IdiomDaily Life
French
FrenchEntretenir une danseuse
Meaning: To maintain a costly indulgence that serves no purpose.
Literally: To keep a dancer
Example: “Ce vieux voilier qu'il ne sort jamais, c'est sa danseuse.” — That old sailboat he never takes out is his white elephant.
English equivalent: A white elephant
Equivalents in other languages
Italian: cattedrale nel deserto Literally: Cathedral in the desert
English: white elephant
Origin: Wealthy 19th-century men kept ballet dancers from the Paris Opéra as expensive public ornaments. The phrase is now used of loss-making vanity projects, especially corporate and political ones.
More French idioms
- Mentir comme un arracheur de dents To lie brazenly and habitually.
- Dur à la détente Slow to understand — or, in the other sense, reluctant to part with money.
- Qui paye ses dettes s'enrichit Settling what you owe leaves you better off than owing it.
- Faire son deuil de quelque chose To accept that something is lost and give up on it.
- Jeter son dévolu sur quelque chose To settle firmly on something one intends to have.
- À Dieu ne plaise God forbid.
Explore another collection: Proverbs
Short sayings of timeless wisdom from more than 50 cultures, each with its meaning and origin.
- On n'a rien sans rien You have to give something, effort or money, to get something.
- On récolte ce que l'on sème Your actions bring consequences that match them.
- Charbonnier est maître chez soi Everyone, however humble, is in charge in their own home.
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