibility for an outcome.
- Tout le saint-frusquin The whole lot; everything one owns.
- 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.
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