IdiomDaily Life
French
FrenchÊtre sur le qui-vive
Meaning: To be tensely alert.
Literally: To be on the who-lives
Example: “Depuis les cambriolages, tout le quartier est sur le qui-vive.” — Since the burglaries, the whole neighborhood has been on its toes.
English equivalent: On one's toes
Equivalents in other languages
English: on one's toes
Origin: Qui vive? was the sentry's challenge, meaning roughly whose side are you on — the expected answer named a king. Being on it is being in the state of readiness the challenge implies.
More French idioms
- Au bout du rouleau Completely exhausted; at the end of one's resources.
- Hommes de sac et de corde Thorough scoundrels.
- L'affaire est dans le sac It is as good as settled.
- Mettre à sac To plunder a place completely.
- À bon entendeur, salut A word to the wise — take the hint.
- Bon sang ! Good grief — an exclamation of exasperation.
Explore another collection: Proverbs
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- À chacun son goût Everyone has their own preferences, and that's fine.
- C'est dans les vieux pots qu'on fait la meilleure soupe Experience, and older people, often do things best.
- Un chien regarde bien un évêque Even the humblest person has some rights in front of the powerful.
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