Un ange passe
Meaning: Said to acknowledge a sudden awkward silence in a conversation.
Language: French
Literally: An angel is passing
Category: The Absurd
Origin: The idea that a lull falls when an angel crosses the room is old and widespread — a Greek version invoked Hermes instead. French fixed it as a wry announcement, spoken precisely to break the silence it names.
More idioms — The Absurd
- Être aux anges — To be overjoyed, in raptures.
- Ça ne casse pas trois pattes à un canard — It's nothing special or impressive.
- C'est comme pisser dans un violon — A completely pointless effort.
- Da steppt der Bär — It's going to be a great party.
- Ich glaub mein Schwein pfeift — I can't believe it! That's outrageous!
- Estar como una cabra — To be completely crazy.
More French idioms
- Être aux abonnés absents — To be unreachable, or to fail to show up when needed.
- Accuser réception — To acknowledge that something has been received.
- Par acquit de conscience — To do something merely to be sure, so as to leave nothing on your conscience.
- La perfide Albion — A hostile nickname for England, cast as habitually treacherous in its diplomacy.
- Alea jacta est — The decision is irrevocable and there is no turning back.
- De bon aloi — Genuine and of good quality; its opposite, de mauvais aloi, means dubious or in poor tast…
From our false friends
- Phrase — Actually means 'sentence'. For a short phrase or expression, say une expression.
- Ignorer — Actually means 'to be unaware of' or 'not to know'. J'ignore la réponse = I don't know th…
- Déception — Actually means 'disappointment'. For deception (a trick), say tromperie.
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