
IdiomBody & Senses
French
Se crêper le chignon
Meaning: To have a furious quarrel — said of women.
Literally: To frizz each other's bun
Example: “Les deux voisines se sont crêpé le chignon pour une place de parking.” — The two neighbors had a furious fight over a parking space.
Origin: The chignon is hair gathered and pinned up, and crêper is to backcomb it into a frizz. The phrase describes a fight conducted by pulling at each other's hairdos, and its exclusive application to women is part of its condescension.
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- Un cautère sur une jambe de bois A remedy that is completely useless.
- Scier la branche sur laquelle on est assis To destroy the thing your own position depends on.
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- Proposer la botte à quelqu'un To proposition someone sexually.
- Pousser le bouchon un peu loin To go too far; to overstep.
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