être du propre
Meaning: Used ironically to criticize something as morally or physically filthy.
Language: French
Literally: to be the clean
Category: Daily Life
Origin: The phrase inverts the literal meaning of 'propre' (clean) through sarcasm; often applied to someone's behavior or character.
More idioms — Daily Life
- mettre à terre — To defeat or knock someone down.
- prendre des gants — To handle a delicate matter with great tact and care to avoid offending someone.
- remettre en train — To restart or reactivate something that has stopped or slowed down.
- vendre chèrement sa peau — To defend oneself fiercely and make a determined stand against those trying to kill you.
- en la cuerda floja — To be in a precarious or dangerous position; to be walking a fine line between safety and…
- romper la baraja — To abandon a game or situation in frustration; to take one's ball and go home.
More French idioms
- remuer ciel et terre — To exert all possible effort and use every available means to achieve a goal.
- joindre le geste à la parole — To back up what you say with action; to keep your promises.
- faire dresser l’oreille — To catch someone's attention or spark their interest.
- renaître de ses cendres — To rise again and flourish after near-total destruction.
- se payer la tête de quelqu'un — To mock or ridicule someone.
- avoir les sangs tournés — To be profoundly shocked or horrified.
From our proverbs
- Sell not the hare's skin before you have caught him. — Count your gains only after securing them; premature celebration invites disappointment a…
- Wise men learn by others' harms, fools by their own. — Observing consequences that befall others provides instruction without requiring personal…
- Haste trips up its own heels. — Rushing blindly causes you to stumble over obstacles you might have avoided through delib…