IdiomAnimals
French
FrenchÊtre comme l'âne de Buridan
Meaning: To be so paralyzed between two equally attractive options that you choose neither.
Literally: To be like Buridan's donkey
Example: “Entre les deux appartements, je suis comme l'âne de Buridan et je n'arrive pas à signer.” — Torn between the two apartments, I'm paralyzed and can't bring myself to sign.
Origin: From a paradox attached to the 14th-century philosopher Jean Buridan: a donkey placed exactly between a pail of water and a bucket of oats, with no reason to prefer either, starves. Buridan never wrote it — it was framed by critics to mock his account of moral determinism.
More French idioms
- Compter pour du beurre To count for nothing; to be disregarded.
- Mettre du beurre dans les épinards To improve one's financial situation; to make life a bit more comfortable.
- Beurré comme un p'tit Lu Thoroughly drunk.
- Un compte d'apothicaire A needlessly complicated calculation, usually one padded in the biller's favor.
- Tailler une bavette To have a long, friendly chat.
- Une auberge espagnole A place or discussion in which you find only what you yourself brought to it.
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- Tu as la tête sur les épaules You're grounded, sensible, and dependable — not easily swept off course.
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- Tu es un as You're brilliant at what you do — the very best.
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