IdiomDaily Life
French
FrenchEn rade
Meaning: Stranded; left behind.
Literally: In the roadstead
Example: “Notre voiture est tombée en rade en pleine campagne.” — Our car broke down and left us high and dry in the middle of the countryside.
English equivalent: Left high and dry
Equivalents in other languages
Spanish: en la estacada Literally: In the stake
English: left high and dry
Origin: A rade is the sheltered anchorage outside a harbor, where a ship waits without being properly in port. Being left there is being neither underway nor arrived.
More French idioms
- Hommes de sac et de corde Thorough scoundrels.
- L'affaire est dans le sac It is as good as settled.
- Mettre à sac To plunder a place completely.
- À bon entendeur, salut A word to the wise — take the hint.
- Bon sang ! Good grief — an exclamation of exasperation.
- Bon sang ne saurait mentir Breeding shows in the end.
Explore another collection: Compliments & Insults
Compliments and insults from around the world, from the sweet to the savage.
- C'est une vraie chèvre They're hopelessly stubborn and infuriating — a goat that refuses to be moved.
- Casse-pieds A massive bore or pain in the neck — someone who wears you down with their irritating way…
- Espèce de patate You dim bulb — a potato being the very picture of inert, unthinking stodginess.
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