IdiomFood & Drink
French
FrenchTrier sur le volet
Meaning: To hand-pick with great care.
Literally: To sort on the board
Example: “Les invités de la soirée ont été triés sur le volet.” — The guests at the party were carefully handpicked.
Origin: The volet was a flat board on which peas or grain were spread so the bad ones could be picked out one at a time. Selection this deliberate is the whole claim of the phrase.
More French idioms
- À tue-tête At the top of one's voice.
- Dire ses quatre vérités à quelqu'un To tell someone exactly what is wrong with them.
- Avoir la main verte To have a gift for growing plants.
- Entrer dans le vif du sujet To get to the heart of the matter.
- Une lapalissade A statement so obvious it is comic — a truism.
- Prendre des vessies pour des lanternes To be grossly deceived about something.
Explore another collection: Compliments & Insults
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- Tu déchires You're awesome — you totally rock.
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