IdiomDaily Life
French
FrenchLâcher la proie pour l'ombre
Meaning: To give up something real in pursuit of something illusory.
Literally: To drop the prey for the shadow
Example: “Il a quitté un emploi stable pour une promesse d'embauche vague : il a lâché la proie pour l'ombre.” — He left a stable job for a vague promise of work; he gave up something real to chase rainbows.
English equivalent: To chase rainbows
Equivalents in other languages
English: chase rainbows
Origin: From Aesop's dog crossing a stream with meat in its jaws, which snaps at its own reflection and loses the meat. La Fontaine's version fixed the phrase in French.
More French idioms
- Faire du ramdam To make a great deal of noise.
- Un remède de bonne femme A folk cure of doubtful value.
- Tirer sa révérence To take one's leave, with a show of formality.
- À tour de rôle Each in turn.
- Un rond-de-cuir A petty bureaucrat.
- Au bout du rouleau Completely exhausted; at the end of one's resources.
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