IdiomDaily Life
French
FrenchOn ne peut être juge et partie
Meaning: Nobody may rule on a matter in which they have an interest.
Literally: One cannot be judge and party
Example: “Le maire ne peut pas choisir l'entreprise de son frère ; on ne peut être juge et partie.” — The mayor can't pick his brother's company; nobody can rule on a case they have a stake in.
Origin: A principle of Roman law that remains foundational to French procedure. It is invoked far more often in politics than in courtrooms.
More French idioms
- Au pied de la lettre Literally, in the strictest sense.
- Entrer en lice To join a contest or dispute.
- Se faire limoger To be relieved of a post; to be sacked.
- Laver son linge sale en famille Keep internal disputes private.
- Par le petit bout de la lorgnette From a needlessly narrow point of view.
- Être une lumière To be highly intelligent — used almost exclusively in the negative.
Explore another collection: Tongue Twisters
Tricky phrases to practice out loud, from languages around the world.
- Didon dîna, dit-on, du dos d'un dodu dindon dont le dodu dos dodine. A 'd' / 'din' / 'dod' avalanche that seems designed to jam the tongue in third gear.
- Un chasseur sachant chasser doit savoir chasser sans son chien. The classic French 'ch' / 's' tangler.
- Les chaussettes de l'archiduchesse sont-elles sèches, archi-sèches? A merciless duel between 'ch' and 's'.
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