IdiomDaily Life
French
FrenchDe bon aloi
Meaning: Genuine and of good quality; its opposite, de mauvais aloi, means dubious or in poor taste.
Literally: Of good alloy
Example: “Il a fait une plaisanterie de bon aloi qui a détendu l'atmosphère.” — He made a tasteful joke that lightened the mood.
Origin: Aloi was the legally fixed proportion of precious metal in a coin. Money of good alloy was worth its face value, and the judgment passed from coinage to character and conduct.
More French idioms
- Une Arlésienne A person or thing endlessly talked about but who never actually appears.
- Signer son arrêt de mort To take an action that guarantees your own downfall.
- Un homme de l'art A qualified professional, especially a physician.
- C'est du grand art That is masterfully done.
- L'enfance de l'art Utterly elementary; child's play.
- À l'article de la mort At the very point of dying.
Explore another collection: Tongue Twisters
Tricky phrases to practice out loud, from languages around the world.
- 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.
- Seize chaises sèches sur seize arches sèches. A relentless collision of 'sei', 'sèch', and 's' — the tongue can't find traction.
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