IdiomDaily Life
French
FrenchCousu de fil blanc
Meaning: So obvious that the deception is plainly visible.
Literally: Sewn with white thread
Example: “Son excuse de panne de réveil était cousue de fil blanc.” — His excuse about his alarm clock failing stuck out like a sore thumb.
Origin: A seam sewn in white thread on dark cloth announces itself from across the room, which is exactly what a repair is meant not to do. The phrase is used of pretexts and alibis.
More French idioms
- Ronger son frein To wait in barely contained impatience.
- Jeter sa gourme To sow one's wild oats.
- Tirer à hue et à dia To pull in opposite directions; to work at cross purposes.
- Une grenouille de bénitier A woman conspicuously and tiresomely devout.
- Faire le pied de grue To stand around waiting for a long time.
- Crier haro sur le baudet To denounce someone publicly and unanimously.
Explore another collection: Tongue Twisters
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- Les chaussettes de l'archiduchesse sont-elles sèches, archi-sèches? A merciless duel between 'ch' and 's'.
- Si six scies scient six cyprès, six cents scies scient six cents cyprès. An 's' / 'si' minefield.
- Dans ta tente ta tante t'attend. A gentle 'ta / ten / tan / t'' warm-up that sounds faster than it reads.
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