être un ours

Meaning: Being unfriendly, grumpy, and difficult to approach socially.

Language: French

Literally: to be a bear

Category: Animals

Origin: Bears are known for solitary, aggressive, untamed behavior.

More idioms — Animals

• avoir une mémoire d'éléphant — Having exceptional ability to remember details over time.
• avoir une langue de vipère — Speaking maliciously, spreading rumors, or being verbally cruel.
• faire ses griffes — Practicing or preparing oneself for a challenging task or confrontation.
• jemandem einen Bären aufbinden — To tell someone a deliberate lie or deceptive story for amusement or manipulation.
• mit jemandem Katz und Maus spielen — To tease or toy with someone's emotions, alternating between kind and cruel treatment for…
• tener un rabo de paja — To feel guilty or anxious about something, fearing exposure of a personal fault or secret.

More French idioms

• faire la fortune de quelqu'un — Bringing great wealth or success to another person.
• être sur la brèche — Being actively engaged in battle or difficult work.
• manger du bout des lèvres — Eating without appetite or showing disinterest in the meal.
• avoir une peur bleue — Being terrified or extremely frightened of something.
• être du voyage — Being involved in an illicit or questionable scheme.
• faire le gendarme — Acting authoritarian or enforcing rules with excessive zeal.

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