IdiomDaily Life
French
FrenchTirer sa révérence
Meaning: To take one's leave, with a show of formality.
Literally: To draw one's bow
Example: “Après quarante ans de scène, le comédien a tiré sa révérence.” — After forty years on stage, the actor bowed out.
English equivalent: To bow out
Equivalents in other languages
English: bow out
German: seinen Hut nehmen Literally: To take one's hat
Origin: The révérence is the bow itself, and tirer sa révérence was to perform it on withdrawing from a room. It is now used almost entirely of resignations and retirements.
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