IdiomDaily LifeFrench

Un train de sénateur

Meaning: A slow, dignified gait.

Literally: A senator's pace

Example: “La procession avançait à un train de sénateur dans les rues du village.” — The procession moved through the village streets at a snail's pace.

English equivalent: At a snail's pace

Equivalents in other languages

Origin: From La Fontaine's fable of the coach and the fly, where the horses move at a pace fit for senators. Train here is the older sense of gait or bearing.

More French idioms

Explore another collection: False Friends

Words that look familiar in another language but mean something else entirely.

  • Sympathique Actually means 'nice' or 'pleasant'. Il est très sympathique = He's very nice — not 'He's…
  • Rester Actually means 'to stay' or 'to remain'. Je reste ici = I'm staying here — not taking a n…
  • Attendre Actually means 'to wait for'. J'attends le bus = I'm waiting for the bus. For attend an e…

Browse all false friends →

Keep exploring

Explore all idioms →