IdiomDaily Life
French
FrenchTenir la corde
Meaning: To be in the best position to win.
Literally: To hold the rope
Example: “À un mois de l'élection, la candidate sortante tient la corde.” — A month before the election, the incumbent has the inside track.
English equivalent: To have the inside track
Equivalents in other languages
English: have the inside track
Origin: On a racetrack the inside lane runs along the rope, and the runner holding it covers the shortest distance. It is now used of candidates and bidders far more than of races.
More French idioms
- Sans coup férir Without any resistance at all; effortlessly.
- Un coup de fil A telephone call.
- Tomber comme un couperet To land suddenly and irrevocably, as of bad news.
- Faire la cour à quelqu'un To court someone romantically.
- La cour des grands The top tier, where the serious players are.
- Une fois n'est pas coutume One exception does not establish a habit.
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