IdiomThe Absurd
French
FrenchDe la poudre de perlimpinpin
Meaning: A worthless remedy sold with great confidence.
Literally: Perlimpinpin powder
Example: “Ces bracelets magnétiques contre l'arthrose, c'est de la poudre de perlimpinpin.” — Those magnetic bracelets for arthritis are pure snake oil.
English equivalent: A snake-oil salesman
Other ways to say this
- French: Un chevalier d'industrie Literally: A knight of industry
English: a snake-oil salesman
Origin: Perlimpinpin means nothing at all — it is invented sound, of the kind fairground quacks used to name a powder that cured everything. The word's emptiness is precisely what it is for.
More French idioms
- Les petits ruisseaux font les grandes rivières Small contributions accumulate into something substantial.
- Un soleil de plomb A crushing, oppressive heat.
- Une planche de salut A last resort; the only remaining hope.
- Sentir le sapin To be close to death.
- Mettre à pied To suspend someone from their duties.
- Jeter la première pierre To be the first to condemn someone.
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