
IdiomDaily Life
French
De bonne foi
Meaning: Sincerely, without intent to deceive.
Literally: In good faith
Example: “Le vendeur était de bonne foi : il ignorait que la montre était volée.” — The seller acted in good faith: he didn't know the watch was stolen.
Origin: A direct descendant of Latin bona fide, and still a term of art in French law as well as ordinary speech. Its opposite, de mauvaise foi, is the one that gets the most use.
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- Cousin germain A first cousin.
- Faire partie du Gotha To belong to the highest society.
- Des goûts et des couleurs on ne discute pas There is no arguing with personal preference.
- Mettre le grappin sur quelque chose To get one's hooks into something and not let go.
- De gré ou de force Willingly or unwillingly; one way or another.
- Le Grenelle de quelque chose A large multi-party negotiation convened to settle a national issue.
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- La fin justifie les moyens A worthwhile goal excuses whatever it takes to reach it.
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- C'est en forgeant qu'on devient forgeron You learn a skill by practicing it.
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