
IdiomDaily Life
FrenchCrude
Proposer la botte à quelqu'un
Meaning: To proposition someone sexually.
Literally: To propose the thrust to someone
Example: “Au milieu du bal, le vieux comte a proposé la botte à la jeune veuve.” — In the middle of the ball, the old count propositioned the young widow.
English equivalent: To make a pass at someone
Other ways to say this
French: Faire du gringue Literally: To make some gringueEnglish: make a pass at
Origin: Botte is the fencing term for a thrust or lunge, and porter une botte was to deliver one. The transfer to a sexual advance is old and was never especially subtle.
More French idioms
- Cela va faire du bruit dans Landerneau That is going to cause a stir.
- Brut de décoffrage Rough, unpolished, delivered without any finishing.
- De but en blanc Point-blank; abruptly and without preparation.
- Avoir un cadavre dans le placard To have a discreditable secret in one's past.
- C'est le cadet de mes soucis It is the very least of my concerns.
- Fumer le calumet de la paix To make peace after a quarrel.
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