IdiomDaily Life
French
FrenchUn remède de bonne femme
Meaning: A folk cure of doubtful value.
Literally: A good woman's remedy
Example: “Mettre un oignon dans ses chaussettes contre la fièvre ? C'est un remède de bonne femme.” — Putting an onion in your socks for a fever? That's an old wives' tale.
English equivalent: An old wives' tale
Equivalents in other languages
English: an old wives' tale
Origin: Bonne femme here is probably a worn-down bonne fame, of good repute, from Latin fama — so the original sense was a well-reputed remedy rather than a woman's one. The reanalysis added the condescension.
More French idioms
- Mettre à sac To plunder a place completely.
- À bon entendeur, salut A word to the wise — take the hint.
- Bon sang ! Good grief — an exclamation of exasperation.
- Bon sang ne saurait mentir Breeding shows in the end.
- Séance tenante Then and there, without adjournment.
- Un coup de semonce A deliberate warning, delivered before real consequences.
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