Refiler la patate chaude
Meaning: To hand an awkward problem to someone else.
Language: French
Literally: To pass on the hot potato
Category: Food & Drink
Origin: A hot potato has to be dropped or passed on, which is why it stands for a decision nobody wants to hold. The phrase came to French from English in the 20th century.
More idioms — Food & Drink
- Dans le pétrin — In serious trouble.
- Avoir du pain sur la planche — To have a great deal of work ahead.
- Manger son pain blanc en premier — To take the easy part at the start and leave the hard part for later.
- C'est du nanan — It is delicious — or, by extension, extremely easy.
- Un pique-nique — A meal eaten outdoors to which everyone contributes.
- Cracher dans la soupe — To disparage the thing that sustains you.
More French idioms
- Être médusé — To be struck dumb with astonishment.
- Motus et bouche cousue — Not a word to anyone.
- À fleur de peau — Raw and easily provoked, of emotions; or just at the surface.
- Avoir bon pied bon œil — To be in excellent shape, especially for one's age.
- Avoir le pied marin — To keep one's balance on a moving deck; to be unshaken by turbulence.
- Au pied levé — At a moment's notice, with no preparation.
From our untranslatable words
- L'esprit de l'escalier — Thinking of the perfect comeback only after the moment has passed — on your way down the…
- Terroir — The unique character that a place — its soil, climate and tradition — gives to a wine or…
- Râler — To complain and grumble with a certain national flair — a beloved French pastime.
Browse all untranslatable words →
Loading the full interactive collection…