IdiomDaily Life
French
FrenchDamer le pion à quelqu'un
Meaning: To outmaneuver someone decisively.
Literally: To crown one's pawn over someone
Example: “La petite librairie a damé le pion aux géants en livrant à vélo.” — The little bookshop stole a march on the giants by delivering by bike.
English equivalent: To steal a march on someone
Equivalents in other languages
English: steal a march on
Origin: In checkers and chess a piece reaching the far rank is crowned and becomes far more powerful. Doing it to someone means gaining the decisive advantage in a game they were also playing.
More French idioms
- Pomme de discorde The particular thing two parties are fighting over.
- En grande pompe With elaborate ceremony.
- Comme le Pont-Neuf In excellent shape despite considerable age.
- Enfoncer une porte ouverte To make a great effort to establish something nobody disputes.
- La portion congrue A bare minimum, grudgingly given.
- Saoul comme un Polonais Extremely drunk.
Explore another collection: Proverbs
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- Qui se ressemble s'assemble People tend to seek out others like themselves.
- L'avenir appartient à ceux qui se lèvent tôt Early risers, and hard workers in general, are the ones who succeed.
- Quand le vin est tiré, il faut le boire Once you have committed to something, you have to go through with it.
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