IdiomDaily Life
French
FrenchÇa fait un bail
Meaning: It has been ages.
Literally: That makes a lease
Example: “Salut ! Ça fait un bail qu'on ne s'est pas vus !” — Hi! It's been ages since we last saw each other!
English equivalent: Long time no see
Equivalents in other languages
English: long time no see
Origin: A bail is a property lease, historically long — nine, eighteen or twenty-seven years under the old rural leases. Naming that span is a way of saying a very long time has gone by.
More French idioms
- C'est la Bérézina A total, chaotic disaster.
- Chercher la petite bête To nitpick; to hunt for a trivial fault.
- Passer sur le billard To undergo surgery.
- Se faire blackbouler To be rejected, voted down or heavily defeated in an election.
- Une arme blanche A bladed weapon, as opposed to a firearm.
- Blanchir de l'argent To launder money.
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