donner un coup de pied dans la fourmilière
Meaning: To strike a major blow or take bold action that stirs up considerable agitation and controversy.
Language: French
Literally: to give a kick into the anthill
Category: Animals
Origin: The phrase pictures literally kicking an anthill, causing the insects to scatter in chaos—an image of intentional disruption.
More idioms — Animals
- remettre en selle — To help someone recover a former position or regain their footing after a setback.
- tener más conchas que un galápago — To be extremely cunning or crafty; to have many tricks up one's sleeve.
- cachicamo diciéndole a morrocoy conchudo — Calling out someone's faults when the accuser has the very same fault, especially when th…
- como pez en el agua — perfectly at ease in a situation; in one's natural element.
- pico de oro — someone with exceptional eloquence or persuasive speech.
- no decir ni pío — to remain completely silent or say nothing at all.
More French idioms
- fourrer son nez dans les affaires de quelqu'un — To meddle or pry indiscreetly into someone else's affairs.
- griller les neurones — To drive someone insane or cause them to go mad.
- passer d'un excès à l'autre — To swing from one extreme to the opposite extreme without ever finding moderation.
- prendre des gants — To handle a delicate matter with great tact and care to avoid offending someone.
- remettre en train — To restart or reactivate something that has stopped or slowed down.
- ça pique — It is very expensive or causes financial pain.
From our tongue twisters
- Si six scies scient six cyprès, six cents scies scient six cents cyprès. — An 's' / 'si' minefield.
- Dans ta tente ta tante t'attend. — A gentle 'ta / ten / tan / t'' warm-up that sounds faster than it reads.
- Seize chaises sèches sur seize arches sèches. — A relentless collision of 'sei', 'sèch', and 's' — the tongue can't find traction.