IdiomAnimals
French
FrenchFaire un bœuf
Meaning: To improvise music together; to hold a jam session.
Literally: To do an ox
Example: “Après le concert, les musiciens ont fait un bœuf jusqu'à l'aube.” — After the concert, the musicians jammed until dawn.
Origin: From Le Bœuf sur le Toit, the Paris cabaret opened in 1922 whose name came from a Darius Milhaud ballet. Musicians gathered there to play impromptu, and going to 'the ox' became doing one.
More French idioms
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- Mettre du beurre dans les épinards To improve one's financial situation; to make life a bit more comfortable.
- Beurré comme un p'tit Lu Thoroughly drunk.
- Un compte d'apothicaire A needlessly complicated calculation, usually one padded in the biller's favor.
- Tailler une bavette To have a long, friendly chat.
- Une auberge espagnole A place or discussion in which you find only what you yourself brought to it.
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