IdiomDaily Life
French
FrenchUn fil d'Ariane
Meaning: A guiding thread through something impossibly complicated.
Literally: An Ariadne's thread
Example: “Dans ce dossier de trois mille pages, le journal de bord du capitaine sert de fil d'Ariane.” — In this three-thousand-page file, the captain's logbook serves as Ariadne's thread.
English equivalent: Ariadne's thread
Equivalents in other languages
English: Ariadne's thread
Origin: Ariadne gave Theseus a ball of thread so he could retrace his way out of the labyrinth after killing the Minotaur. The point is the return journey — anyone can go in.
More French idioms
- Épater la galerie To show off for the benefit of onlookers.
- Sans crier gare Without any warning at all.
- Une promesse de Gascon A promise nobody expects to be kept.
- Vouer aux gémonies To denounce someone publicly and utterly.
- Cousin germain A first cousin.
- Faire partie du Gotha To belong to the highest society.
Explore another collection: Proverbs
Short sayings of timeless wisdom from more than 50 cultures, each with its meaning and origin.
- Chassez le naturel, il revient au galop You cannot permanently suppress your real character.
- Une hirondelle ne fait pas le printemps A single encouraging sign does not prove a trend.
- L'enfer est pavé de bonnes intentions Meaning well counts for nothing without acting well.
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