IdiomAnimals
French
FrenchSecouer comme un prunier
Meaning: To shake someone violently.
Literally: To shake like a plum tree
Example: “Le videur a attrapé le fêtard et l'a secoué comme un prunier.” — The bouncer grabbed the partygoer and shook him violently.
Origin: Plums are harvested by shaking the tree hard enough that the fruit falls, which is a specific and unignorable amount of force. The phrase is used of people being told off as much as of literal shaking.
More French idioms
- Cracher dans la soupe To disparage the thing that sustains you.
- Trempé comme une soupe Drenched to the skin.
- Payer rubis sur l'ongle To pay in full, immediately and to the last penny.
- Faire avancer le schmilblick To make actual progress on something.
- Avaler des poires d'angoisse To endure something bitterly painful.
- En cinq sec In no time at all.
Explore another collection: Proverbs
Short sayings of timeless wisdom from more than 50 cultures, each with its meaning and origin.
- Un chien regarde bien un évêque Even the humblest person has some rights in front of the powerful.
- Un coup de langue est pire qu'un coup de lance Hurtful words do more harm than physical blows.
- Prudence est mère de sûreté Being careful is what keeps you safe.
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