FrenchTout schuss
Meaning: Flat out; or straight down, without deviating.
Literally: All shot
Example: “Le skieur a descendu la piste noire tout schuss.” — The skier went down the black run flat out.
English equivalent: Flat out
Equivalents in other languages
German: was das Zeug hält Literally: What the stuff holds
English: flat out
Origin: One of very few French expressions to come off a ski slope. Any German speaker will point out that Schuss means a shot or gunfire, which seems unpromising — but Schussfahrt is the German for a straight descent following the fall line, and the French phrase is an apocope of that. Someone who takes a piste tout schuss, rather than picking his way down like a beginner, is going both straight and very fast, which covers both senses. It stays rare outside ski resorts.
More French idioms
- Un coup de tabac A sudden violent squall at sea; by extension, a brutal turn of events.
- À tire-larigot In enormous quantities; to excess.
- Le torchon brûle There is open discord — most often between a couple.
- Y a pas à tortiller du cul Enough hesitating — a decision has to be made. Also: this is simply undeniable.
- Ne pas valoir tripette To be worthless; to be of no interest whatsoever.
- Ne pas avoir les yeux en face des trous To be unable to see what is right in front of you — usually because you are barely awake.
Explore another collection: Untranslatable Words
Words that capture a feeling or idea English needs a whole sentence for.
- Épanouissement The full flourishing of a person — blooming into your most complete, radiant self. More t…
- Ressourcement The act of returning to one's roots or origins to find renewal — going back to a place, t…
- Dépaysement The disorienting yet often pleasant feeling of being far from home, immersed in the unfam…
Keep exploring