IdiomDaily Life
French
FrenchPasser l'éponge
Meaning: To forgive and say no more about it.
Literally: To pass the sponge
Example: “Tu as oublié mon anniversaire, mais je passe l'éponge pour cette fois.” — You forgot my birthday, but I'll wipe the slate clean this time.
English equivalent: To wipe the slate clean
Equivalents in other languages
English: wipe the slate clean
Origin: The sponge wipes a slate clean, leaving nothing to be read afterwards. It differs from forgiveness in general by insisting the matter will not be raised again.
More French idioms
- Fauché comme les blés Completely broke.
- S'inscrire en faux To formally deny something and challenge its truth.
- Cherchez la femme There is a woman behind this somewhere.
- Jeter l'argent par les fenêtres To spend recklessly and pointlessly.
- Croire dur comme fer To believe something with complete and unshakeable conviction.
- Le fer de lance The leading element of an effort; the part that goes in first.
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