La flèche du Parthe
Meaning: A wounding remark delivered while leaving.
Language: French
Literally: The Parthian shot
Category: Daily Life
Origin: Parthian horse archers shot backwards over the saddle while riding away, a tactic that made a retreat dangerous to pursue. English says parting shot, which is a corruption of the same phrase.
More idioms — Daily Life
- Graisser la patte — To bribe someone.
- 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.
More French idioms
- Un pétard mouillé — A revelation that was supposed to explode and did not.
- 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.
From our proverbs
- Dry bread at home is better than roast beef abroad. — Humble contentment in familiar surroundings surpasses luxury experienced in exile or disp…
- A dry cough is the trumpeter of death. — Persistent coughing, though seemingly minor, signals serious underlying illness requiring…
- Wider ears and a shorter tongue. — Listening more than speaking prevents foolishness and builds wisdom through others' knowl…
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