FrenchPrendre son pied
Meaning: To take intense pleasure; to have a wonderful time.
Literally: To take one's foot
Example: “Sur les montagnes russes, les enfants ont pris leur pied toute l'après-midi.” — On the roller coaster, the kids had a blast all afternoon.
English equivalent: To have a blast
Origin: In 19th-century thieves' slang a pied (foot) was a share of the loot, and prendre son pied was to take one's cut; according to La Culture générale, it replaced the older fade, from Occitan, with the same meaning. A full share is a satisfying one, so the phrase came to mean enjoying oneself thoroughly, and in the 20th century above all sexual pleasure. The popular story that pirates measured out their booty by the foot is not confirmed.
Equivalents in other languages
English: have a blast
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- Il pleut comme vache qui pisse It's pouring down — a crude, vivid way to say the rain is coming down extremely hard.
- Sortir de ses gonds To fly into a rage; to lose one's temper suddenly and violently.
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- Jeter le bébé avec l'eau du bain To discard something valuable while getting rid of what's unwanted.
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