FrenchFaire le mort
Meaning: To lie low; to give no sign of life and avoid drawing attention.
Literally: To play the dead man
Example: “Depuis qu'il me doit de l'argent, il fait le mort : il ne répond plus à mes messages.” — Ever since he started owing me money, he's been lying low: he doesn't answer my messages anymore.
English equivalent: To lie low
Origin: From card games: the player who had laid down their hand, the "dead man," took no further part in the play, and in tarot with too many players, sitting out a deal in turn is still called faire le mort. The figurative sense followed: going quiet and giving no sign of life, whether by choice or by cunning, to stay out of trouble.
Other ways to say this
- French: Se mettre au vert Literally: To put oneself to the green
English: lie low
More French idioms
- Ravaler ses paroles To take back what one has said; also, to hold back words one was about to say.
- Mettre l'eau à la bouche Making someone crave or desire something through temptation.
- Avoir la grosse tête Being arrogant, conceited, or thinking highly of oneself.
- Tremper son biscuit To have sex (vulgar slang).
- Faire un bide Experiencing complete failure or lack of success.
- Avoir la chair de poule Experiencing fear, cold, or emotional reaction causing skin reaction.
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