Tourner casaque
Meaning: To switch sides or change allegiance.
Language: French
Literally: To turn one's tabard
Category: Daily Life
Origin: The casaque was the surcoat bearing a lord's colors, so reversing it displayed different arms. The gesture was literal before it was figurative, and deserters really did turn their coats.
More idioms — Daily Life
- Retourner sa veste — To change one's allegiance opportunistically.
- Coiffer Sainte Catherine — To reach twenty-five while still unmarried — said of a woman.
- Être sujet à caution — To be unreliable; not to be taken at face value.
- Caviarder un texte — To censor a piece of writing by blacking out passages.
- Se serrer la ceinture — To economize and go without.
- La femme de César ne doit pas être soupçonnée — Those in public office must be above even the appearance of wrongdoing.
More French idioms
- Se réduire comme une peau de chagrin — To dwindle away steadily until nothing is left.
- Appuyer sur le champignon — To accelerate hard; to floor it.
- Devoir une fière chandelle à quelqu'un — To owe someone a considerable debt of gratitude.
- Le jeu n'en vaut pas la chandelle — The effort or cost outweighs anything to be gained.
- Tenir la chandelle — To be the awkward third party to a couple.
- Sur les chapeaux de roues — At top speed; also, of a start, immediately and forcefully.
From our compliments & insults
- Tu déchires — You're awesome — you totally rock.
- Bête comme ses pieds — Really not very bright.
- Avoir un poil dans la main — To be incurably lazy.
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