Tomber de Charybde en Scylla
Meaning: To escape one danger only to meet a worse one.
Language: French
Literally: To fall from Charybdis into Scylla
Category: Nature
Origin: From the Odyssey, where the strait of Messina is guarded by a whirlpool on one side and a six-headed monster on the other, so that avoiding either steers you into the other. English says out of the frying pan into the fire.
More idioms — Nature
- 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.
- Veiller au grain — To stay alert for trouble.
- Tomber des hallebardes — To rain extremely hard.
More French idioms
- Proposer la botte à quelqu'un — To proposition someone sexually.
- Pousser le bouchon un peu loin — To go too far; to overstep.
- Tirer à boulets rouges — To attack someone ferociously and without restraint.
- Sans bourse délier — Without spending a penny.
- Un branle-bas de combat — Frantic preparation; a general commotion.
- Battre en brèche — To attack a position or argument until it collapses.
From our compliments & insults
- Bête comme ses pieds — Really not very bright.
- Avoir un poil dans la main — To be incurably lazy.
- Tête de linotte — A scatterbrain who can't hold a thought.
Browse all compliments & insults →
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