IdiomAnimals
French
FrenchFaire le pont-levis
Meaning: For a horse to rear up very high.
Literally: To make the drawbridge
Example: “Effrayé par le tracteur, le poulain a fait le pont-levis au milieu du pré.” — Spooked by the tractor, the colt reared straight up in the middle of the field.
Origin: A horseman's term, recorded by the Académie française in 1932 under riding (manège). A drawbridge (pont-levis) swings up on its hinge until it stands nearly upright, and a horse rearing high on its hind legs makes the same shape, its body raised almost vertically from the back hooves.
More French idioms
- Faire baiser les verges To force someone you have mistreated to beg your pardon.
- Retourner l’estomac To disgust or sicken someone, to make them feel nauseous.
- Ne pas avoir les yeux dans sa poche To be observant and alert; to miss nothing.
- N’avoir qu’à bien se tenir A warning or threat implying that one must behave properly or face consequences.
- Battre les fourrés To range far and wide in search of adventure or chance encounters.
- Taper du poing sur la table To express strong disagreement or disapproval with a situation.
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