Être piqué de la tarentule
Meaning: To be seized by frantic, uncontrollable agitation.
Language: French
Literally: To be bitten by the tarantula
Category: The Absurd
Origin: Tarantism was a real documented mania in southern Italy, in which those believed bitten by the spider of Taranto danced for days. The tarantella takes its name from the supposed cure.
More idioms — The Absurd
- Tonnerre de Brest ! — An exclamation of astonishment or annoyance.
- En voiture, Simone ! — Right then, off we go.
- Ça ne casse pas trois pattes à un canard — It's nothing special or impressive.
- C'est comme pisser dans un violon — A completely pointless effort.
- Da steppt der Bär — It's going to be a great party.
- Ich glaub mein Schwein pfeift — I can't believe it! That's outrageous!
More French idioms
- Une tempête dans un verre d'eau — A great commotion over something trivial.
- Contre vents et marées — In the face of every obstacle.
- Autant en emporte le vent — Said of promises and words that will come to nothing.
- Aller à vau-l'eau — To fall into ruin; to drift towards collapse.
- Se mettre au vert — To retreat to the countryside to rest or lie low.
- Une volée de bois vert — A severe and public dressing-down.
From our untranslatable words
- Épanouissement — The full flourishing of a person — blooming into your most complete, radiant self. More t…
- Ressourcement — The act of returning to one's roots or origins to find renewal — going back to a place, t…
- Dépaysement — The disorienting yet often pleasant feeling of being far from home, immersed in the unfam…
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