IdiomDaily Life
French
FrenchUn enfant de la balle
Meaning: Someone raised in the trade they now practice.
Literally: A child of the ball
Example: “Fils de clowns, ce trapéziste est un vrai enfant de la balle.” — The son of clowns, that trapeze artist was born in a trunk.
English equivalent: Born in a trunk
Equivalents in other languages
English: born in a trunk
Origin: The balle is the ball of jeu de paume, the ancestor of tennis, whose professionals raised their children in the courts. It spread first to circus and theater families and then to any inherited profession.
More French idioms
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- Des espèces sonnantes et trébuchantes Hard cash, as opposed to promises or credit.
- D'estoc et de taille With everything one has, by every available means.
- Ne connaître ni d'Ève ni d'Adam Not to know someone at all.
- Fauché comme les blés Completely broke.
- S'inscrire en faux To formally deny something and challenge its truth.
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