IdiomThe Absurd
French
FrenchSe croire sorti de la cuisse de Jupiter
Meaning: To have an absurdly high opinion of one's own importance.
Literally: To think oneself born from Jupiter's thigh
Example: “Depuis sa promotion, il se croit sorti de la cuisse de Jupiter.” — Since his promotion, he's gotten too big for his britches.
English equivalent: To be too big for one's britches
Other ways to say this
- French: Avoir la grosse tête Literally: To have a big head
- French: Avoir le melon Literally: To have the melon
Estonian: Nina püsti käima Literally: To walk with your nose up
Albanian: I rri gjel dikujt Literally: He stands like a rooster to someone
Swedish: styv i korken Literally: Stiff in the cork
English: too big for one's britches- French: Se croire le premier moutardier du pape Literally: To think oneself the pope's chief mustard-maker
- English: have a big head
Origin: Dionysus was carried to term in Zeus's thigh after his mother's death, making him divine by an unusually literal route. Claiming that descent is the most extravagant pedigree available, which is the joke.
More French idioms
- Au creux de la vague At a low point, with the expectation that things will rise again.
- Nager entre deux eaux To avoid committing to either side.
- Une coupe sombre A drastic reduction, especially of staff or budget.
- Nettoyer les écuries d'Augias To clear up a vast accumulated mess, usually of corruption.
- Aux quatre coins de All over; in every part of a place.
- Frappé au coin du bon sens Manifestly sensible; bearing the stamp of sound judgment.
Explore another collection: Tongue Twisters
Tricky phrases to practice out loud, from languages around the world.
- Si six scies scient six cyprès, six cents scies scient six cents cyprès. An 's' / 'si' minefield.
- Dans ta tente ta tante t'attend. A gentle 'ta / ten / tan / t'' warm-up that sounds faster than it reads.
- Seize chaises sèches sur seize arches sèches. A relentless collision of 'sei', 'sèch', and 's' — the tongue can't find traction.
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