IdiomDaily Life
French
FrenchCoiffer Sainte Catherine
Meaning: To reach twenty-five while still unmarried — said of a woman.
Literally: To coif Saint Catherine
Example: “Autrefois, les ouvrières qui coiffaient Sainte Catherine portaient un chapeau jaune et vert.” — In the old days, working women who reached twenty-five unmarried wore a yellow and green hat.
English equivalent: To be left on the shelf
Equivalents in other languages
English: left on the shelf
Origin: Saint Catherine of Alexandria was patron of unmarried women, and on her feast day young women of twenty-five, the catherinettes, wore elaborate hats and dressed her statue. The custom was affectionate and the phrase behind it was not.
More French idioms
- Devoir une fière chandelle à quelqu'un To owe someone a considerable debt of gratitude.
- Le jeu n'en vaut pas la chandelle The effort or cost outweighs anything to be gained.
- Tenir la chandelle To be the awkward third party to a couple.
- Sur les chapeaux de roues At top speed; also, of a start, immediately and forcefully.
- Avoir voix au chapitre To have a say in a decision.
- Trouver chaussure à son pied To find exactly the right match, usually a partner.
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