IdiomDaily Life
French
FrenchEn file indienne
Meaning: In single file, one behind another.
Literally: In Indian file
Example: “Les enfants traversent la route en file indienne derrière la maîtresse.” — The children cross the road in single file behind the teacher.
Origin: From European reports of Native Americans traveling in single file so that the last walker could disguise the number who had passed. The phrase entered French through the same colonial literature that gave English Indian file.
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