IdiomFood & Drink
French
FrenchEn cinq sec
Meaning: In no time at all.
Literally: In five dry
Example: “Le dépanneur a réparé la chaudière en cinq sec.” — The repairman fixed the boiler in two shakes of a lamb's tail.
English equivalent: In two shakes of a lamb's tail
Other ways to say this
- French: En deux coups de cuillère à pot Literally: In two strokes of the pot ladle
English: in two shakes of a lamb's tail
Origin: From écarté, a card game whose match was decided by five points played dry, that is without doubling or extension. A dry five went quickly, which is all the phrase retained.
More French idioms
- Jeter de la poudre aux yeux To create a dazzling false impression.
- Tenir à quelque chose comme à la prunelle de ses yeux To guard something as one's most precious possession.
- Allumer ses quinquets To open one's eyes and pay attention.
- Couper le sifflet à quelqu'un To silence someone abruptly, usually with an unanswerable point.
- Être dans ses petits souliers To be acutely ill at ease.
- Mordre la poussière To be defeated; to fall.
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