Caracoler en tête
Meaning: To lead by a wide margin, especially in a race or in polls.
Language: French
Literally: To caracole at the head
Category: Animals
Origin: A caracole is an equestrian maneuver, the half-turn or spiraling figure a trained horse performs. The word came through Spanish caracol, snail, named for the spiral of its shell. The image is of a rider so far ahead he can afford to show off.
More idioms — Animals
- Muet comme une carpe — Completely silent; saying absolutely nothing.
- Ça ne casse pas trois pattes à un canard — It's nothing special or impressive.
- Avoir le cafard — To feel depressed or down.
- Poser un lapin — To stand someone up on a date.
- Avoir d'autres chats à fouetter — To have more important things to do.
- Da steppt der Bär — It's going to be a great party.
More French idioms
- La caque sent toujours le hareng — However far you rise, low origins always show through.
- Aller à Canossa — To humble oneself completely before someone; to submit and beg forgiveness.
- Parler à la cantonade — To speak to a group at large without addressing anyone in particular.
- Un capitaine d'industrie — The head of a large company.
- Il n'y a pas loin du Capitole à la roche Tarpéienne — Glory and disgrace are close neighbors — the fall can follow the honors very quickly.
- Arriver comme les carabiniers — To turn up far too late, when everything is already over.
From our tongue twisters
- Si six scies scient six cyprès, six cents scies scient six cents cyprès. — An 's' / 'si' minefield.
- Dans ta tente ta tante t'attend. — A gentle 'ta / ten / tan / t'' warm-up that sounds faster than it reads.
- Seize chaises sèches sur seize arches sèches. — A relentless collision of 'sei', 'sèch', and 's' — the tongue can't find traction.
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