IdiomDaily Life
French
FrenchJeux de mains, jeux de vilains
Meaning: Horseplay ends badly.
Literally: Games of hands, games of churls
Example: “Arrêtez de vous chamailler sur le canapé : jeux de mains, jeux de vilains !” — Stop wrestling on the couch: it's all fun and games until someone loses an eye!
English equivalent: It's all fun and games until someone loses an eye
Equivalents in other languages
English: Origin: Vilain is the medieval peasant, so the saying is snobbish before it is prudential — rough physical play marks low breeding. Parents still say it to children who have stopped finding it funny.
More French idioms
- Se reposer sur ses lauriers To coast on past achievements instead of continuing to work.
- Au pied de la lettre Literally, in the strictest sense.
- Entrer en lice To join a contest or dispute.
- Se faire limoger To be relieved of a post; to be sacked.
- Laver son linge sale en famille Keep internal disputes private.
- Par le petit bout de la lorgnette From a needlessly narrow point of view.
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