prendre des gants
Meaning: To handle a delicate matter with great tact and care to avoid offending someone.
Language: French
Literally: to take gloves
Category: Daily Life
Origin: The phrase draws on the image of putting on gloves to handle something fragile or sensitive without damage.
More idioms — Daily Life
- remettre en train — To restart or reactivate something that has stopped or slowed down.
- vendre chèrement sa peau — To defend oneself fiercely and make a determined stand against those trying to kill you.
- en la cuerda floja — To be in a precarious or dangerous position; to be walking a fine line between safety and…
- romper la baraja — To abandon a game or situation in frustration; to take one's ball and go home.
- en la estacada — abandoned or left in a difficult situation without help.
- tira y afloja — a back-and-forth negotiation or struggle where each side gives and takes.
More French idioms
- ça pique — It is very expensive or causes financial pain.
- C'est pas tes oignons — That's none of your business.
- C'est la fin des haricots — It's all over; there's no hope left.
- Le dindon de la farce — The dupe — the victim of a trick who ends up everyone's laughingstock.
- Montrer patte blanche — To produce the credentials needed to be let in somewhere.
- Tenir la dragée haute à quelqu'un — To keep someone waiting before granting what they ask, so they feel the power you hold ov…
From our compliments & insults
- Tu as un cœur d'or — You are genuinely kind and generous.
- Tu déchires — You're awesome — you totally rock.
- Bête comme ses pieds — Really not very bright.