remonter plus haut
Meaning: To begin a story or explanation at an earlier point in time to clarify or better illuminate the facts.
Language: French
Literally: to go back higher
Category: Daily Life
Origin: The image is of ascending a slope or going upstream to reach the source—moving backward through time to find clarity.
More idioms — Daily Life
- n’avoir qu’à bien se tenir — A warning or threat implying that one must behave properly or face consequences.
- recoller les morceaux — to repair a broken relationship or reconcile after a quarrel.
- brûler ses dernières cartouches — to exhaust one's final resources or use one's last arguments in desperation.
- passer un mauvais quart d’heure — to experience a brief but unpleasant or distressing moment.
- envoyer des piques — To make cutting or barbed remarks intended to irritate or provoke someone.
- prendre le train en marche — To join opportunely in an action or endeavor already underway.
More French idioms
- être victime de son succès — To suffer problems or difficulties that arise as a result of becoming too successful.
- ne pas garder les yeux dans sa poche — To be observant and alert; to miss nothing.
- battre les fourrés — To range far and wide in search of adventure or chance encounters.
- donner du poing sur la table — To express strong disagreement or disapproval with a situation.
- avoir sur les bras — To be burdened with or responsible for someone or something; to be occupied with a demand…
- ne s’être pas regardé — to judge others harshly while being blind to one's own equal or greater faults.
From our compliments & insults
- Tu as une cervelle de moineau — You're scatterbrained and forgetful.
- Tu es mon rayon de soleil — A warm way to tell someone they brighten your day.
- Joli comme un cœur — Utterly charming or adorable.