IdiomAnimals
French
FrenchUn vieux loup de mer
Meaning: A seasoned old sailor.
Literally: An old sea wolf
Example: “Le patron du bateau est un vieux loup de mer qui a doublé le cap Horn.” — The boat's skipper is an old sea dog who has rounded Cape Horn.
English equivalent: An old sea dog
Equivalents in other languages
English: an old sea dog
Origin: Loup de mer is also a real fish, the sea bass, but the sailor sense trades on the wolf's toughness and solitude. The phrase is affectionate where most wolf idioms are not.
More French idioms
- À la fortune du pot Taking potluck; sharing whatever happens to be cooking.
- Séparer le bon grain de l'ivraie To distinguish what is valuable from what is worthless.
- Se demander si c'est du lard ou du cochon To be unable to tell what something is or how it is meant.
- Une autre paire de manches A different matter entirely; a far harder proposition.
- Faire du lèche-vitrine To go window shopping.
- L'huile de coude Hard physical effort; elbow grease.
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