IdiomDaily Life
French
FrenchDe bon augure
Meaning: A promising sign; its opposite, de mauvais augure, means ominous.
Literally: Of good augury
Example: “Ce premier rendez-vous réussi est de bon augure.” — That successful first date is a promising sign.
Origin: Roman augurs read the will of the gods in the flight and feeding of birds, and no public act was undertaken against a bad reading. The vocabulary of that office survives in French with the religion stripped out.
More French idioms
- Un baiser de Judas A show of affection that conceals a betrayal.
- La balle est dans votre camp It is your turn to act; the decision now rests with you.
- Convoquer le ban et l'arrière-ban To call in absolutely everyone available.
- Une république bananière A corrupt, unstable state run for the benefit of a few private interests.
- Un travail de bénédictin Painstaking, patient scholarly labor demanding enormous persistence.
- Le benjamin The youngest member of a family, team or group.
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