Contre vents et marées
Meaning: In the face of every obstacle.
Language: French
Literally: Against winds and tides
Category: Nature
Origin: Both forces are beyond negotiation and neither can be waited out, which is what makes the pairing exhaustive. It is nautical in origin and now used of anything pursued stubbornly.
More idioms — Nature
- Autant en emporte le vent — Said of promises and words that will come to nothing.
- Aller à vau-l'eau — To fall into ruin; to drift towards collapse.
- Se mettre au vert — To retreat to the countryside to rest or lie low.
- Une volée de bois vert — A severe and public dressing-down.
- Le ventre mou — The weakest and most exposed part of something.
- Avoir le vent en poupe — To be doing very well; everything is going your way.
More French idioms
- Rendre son tablier — To resign, usually in protest.
- Sans tambour ni trompette — Discreetly, without any announcement.
- Prendre la tangente — To slip away, or to dodge a question.
- Partir à Tataouine — To be packed off somewhere remote and unpleasant.
- Un tiens vaut mieux que deux tu l'auras — A certain small gain beats a larger promised one.
- Mieux vaut tenir que courir — Better to keep what you have than chase what you might get.
From our false friends
- Déception — Actually means 'disappointment'. For deception (a trick), say tromperie.
- Monnaie — Actually means 'change' or 'coins'. Money in general is l'argent.
- Sensible — Actually means 'sensitive'. For sensible/level-headed, say raisonnable.
Loading the full interactive collection…