IdiomAnimals
French
FrenchLever un lièvre
Meaning: To raise an awkward question nobody wanted opened.
Literally: To flush a hare
Example: “En demandant où était passé l'argent, la stagiaire a levé un lièvre.” — By asking where the money had gone, the intern opened a can of worms.
English equivalent: To open a can of worms
Equivalents in other languages
English: open a can of worms
Origin: In hunting, flushing a hare from cover starts a chase that then has to be run. The phrase implies the raiser has committed everyone to pursuing something.
More French idioms
- Des larmes de crocodile Insincere grief performed for effect.
- Se laisser tondre la laine sur le dos To let oneself be exploited without resisting.
- S'entendre comme larrons en foire To be thick as thieves; to understand one another perfectly.
- À la fortune du pot Taking potluck; sharing whatever happens to be cooking.
- Séparer le bon grain de l'ivraie To distinguish what is valuable from what is worthless.
- Se demander si c'est du lard ou du cochon To be unable to tell what something is or how it is meant.
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