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Les vaches grasses

Meaning: A period of plenty.

Language: French

Literally: The fat cows

Category: Animals

Origin: The other half of Pharaoh's dream, and the half people prefer to be living through. French uses the two phrases together far more often than either alone.

More idioms — Animals

  • Aller comme un tablier à une vache — To suit someone appallingly badly.
  • Adorer le veau d'or — To make money one's god.
  • Une tunique de Nessus — A gift that destroys the person who accepts it.
  • Ça ne casse pas trois pattes à un canard — It's nothing special or impressive.
  • Avoir le cafard — To feel depressed or down.
  • Poser un lapin — To stand someone up on a date.

More French idioms

  • Une tarte à la crème — A tired cliché trotted out as though it were an argument.
  • Décrocher la timbale — To carry off the prize.
  • Trier sur le volet — To hand-pick with great care.
  • À tue-tête — At the top of one's voice.
  • Dire ses quatre vérités à quelqu'un — To tell someone exactly what is wrong with them.
  • Avoir la main verte — To have a gift for growing plants.

From our proverbs

  • Fools set stools for wise folk to stumble at. — Foolish people create obstacles that even intelligent ones may trip over through careless…
  • A fool's bolt is soon shot. — Reckless people exhaust their resources or arguments hastily, leaving themselves defensel…
  • Fools build houses, and wise men buy them. — Shrewd investors profit from others' labor and mistakes rather than bearing construction…

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