IdiomAnimals
French
FrenchMettre le pied à l'étrier à quelqu'un
Meaning: To give someone the help they need to get started.
Literally: To put someone's foot in the stirrup
Example: “C'est son ancien professeur qui lui a mis le pied à l'étrier dans le journalisme.” — It was her former teacher who gave her a leg up in journalism.
English equivalent: To give someone a leg up
Equivalents in other languages
English: give someone a leg up
Origin: Holding the stirrup for a rider is the assistance that makes mounting possible, after which they ride unaided. The phrase is about the initial boost specifically, not sustained support.
More French idioms
- Un cordon-bleu An outstanding cook.
- Il y a loin de la coupe aux lèvres Much can still go wrong between intention and result.
- Né avec une cuillère d'argent dans la bouche Born into wealth and advantage.
- Des économies de bouts de chandelle Petty economies that save nothing worth having.
- Un étouffe-chrétien Food so dense and stodgy it is hard to swallow.
- Mettre de l'eau dans son vin To moderate one's demands or soften one's position.
Explore another collection: Tongue Twisters
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- Les chaussettes de l'archiduchesse sont-elles sèches, archi-sèches? A merciless duel between 'ch' and 's'.
- Si six scies scient six cyprès, six cents scies scient six cents cyprès. An 's' / 'si' minefield.
- Dans ta tente ta tante t'attend. A gentle 'ta / ten / tan / t'' warm-up that sounds faster than it reads.
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