IdiomDaily Life
French
FrenchLe dernier carat
Meaning: The very last moment; the absolute limit.
Literally: The last carat
Example: “Il faut rendre le dossier vendredi, dernier carat.” — The file has to be in by Friday, at the very latest.
Origin: The carat is the jeweler's smallest unit — a fifth of a gram for gemstones, and one twenty-fourth of the whole for the purity of gold, so that 24 carats is pure and nothing lies beyond it. The last carat is therefore the final increment available, with no margin left after it.
More French idioms
- Un bouc émissaire A scapegoat — someone blamed for the failings of others.
- Un boute-en-train The life and soul of the party.
- Ruer dans les brancards To rebel against constraint or authority.
- À bride abattue At full tilt, at breakneck speed.
- Vouloir faire passer un chameau par le chas d'une aiguille To attempt something manifestly impossible.
- Acheter chat en poche To buy something sight unseen, and be cheated.
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