FrenchÊtre une girouette
Meaning: Being inconsistent, constantly changing opinions or allegiances.
Literally: To be a weather vane
Example: “On ne peut pas compter sur lui, c'est une vraie girouette.” — You can't count on him; he changes his mind with the wind.
English equivalent: To blow hot and cold
Origin: A girouette is a weathervane, which turns to face wherever the wind blows. The Académie française's 1762 dictionary already calls it "the symbol of inconstancy," and Voltaire joked that he was like weathervanes, which only stay fixed once they have rusted. The image became a political weapon in 1815, when the satirical Dictionnaire des girouettes listed hundreds of public figures who had switched sides between the Revolution, Napoleon and the restored monarchy, with a weathervane for each change of allegiance.
Equivalents in other languages
Slovak: Kam vietor, tam plášť Literally: Where the wind blows, there the cloak
Swedish: vända kappan efter vinden Literally: To turn one's cloak according to the wind
English: blow hot and cold
More French idioms
- Avoir le compas dans l'œil Having excellent judgment of distance, measurement, or proportion.
- Faire la soupe à la grimace To sulk; to give someone a sour, unwelcoming face, especially at home.
- Avoir la bougeotte To be restless; unable to stay put, always wanting to travel or move somewhere new.
- Être aux petits soins To wait on someone hand and foot; to lavish care and attention on them.
- Montrer les dents Displaying aggression, defiance, or readiness to fight.
- Avoir les yeux plus gros que le ventre Taking more food than one can actually eat; wanting too much.
Explore another collection: Compliments & Insults
Compliments and insults from around the world, from the sweet to the savage.
- Tu as une cervelle de moineau You're scatterbrained and forgetful.
- Tu es mon rayon de soleil A warm way to tell someone they brighten your day.
- Joli comme un cœur Utterly charming or adorable.
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