Un vieux de la vieille
Meaning: A veteran of long standing.
Language: French
Literally: An old one of the old
Category: Daily Life
Origin: La vieille is the Vieille Garde, Napoleon's Old Guard, whose members were the most experienced soldiers in the army. The ellipsis is original and has never been filled back in.
More idioms — Daily Life
- En quatrième vitesse — At top speed; as fast as possible.
- Au temps pour moi — My mistake.
- Pédaler dans la semoule — To be confused and getting nowhere.
- Avoir d'autres chats à fouetter — To have more important things to do.
- Avoir le cul entre deux chaises — To be indecisive, caught between two options.
- Les carottes sont cuites — It's too late, nothing can be done.
More French idioms
- Ça ne casse pas trois pattes à un canard — It's nothing special or impressive.
- C'est comme pisser dans un violon — A completely pointless effort.
- Avoir le cafard — To feel depressed or down.
- Poser un lapin — To stand someone up on a date.
- Tomber dans les pommes — Suddenly losing consciousness — possibly derived from the older expression 'être dans les…
- Avoir la moutarde qui monte au nez — To be getting angry.
From our proverbs
- A man of gladness seldom falls into madness. — Sustained cheerfulness builds psychological resilience against despair and mental deterio…
- What your glass tells you will not be told by counsel. — Self-knowledge through honest self-reflection surpasses advice from others who cannot see…
- Those who live in glass houses should not throw stones. — Vulnerability to retaliation makes criticism hypocritical when one shares the same flaws…
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