IdiomAnimals
French
FrenchCourir plusieurs lièvres à la fois
Meaning: To pursue too many aims at the same time and catch none.
Literally: To chase several hares at once
Example: “Entre ses trois start-up et son podcast, il court plusieurs lièvres à la fois.” — Between his three startups and his podcast, he has too many irons in the fire.
English equivalent: Too many irons in the fire
Equivalents in other languages
English: too many irons in the fire
Origin: A hound that breaks off one scent for another loses both. The phrase is nearly always a warning delivered to someone in the act.
More French idioms
- Avoir des yeux de lynx To have extremely sharp eyesight, or to notice everything.
- Des larmes de crocodile Insincere grief performed for effect.
- Se laisser tondre la laine sur le dos To let oneself be exploited without resisting.
- S'entendre comme larrons en foire To be thick as thieves; to understand one another perfectly.
- À la fortune du pot Taking potluck; sharing whatever happens to be cooking.
- Séparer le bon grain de l'ivraie To distinguish what is valuable from what is worthless.
Explore another collection: Compliments & Insults
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- Tête de linotte A scatterbrain who can't hold a thought.
- Courir sur le haricot To get badly on someone's nerves.
- Tu as du chien You have a certain irresistible magnetism — a je-ne-sais-quoi that draws people in.
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