C'est l'hôpital qui se fout de la charité
Meaning: Said when someone criticizes another for a flaw they share themselves; the pot calling the kettle black.
Language: French
Literally: It's the hospital making fun of the charity ward
Category: The Absurd
Origin: Refers to 19th-century France, where hospitals and charity wards both existed to care for the poor and sick, so one mocking the other was pure hypocrisy.
More idioms — The Absurd
- Russian roulette — Any high-risk activity undertaken needlessly, where disaster may strike without warning.
- nothing short of — Absolutely; entirely; completely—nothing less than the full extent of what is stated.
- hammer and tongs — With great vigor and force; in a determined and vigorous manner.
- rhyme or reason — Any logical sense or reasonable explanation.
- blow up in one's face — To fail spectacularly or cause a plan to collapse in an embarrassing way.
- tilt at windmills — To waste effort fighting against imaginary enemies or pursuing hopeless causes.
More French idioms
- allonger pour le compte — To knock someone out in a boxing match; to fell someone.
- avancer masqué — To act in a hidden or anonymous way, concealing one's intentions or identity.
- passer un savon — To scold or rebuke someone harshly.
- tenir du miracle — To be exceptional or extraordinary; to have a miraculous quality.
- ne pas fermer l’œil de la nuit — To be unable to sleep; to stay awake all night.
- baisser pavillon — To concede defeat or accept inferiority; to surrender.
From our false friends
- Phrase — Actually means 'sentence'. For a short phrase or expression, say une expression.
- Ignorer — Actually means 'to be unaware of' or 'not to know'. J'ignore la réponse = I don't know th…
- Déception — Actually means 'disappointment'. For deception (a trick), say tromperie.
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