IdiomDaily Life
French
FrenchEnterrer la hache de guerre
Meaning: To end a feud and set hostilities aside.
Literally: To bury the war hatchet
Example: “Les deux clubs rivaux ont enterré la hache de guerre pour organiser un tournoi commun.” — The two rival clubs buried the hatchet to organize a joint tournament.
English equivalent: To bury the hatchet
Equivalents in other languages
English: bury the hatchet
Origin: From the Iroquois practice of literally burying weapons to mark a treaty, reported by colonial writers in the 17th century. Its counterpart, déterrer la hache de guerre (to dig the hatchet back up), is used exactly as often.
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- Retourner sa veste To change one's allegiance opportunistically.
- Coiffer Sainte Catherine To reach twenty-five while still unmarried — said of a woman.
- Être sujet à caution To be unreliable; not to be taken at face value.
- Caviarder un texte To censor a piece of writing by blacking out passages.
- Se serrer la ceinture To economize and go without.
- La femme de César ne doit pas être soupçonnée Those in public office must be above even the appearance of wrongdoing.
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- Prudence est mère de sûreté Being careful is what keeps you safe.
- L'absence est à l'amour ce qu'est au feu le vent Separation kills a weak love and strengthens a strong one.
- On ne fait pas boire un âne qui n'a pas soif You can't force someone to do what they don't want to do.
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