prendre le maquis
Meaning: To go into hiding or join a resistance movement to escape authority or persecution.
Language: French
Literally: to take the maquis
Category: Nature
Origin: The maquis are the dense shrublands of Mediterranean regions; the phrase draws on the concrete image of fleeing into wild, difficult terrain.
More idioms — Nature
- remuer ciel et terre — To exert all possible effort and use every available means to achieve a goal.
- de aquellos polvos, estos lodos — Consequences or problems arise later from careless or harmful actions taken earlier; misd…
- a contracorriente — To act or think in opposition to prevailing opinion, custom, or the natural course of eve…
- ahogarse en poca agua — to panic or overreact to a minor problem.
- salga el sol por donde quiera — It does not matter what happens or what difficulties arise; one will accept whatever come…
- ley del hielo — A state of deliberate coldness or refusal to speak to someone as a form of punishment or…
More French idioms
- ne pas en croire ses oreilles — To be startled or disbelieving upon hearing something astonishing.
- se composer le visage — To adopt a serious or carefully studied expression suited to the circumstances.
- prendre le train en marche — To join opportunely in an action or endeavor already underway.
- aiguiser ses couteaux — To prepare oneself for conflict or confrontation.
- passer le Rubicon — To make a decisive, irrevocable commitment or choice with serious consequences.
- être de mauvais poil — To be in a bad mood or irritable disposition.
From our compliments & insults
- Tête de mule — An impossibly stubborn person who refuses to change their mind no matter what.
- C'est une vraie chèvre — They're hopelessly stubborn and infuriating — a goat that refuses to be moved.
- Casse-pieds — A massive bore or pain in the neck — someone who wears you down with their irritating way…