IdiomDaily Life
French
FrenchSans tambour ni trompette
Meaning: Discreetly, without any announcement.
Literally: Without drum or trumpet
Example: “La réforme a été adoptée sans tambour ni trompette, en plein mois d'août.” — The reform was passed without fanfare, in the middle of August.
English equivalent: Without fanfare
Equivalents in other languages
English: without fanfare
Origin: Both instruments belonged to the military ceremony of arrival and departure. Doing something without them means doing it in a way designed not to be noticed.
More French idioms
- Botter en touche To dodge a question by changing the subject.
- Une tour d'ivoire A position of deliberate detachment from ordinary life.
- La tournée des grands-ducs A lavish night out taking in every fashionable establishment.
- Un coup de Trafalgar A sudden catastrophic reversal, often felt to be underhand.
- Doré sur tranche Extremely wealthy; luxuriously appointed.
- Le bout du tunnel The first sign that a long difficulty is ending.
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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