mettre à terre
Meaning: To defeat or knock someone down.
Language: French
Literally: to put to earth
Category: Daily Life
Origin: The image is of throwing an opponent to the ground in combat or wrestling.
More idioms — Daily Life
- prendre des gants — To handle a delicate matter with great tact and care to avoid offending someone.
- remettre en train — To restart or reactivate something that has stopped or slowed down.
- vendre chèrement sa peau — To defend oneself fiercely and make a determined stand against those trying to kill you.
- en la cuerda floja — To be in a precarious or dangerous position; to be walking a fine line between safety and…
- romper la baraja — To abandon a game or situation in frustration; to take one's ball and go home.
- en la estacada — abandoned or left in a difficult situation without help.
More French idioms
- faire dresser l’oreille — To catch someone's attention or spark their interest.
- renaître de ses cendres — To rise again and flourish after near-total destruction.
- se payer la tête de quelqu'un — To mock or ridicule someone.
- avoir les sangs tournés — To be profoundly shocked or horrified.
- donner un coup de pied dans la fourmilière — To strike a major blow or take bold action that stirs up considerable agitation and contr…
- fourrer son nez dans les affaires de quelqu'un — To meddle or pry indiscreetly into someone else's affairs.
From our untranslatable words
- L'esprit de l'escalier — Thinking of the perfect comeback only after the moment has passed — on your way down the…
- Terroir — The unique character that a place — its soil, climate and tradition — gives to a wine or…
- Râler — To complain and grumble with a certain national flair — a beloved French pastime.