Enfoncer une porte ouverte
Meaning: To make a great effort to establish something nobody disputes.
Language: French
Literally: To break down an open door
Category: Daily Life
Origin: The force is entirely wasted because the obstacle was not there. It is the standard French rebuke to an argument that has won nothing.
More idioms — Daily Life
- La portion congrue — A bare minimum, grudgingly given.
- Saoul comme un Polonais — Extremely drunk.
- Défendre son pré carré — To protect one's own territory or area of authority.
- Lâcher la proie pour l'ombre — To give up something real in pursuit of something illusory.
- Nul n'est prophète en son pays — Recognition is hardest to win from the people who know you.
- Une victoire à la Pyrrhus — A win whose cost makes it indistinguishable from defeat.
More French idioms
- En quarantaine — In quarantine; isolated from contact.
- Tomber en quenouille — To decline into neglect; to fall apart through mismanagement.
- Sans queue ni tête — Making no sense at all.
- Être sur le qui-vive — To be tensely alert.
- En rade — Stranded; left behind.
- Faire du ramdam — To make a great deal of noise.
From our proverbs
- Feed sparingly, and defy the physician. — Moderate eating prevents illness, making medical intervention unnecessary.
- Love and lordship like no fellowship. — Deep affection and authority cannot coexist in the same relationship without one corrupti…
- No man loves his fetters, though of gold. — Even luxurious constraints remain oppressive; material comfort cannot compensate for lost…
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