Se laisser tondre la laine sur le dos
Meaning: To let oneself be exploited without resisting.
Language: French
Literally: To let oneself be shorn of the wool on one's back
Category: Animals
Origin: The sheep is the standard figure for profitable passivity, and the phrase places the blame on the animal for permitting it. It is said of taxpayers and employees more than of anyone else.
More idioms — Animals
- S'entendre comme larrons en foire — To be thick as thieves; to understand one another perfectly.
- Des yeux de merlan frit — A soppy, languishing look.
- Payer en monnaie de singe — To pay with worthless promises instead of money.
- La montagne accouche d'une souris — A vast effort or grand announcement produces something trivial.
- La mouche du coche — Someone who bustles importantly while contributing nothing.
- On n'attrape pas les mouches avec du vinaigre — Gentleness achieves what harshness cannot.
More French idioms
- À la fortune du pot — Taking potluck; sharing whatever happens to be cooking.
- Séparer le bon grain de l'ivraie — To distinguish what is valuable from what is worthless.
- Se demander si c'est du lard ou du cochon — To be unable to tell what something is or how it is meant.
- Une autre paire de manches — A different matter entirely; a far harder proposition.
- Faire du lèche-vitrine — To go window shopping.
- L'huile de coude — Hard physical effort; elbow grease.
From our proverbs
- A child may have too much of his mother's blessing. — Excessive maternal indulgence weakens a child's resilience and capacity for independent g…
- Children and fools speak the truth. — Unguarded honesty emerges from those lacking social filters or awareness of consequences.
- Children and fools have merry lives. — Ignorance of life's burdens allows the young and simple-minded to experience uncomplicate…
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