IdiomBody & Senses
French
FrenchRegarder la pointe de ses souliers
Meaning: To lower one's eyes in embarrassment or shame.
Literally: To look at the tip of one's shoes
Example: “Pris en faute, le petit garçon regardait la pointe de ses souliers.” — Caught red-handed, the little boy stared down at his shoes.
Origin: Lowering one's eyes until they rest on one's own shoe tips is the posture of someone caught out who cannot meet anyone's gaze. The phrase records the gesture rather than any story, and it is literary rather than everyday: Jean Giono uses it in Le Hussard sur le toit (1951) for embarrassed society ladies.
More French idioms
- Chercher des misères To deliberately provoke a quarrel with someone.
- Faire florès To achieve success and build a reputation.
- Fuir comme la peste To avoid something or someone as much as possible.
- Beurrer épais (Quebec French) To exaggerate or overdo something.
- Retourner à la case départ To find oneself back where one began, as if no progress had been made.
- Sentir la naphtaline To be old-fashioned or antiquated.
Explore another collection: Proverbs
Short sayings of timeless wisdom from more than 50 cultures, each with its meaning and origin.
- On ne change pas une équipe qui gagne Don't change something that's working.
- La curiosité est un vilain défaut Being too curious about others' business is a bad habit.
- Chien sur son fumier est hardi Everyone is bold on their own ground.
Keep exploring