IdiomDaily Life
French
FrenchDes espèces sonnantes et trébuchantes
Meaning: Hard cash, as opposed to promises or credit.
Literally: Ringing and tipping coin
Example: “Le brocanteur n'accepte que les espèces sonnantes et trébuchantes.” — The junk dealer only accepts cold hard cash.
English equivalent: Cold hard cash
Equivalents in other languages
Spanish: contante y sonante Literally: Ready and ringing
English: cold hard cash
Origin: Good coin rang true when struck and tipped the trébuchet, the precision balance used to check weight. Both tests were defenses against clipping, so the phrase means money that has already passed verification.
More French idioms
- Croire dur comme fer To believe something with complete and unshakeable conviction.
- Le fer de lance The leading element of an effort; the part that goes in first.
- Avoir le feu sacré To be driven by genuine, burning vocation.
- Être tout feu tout flamme To be full of ardent enthusiasm.
- Faire fi de quelque chose To scorn something; to dismiss it as beneath notice.
- Des grosses ficelles Crude, obvious tricks that fool nobody.
Explore another collection: Compliments & Insults
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- Tu as un cœur d'or You are genuinely kind and generous.
- Tu déchires You're awesome — you totally rock.
- Bête comme ses pieds Really not very bright.
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