IdiomDaily Life
French
FrenchTourner casaque
Meaning: To switch sides or change allegiance.
Literally: To turn one's tabard
Example: “À la veille du vote, trois députés ont tourné casaque.” — On the eve of the vote, three members of parliament switched sides.
English equivalent: To jump ship
Other ways to say this
- French: Retourner sa veste Literally: To turn one's jacket inside out
English: jump ship
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 French idioms
- 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.
- Avoir voix au chapitre To have a say in a decision.
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