IdiomAnimals
French
FrenchLa bave du crapaud n'atteint pas la blanche colombe
Meaning: Insults from a contemptible source cannot touch the person they target.
Literally: The toad's slobber does not reach the white dove
Example: “Laisse-les critiquer ton travail : la bave du crapaud n'atteint pas la blanche colombe.” — Let them criticize your work: their insults can't touch you.
English equivalent: Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me
Origin: A pairing of two long-standing symbols — the toad as the base and venomous creature, the white dove as purity — set so that the low cannot reach the high. Usually delivered as a dignified retort to an insult.
More French idioms
- Compter pour du beurre To count for nothing; to be disregarded.
- 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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