IdiomThe Absurd
FrenchCrude
FrenchCrudeMerde !
Meaning: Good luck — said to a performer before going on stage.
Literally: Shit!
Example: “Avant d'entrer en scène, la troupe s'est lancé un grand « merde ! ».” — Before going on stage, the cast wished each other a big "break a leg!"
English equivalent: Break a leg
Equivalents in other languages
Italian: In bocca al lupo Literally: Into the mouth of the wolf
Russian: Ни пуха ни пера (Ni pukha ni pera) Literally: Neither fluff nor feather
English: break a leg
Origin: In the era of horse-drawn carriages, a full house left a great deal of dung outside the theater, so the quantity was the measure of the audience. Wishing someone plenty of it is wishing them a full room, and answering merci is held to break the charm.
More French idioms
- Entre le marteau et l'enclume Caught between two opposing forces with no way out.
- Un pavé dans la mare A revelation or intervention that disturbs a settled situation.
- Il y a de l'orage dans l'air Trouble is brewing.
- Rouler sur l'or To be enormously wealthy.
- Valoir son pesant d'or To be extremely valuable.
- Manu militari By force; with physical compulsion.
Explore another collection: Proverbs
Short sayings of timeless wisdom from more than 50 cultures, each with its meaning and origin.
- Après la pluie, le beau temps Bad times are followed by good ones.
- Il ne faut pas vendre la peau de l'ours avant de l'avoir tué Don't count on a gain before you actually have it.
- Loin des yeux, loin du cœur When people are apart, their feelings for each other fade.
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