IdiomAnimals
French
FrenchRuer dans les brancards
Meaning: To rebel against constraint or authority.
Literally: To kick in the shafts
Example: “Les employés ruent dans les brancards contre les nouveaux horaires.” — The employees are up in arms about the new schedules.
English equivalent: To kick against the pricks
Equivalents in other languages
Spanish: dar coces contra el aguijón Literally: To give kicks against the goad
English: kick against the pricks
Origin: The brancards are the two shafts a draft horse is harnessed between. A horse that kicks against them is fighting the very apparatus that directs it, which is exactly the image wanted for insubordination.
More French idioms
- Un cheval de Troie A gift or arrangement that conceals a hostile purpose.
- C'est le chien de Jean de Nivelle Said of someone who makes himself scarce precisely when he is called.
- Les chiens ne font pas des chats Children inevitably resemble their parents.
- Les chiens aboient et la caravane passe Criticism from bystanders does not stop those who are getting on with it.
- Ne pas attacher son chien avec des saucisses To be extremely tight-fisted.
- Un temps de chien Filthy, miserable weather.
Explore another collection: Proverbs
Short sayings of timeless wisdom from more than 50 cultures, each with its meaning and origin.
- Pierre qui roule n'amasse pas mousse Constant movement prevents anything from accumulating.
- On ne fait pas d'omelette sans casser des œufs Worthwhile results require some damage along the way.
- Chassez le naturel, il revient au galop You cannot permanently suppress your real character.
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