Le haut du pavé
Meaning: The most privileged position in society.
Language: French
Literally: The top of the paving
Category: Daily Life
Origin: Streets sloped from a raised center down to gutters at the sides, so the high ground was clean and the edges were not. Rank determined who walked where, literally.
More idioms — Daily Life
- 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.
- Un pétard mouillé — A revelation that was supposed to explode and did not.
- Peu ou prou — More or less; to some degree.
More French idioms
- 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.
- Vieux comme Mathusalem — Extremely old.
- Comme un poisson dans l'eau — Completely at ease in one's element.
From our false friends
- Rester — Actually means 'to stay' or 'to remain'. Je reste ici = I'm staying here — not taking a n…
- Attendre — Actually means 'to wait for'. J'attends le bus = I'm waiting for the bus. For attend an e…
- Actuel — Actually means 'current' or 'present-day'. Actuellement = currently — not 'actually'.
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