ne pas fermer l’œil de la nuit

Meaning: To be unable to sleep; to stay awake all night.

Language: French

Literally: to not close the eye of the night

Category: Body & Senses

Origin: The phrase pictures the eye remaining open throughout the darkness of night, unable to find rest.

More idioms — Body & Senses

• prendre à la gorge — To seize someone or something forcefully; to make breathing or speech difficult; to trigg…
• regarder la pointe de ses souliers — To lower one's eyes in embarrassment or shame.
• mettre ses deux mains au feu — To stake one's reputation or safety by guaranteeing something is true.
• tendre les bras — To offer help and support to someone, or to welcome them warmly.
• compter sur les doigts d’une main — To be so few in number that they can be counted on five fingers or fewer.
• tirer l’oreille — To scold or reprimand someone.

More French idioms

• baisser pavillon — To concede defeat or accept inferiority; to surrender.
• réduire la voilure — To cut back on spending, resources, or ambitions.
• être dos au mur — To be in a desperate situation with no way to retreat or escape.
• se mettre la rate au court-bouillon — To worry pointlessly and obsessively over something.
• chercher des misères — To deliberately provoke a quarrel with someone.
• faire florès — To achieve success and build a reputation.

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