Graisser la patte
Meaning: To bribe someone.
Language: French
Literally: To grease the paw
Category: Daily Life
Origin: Greasing makes a mechanism move without resistance, and the paw rather than the hand marks what the recipient is being called. English greases palms with the same logic.
More idioms — Daily Life
- Le haut du pavé — The most privileged position in society.
- Mettre pavillon bas — To admit defeat.
- Dire pis que pendre de quelqu'un — To speak extremely ill of someone.
- Remettre les pendules à l'heure — To set the record straight and restore order.
- Ce n'est pas le Pérou — It is not a fortune; it is nothing to get excited about.
- Un pétard mouillé — A revelation that was supposed to explode and did not.
More French idioms
- Peu ou prou — More or less; to some degree.
- Y a pas photo — It's not even close; there is no question about it.
- Ne tirez pas sur le pianiste — Do not blame the person who is only doing their best with what they were given.
- Qui va piano va sano — Slow and steady is the surer way.
- Prendre le train onze — To go on foot.
- Vieux comme Mathusalem — Extremely old.
From our compliments & insults
- Peau de vache — A mean, difficult, and unpleasant person — tough and unyielding like tanned hide.
- 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.
Browse all compliments & insults →
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