IdiomAnimals
French
FrenchLe marchand de sable est passé
Meaning: The children are getting sleepy.
Literally: The sandman has been by
Example: “Les petits se frottent les yeux ; le marchand de sable est passé.” — The little ones are rubbing their eyes; the sandman is coming.
English equivalent: The sandman is coming
Equivalents in other languages
English: the sandman is coming
Origin: The sand is what collects in the corners of the eyes, explained to children as delivered nightly by a traveling merchant. The figure is shared across European languages and predates its literary versions.
More French idioms
- Cracher dans la soupe To disparage the thing that sustains you.
- Trempé comme une soupe Drenched to the skin.
- Payer rubis sur l'ongle To pay in full, immediately and to the last penny.
- Faire avancer le schmilblick To make actual progress on something.
- Avaler des poires d'angoisse To endure something bitterly painful.
- En cinq sec In no time at all.
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