FrenchÊtre sur des charbons ardents
Meaning: Being extremely anxious or impatient about something.
Literally: To be on hot coals
Example: “En attendant les résultats de l'examen, elle était sur des charbons ardents.” — While waiting for her exam results, she was on pins and needles.
English equivalent: To be on pins and needles
Origin: Points back to an old ordeal: a suspect made to walk barefoot across a pit of burning coals, on the medieval logic that the innocent would somehow be spared injury. Anyone forced through it had no way to stay still — the pain kept them hopping and shifting to limit contact with the ground, burning through their strength fast in the process. That image of someone unable to stop moving, consumed by a pain they can't escape, is exactly the state of a person too anxious to sit through waiting for news.
Equivalents in other languages
Greek: Τρώω τα νύχια μου Literally: I'm eating my nails
Norwegian: Å være på pinebenken Literally: To be on the torture bench
English: be on pins and needles
More French idioms
- Avoir un chat dans la gorge Having difficulty speaking due to hoarseness or a sore throat.
- Se battre contre des moulins à vent Fighting a hopeless battle against something immovable or pointless.
- Faire ses choux gras Profiting greatly from a situation at someone else's expense.
- Faire la pluie et le beau temps Having complete control over a situation or someone's fate.
- Avoir une dent contre quelqu'un Holding a grudge or resentment toward someone.
- Tirer les vers du nez Getting someone to reveal information they want to keep secret.
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