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Les doigts dans le nez

Meaning: To do something with the greatest of ease.

Language: French

Literally: To do it with fingers in the nose

Category: Body & Senses

Origin: From horse racing, where a jockey winning effortlessly could ride with a hand idle — even a finger up his nose.

More idioms — Body & Senses

  • By the skin of your teeth — By the narrowest possible margin.
  • Ser uña y carne — To be inseparable; the closest of friends.
  • Fare le corna — To ward off bad luck — or to signal that a partner is being unfaithful.
  • Stare con le mani in mano — To stand around doing nothing while others work.
  • 腹が黒い — Scheming and malicious behind a friendly face.
  • Зарубить на носу — To remember something firmly, once and for all.

More French idioms

  • Tomber dans le panneau — To fall for a trick or scam.
  • Avoir un cœur d'artichaut — To fall in love easily and often.
  • Faire la grasse matinée — To sleep in and have a lazy lie-in.
  • Avoir le bras long — To have influence and useful connections.
  • Découvrir le pot aux roses — To uncover a hidden secret.
  • Être dans de beaux draps — To be in a real mess.

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