faire ses choux gras

Meaning: Profiting greatly from a situation at someone else's expense.

Language: French

Literally: to make one's cabbages fat

Category: Food & Drink

Origin: Agricultural metaphor about harvesting profits like fat cabbages.

More idioms — Food & Drink

• manger ses paroles — Having to take back or admit one was wrong about something said.
• mettre l'eau à la bouche — Making someone crave or desire something through temptation.
• tremper son biscuit — Engaging in a brief romantic or intimate encounter.
• faire la soupe à la grimace — Complaining or grumbling about something constantly.
• avoir les yeux plus gros que le ventre — Taking more food than one can actually eat; wanting too much.
• manger du bout des lèvres — Eating without appetite or showing disinterest in the meal.

More French idioms

• avoir un tuyau — Having inside information or a useful tip about something.
• être à court de — Lacking or running low on something essential.
• avoir un bleu — Having a bruise on the skin from impact or injury.
• prendre ses rêves pour des réalités — Confusing fantasy with reality; living in delusion.
• faire la pluie et le beau temps — Having complete control over a situation or someone's fate.
• avoir une dent contre quelqu'un — Holding a grudge or resentment toward someone.

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