IdiomDaily Life
French
FrenchUn branle-bas de combat
Meaning: Frantic preparation; a general commotion.
Literally: A hammock-down for combat
Example: “L'annonce de la visite du ministre a déclenché un branle-bas de combat à la mairie.” — News of the minister's visit set off a frantic scramble at city hall.
English equivalent: All hands on deck
Other ways to say this
Japanese: 猫の手も借りたい (Neko no te mo karitai) Literally: I want to borrow even a cat's paw- French: Convoquer le ban et l'arrière-ban Literally: To summon the ban and the rear-ban
English: all hands on deck
Origin: Aboard a warship the branles were the sailors' hammocks, slung across the gun deck. Clearing for action meant taking them all down at once so the guns could be worked — a sudden, total upheaval of the ship's ordinary state.
More French idioms
- C'est le cadet de mes soucis It is the very least of my concerns.
- Fumer le calumet de la paix To make peace after a quarrel.
- Enterrer la hache de guerre To end a feud and set hostilities aside.
- Carpe diem Make the most of the present rather than counting on the future.
- S'aplatir comme une carpette To grovel; to let oneself be walked over.
- Rester sur le carreau To be knocked out of the running; to be left for dead.
Explore another collection: Compliments & Insults
Compliments and insults from around the world, from the sweet to the savage.
- Tu as la tête sur les épaules You're grounded, sensible, and dependable — not easily swept off course.
- Tu as le vent en poupe Everything is going your way — you're riding a wave of momentum and success.
- Tu es un as You're brilliant at what you do — the very best.
Keep exploring