casser le nez à coups d’encensoir
Meaning: To offer someone clumsy, exaggerated, and insincere flattery to their face.
Language: French
Literally: to break the nose with blows of an incense-burner
Category: The Absurd
Origin: Origin uncertain; the image is surreal—an incense-burner is an odd weapon—and may contrast the fragrant tool of religious devotion with the violence of crude praise.
More idioms — The Absurd
- péter une baloune — To cause deep disappointment; to shatter someone's illusions or hopes.
- passer d'un excès à l'autre — To swing from one extreme to the opposite extreme without ever finding moderation.
- fuera de sí — to be in a state of extreme emotion, either elation or distress, such that one loses comp…
- armar la de san Quintín — to start a violent fight or brawl; to cause a huge commotion.
- dale que te pego — relentlessly; without stopping or holding back.
- no haber color — there is no comparison; one option is vastly superior to another.
More French idioms
- se casser la figure — To fall to the ground; to have an accident or suffer a collapse.
- être du propre — Used ironically to criticize something as morally or physically filthy.
- remuer ciel et terre — To exert all possible effort and use every available means to achieve a goal.
- joindre le geste à la parole — To back up what you say with action; to keep your promises.
- mettre à terre — To defeat or knock someone down.
- faire dresser l’oreille — To catch someone's attention or spark their interest.
From our compliments & insults
- Tu déchires — You're awesome — you totally rock.
- Bête comme ses pieds — Really not very bright.
- Avoir un poil dans la main — To be incurably lazy.