IdiomDaily Life
French
FrenchSans bourse délier
Meaning: Without spending a penny.
Literally: Without untying the purse
Example: “Grâce aux points fidélité, elle est partie à Rome sans bourse délier.” — Thanks to her loyalty points, she went to Rome without paying a cent.
Origin: A medieval purse was a pouch closed by a drawstring, so paying began with untying it. Obtaining something without that first gesture means obtaining it for nothing at all.
More French idioms
- Avoir un cadavre dans le placard To have a discreditable secret in one's past.
- C'est le cadet de mes soucis It is the very least of my concerns.
- Fumer le calumet de la paix To make peace after a quarrel.
- Enterrer la hache de guerre To end a feud and set hostilities aside.
- Carpe diem Make the most of the present rather than counting on the future.
- S'aplatir comme une carpette To grovel; to let oneself be walked over.
Explore another collection: Proverbs
Short sayings of timeless wisdom from more than 50 cultures, each with its meaning and origin.
- Qui se sent morveux, qu'il se mouche If a criticism applies to you, take it to heart.
- Tel est pris qui croyait prendre Those who set traps for others often fall into them themselves.
- À chacun son métier, et les vaches seront bien gardées Things go best when everyone sticks to what they know.
Keep exploring