FrenchRemettre en selle
Meaning: To help someone recover a former position or regain their footing after a setback.
Literally: To put back in the saddle
Example: “Ce gros contrat a remis la petite entreprise en selle.” — That big contract put the little company back on its feet.
English equivalent: To put someone back on their feet
Equivalents in other languages
English: put someone back on their feet
Origin: A rider thrown from the horse has to be helped back into the saddle before the journey can go on. The phrase applies that to anyone restored to their position after a setback, a company rescued by a contract or a politician returned to favor. André Gide used it in Les Caves du Vatican (1914), of a novelist trying to regain his composure after being thrown off balance.
More French idioms
- Prendre des gants To handle a delicate matter with great tact and care to avoid offending someone.
- Remettre en train To restart or reactivate something that has stopped or slowed down.
- Ça pique It is very expensive or causes financial pain.
- Vendre chèrement sa peau To defend oneself fiercely and make a determined stand against those trying to kill you.
- C'est la fin des haricots It's all over; there's no hope left.
- Le dindon de la farce The dupe — the victim of a trick who ends up everyone's laughingstock.
Explore another collection: Tongue Twisters
Tricky phrases to practice out loud, from languages around the world.
- Un chasseur sachant chasser doit savoir chasser sans son chien. The classic French 'ch' / 's' tangler.
- Les chaussettes de l'archiduchesse sont-elles sèches, archi-sèches? A merciless duel between 'ch' and 's'.
- Si six scies scient six cyprès, six cents scies scient six cents cyprès. An 's' / 'si' minefield.
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