IdiomDaily Life
French
FrenchNe tirez pas sur le pianiste
Meaning: Do not blame the person who is only doing their best with what they were given.
Literally: Don't shoot the pianist
Example: “Je ne fais que lire le règlement ; ne tirez pas sur le pianiste !” — I'm only reading out the rules; don't shoot the messenger!
English equivalent: Don't shoot the messenger
Equivalents in other languages
English: don't shoot the messenger
Origin: Oscar Wilde reported seeing a sign in a Colorado saloon reading please do not shoot the pianist, he is doing his best. French took the phrase and dropped the second half.
More French idioms
- Comme un poisson dans l'eau Completely at ease in one's element.
- Tuer la poule aux œufs d'or To destroy a source of steady profit out of greed for all of it at once.
- Écrire un poulet à quelqu'un To send a love letter.
- À la queue leu leu In single file, one behind another.
- Avoir la queue entre les jambes To slink off humiliated.
- Manger à tous les râteliers To take advantage from all sides at once, with no loyalty to any.
Explore another collection: Proverbs
Short sayings of timeless wisdom from more than 50 cultures, each with its meaning and origin.
- Charbonnier est maître chez soi Everyone, however humble, is in charge in their own home.
- Faute d'un point, Martin perdit son âne A tiny mistake can cost you dearly.
- Après la pluie, le beau temps Bad times are followed by good ones.
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