IdiomDaily Life
French
FrenchPar le petit bout de la lorgnette
Meaning: From a needlessly narrow point of view.
Literally: Through the small end of the opera glass
Example: “Il juge la réforme par le petit bout de la lorgnette, en ne regardant que son propre service.” — He can't see the forest for the trees, judging the reform only by his own department.
English equivalent: Can't see the forest for the trees
Origin: Looking through opera glasses the wrong way makes everything distant and tiny. The phrase accuses someone of shrinking a subject rather than merely missing part of it.
More French idioms
- Une madeleine de Proust A small sensory trigger that unlocks a flood of memory.
- Avoir maille à partir avec quelqu'un To have a quarrel or a bone to pick with someone.
- Faire main basse sur quelque chose To seize something wholesale.
- S'en laver les mains To disclaim all responsibility for an outcome.
- Tout le saint-frusquin The whole lot; everything one owns.
- Des yeux de merlan frit A soppy, languishing look.
Explore another collection: Proverbs
Short sayings of timeless wisdom from more than 50 cultures, each with its meaning and origin.
- On ne fait pas boire un âne qui n'a pas soif You can't force someone to do what they don't want to do.
- Ne fais pas à autrui ce que tu ne voudrais pas qu'on te fasse Treat others as you would want to be treated.
- La beauté ne se mange pas en salade Good looks alone don't put food on the table or make a good partner.
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