IdiomDaily Life
French
FrenchDes manœuvres florentines
Meaning: Devious, elaborately indirect political scheming.
Literally: Florentine maneuvers
Example: “Ses manœuvres florentines lui ont valu la présidence du parti sans qu'on le voie venir.” — His devious scheming won him the party leadership before anyone saw him coming.
Origin: Renaissance Florence, the Medici and Machiavelli between them gave the adjective its permanent association with subtlety practiced for its own sake. It is applied to French party politics with some relish.
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