IdiomDaily Life
French
FrenchLa cour des grands
Meaning: The top tier, where the serious players are.
Literally: The big children's playground
Example: “Avec ce contrat international, la petite agence entre dans la cour des grands.” — With this international contract, the little agency is moving into the big leagues.
English equivalent: The big leagues
Equivalents in other languages
English: the big leagues
Origin: French schools divided the yard between younger and older pupils, and moving up was a genuine rite of passage. Sports commentary now supplies most of its use.
More French idioms
- N'en avoir cure To be entirely indifferent to something.
- Virer sa cuti To undergo a complete change of convictions.
- Au grand dam de quelqu'un To someone's considerable detriment or annoyance.
- Trouver son chemin de Damas To undergo a sudden and total conversion.
- Une épée de Damoclès A disaster hanging over someone, liable to fall at any moment.
- Entretenir une danseuse To maintain a costly indulgence that serves no purpose.
Explore another collection: Untranslatable Words
Words that capture a feeling or idea English needs a whole sentence for.
- Épanouissement The full flourishing of a person — blooming into your most complete, radiant self. More t…
- Ressourcement The act of returning to one's roots or origins to find renewal — going back to a place, t…
- Dépaysement The disorienting yet often pleasant feeling of being far from home, immersed in the unfam…
Keep exploring