FrenchCe n'est pas la mort du petit cheval
Meaning: It's not a disaster; it's no big deal. Mostly used to calm someone who is making too much of a small setback.
Literally: It's not the death of the little horse
Example: “Tu as raté ton train ? Ce n'est pas la mort du petit cheval, il y en a un autre dans une heure.” — You missed your train? It's not the end of the world, there's another one in an hour.
English equivalent: It's not the end of the world
Origin: The positive form, c'est la mort du petit cheval ("it's the death of the little horse"), means the end, a catastrophe, but the phrase is now heard mostly in the negative, to say that something is not so terrible after all. No dictionary or source found documents where it comes from or why a little horse; it is colloquial French with no known story behind it.
Equivalents in other languages
English: it's not the end of the world
More French idioms
- Manger les pissenlits par la racine To be dead and buried (informal and joking).
- Ça ne casse pas trois pattes à un canard It's nothing special or impressive.
- C'est comme pisser dans un violon A completely pointless effort.
- Avoir le cafard To feel depressed or down.
- Poser un lapin To stand someone up on a date.
- Tomber dans les pommes To faint; to pass out.
Explore another collection: Untranslatable Words
Words that capture a feeling or idea English needs a whole sentence for.
- L'esprit de l'escalier Thinking of the perfect comeback only after the moment has passed — on your way down the…
- Terroir The unique character that a place — its soil, climate and tradition — gives to a wine or…
- Râler To complain and grumble with a certain national flair — a beloved French pastime.
Keep exploring