IdiomDaily Life
French
FrenchDe fil en aiguille
Meaning: One thing leading to another.
Literally: From thread to needle
Example: “On a parlé de jardinage, puis, de fil en aiguille, de nos grands-parents.” — We talked about gardening, and then, one thing led to another, about our grandparents.
English equivalent: One thing led to another
Equivalents in other languages
English: one thing led to another
Origin: Sewing supplies the sequence: the thread is chosen, then it is put to the needle, and the work follows from there. The phrase describes a drift rather than a plan.
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- Ne pas pouvoir être au four et au moulin To be unable to be in two places at once.
- Épater la galerie To show off for the benefit of onlookers.
- Sans crier gare Without any warning at all.
- Une promesse de Gascon A promise nobody expects to be kept.
- Vouer aux gémonies To denounce someone publicly and utterly.
- Cousin germain A first cousin.
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