IdiomAnimals
French
FrenchUn vent à décorner les bœufs
Meaning: A ferociously strong wind.
Literally: A wind to dehorn the oxen
Example: “Ne sors pas le parasol, il y a un vent à décorner les bœufs.” — Don't put the beach umbrella out; it's blowing a gale.
English equivalent: To blow a gale
Equivalents in other languages
Danish: Det blæser en halv pelikan Literally: It's blowing half a pelican
English: blow a gale
Origin: Hyperbole from farming country: a gale violent enough to tear the horns off an ox. Écorner (to break the horns of) may have shifted to décorner in the phrase, sharpening the image.
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