Couper les cheveux en quatre

Meaning: To over-analyze or split hairs.

Language: French

Literally: To cut hair in four

Category: Body & Senses

Origin: 17th century French expression, Molière era.

More idioms — Body & Senses

• Se regarder le nombril — To be self-centered or narcissistic.
• Tomaten auf den Augen haben — To be oblivious to what's right in front of you.
• Die Daumen drücken — To wish someone good luck (like crossing fingers).
• 口が滑る — To accidentally let something slip.
• No tener pelos en la lengua — To speak very bluntly and honestly.
• Tomar el pelo — To pull someone's leg; to tease.

More French idioms

• Avoir le cul entre deux chaises — To be indecisive, caught between two options.
• Mettre son grain de sel — To give an unsolicited opinion.
• Les carottes sont cuites — It's too late, nothing can be done.
• Casser les pieds à quelqu'un — To annoy or bore someone greatly.
• Avoir le beurre et l'argent du beurre — To want to have it both ways.
• Noyer le poisson — To confuse the issue deliberately; to dodge a question.

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