IdiomDaily Life
French
FrenchJeter son dévolu sur quelque chose
Meaning: To settle firmly on something one intends to have.
Literally: To cast one's devolution upon something
Example: “Après trois visites, ils ont jeté leur dévolu sur la maison près du canal.” — After three viewings, they set their sights on the house by the canal.
English equivalent: To set one's sights on something
Equivalents in other languages
Spanish: poner la proa Literally: To put the prow
English: set one's sights on
Origin: In canon law a dévolu was a claim laid on a benefice held by someone deemed unfit, transferring it to the claimant. The legal aggression survives in the modern phrase, which implies the choice is already made.
More French idioms
- Des mesures draconiennes Punishingly severe rules.
- Péter une durite To lose one's temper completely.
- À l'eau de rose Insipidly sentimental, especially of fiction.
- L'échapper belle To have a narrow escape.
- Faire l'école buissonnière To play truant.
- Ne pas tarir d'éloges To praise someone endlessly.
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