IdiomNature
French
FrenchUne coupe sombre
Meaning: A drastic reduction, especially of staff or budget.
Literally: A dark cutting
Example: “Le nouveau budget prévoit des coupes sombres dans la culture.” — The new budget calls for deep cuts to the arts.
English equivalent: To take an ax to something
Equivalents in other languages
English: take an ax to
Origin: In forestry the terms are the reverse of what they sound like: a coupe sombre thins a stand lightly and leaves it dark, while a coupe claire fells most of it and lets light in. Ordinary French inverted the meaning entirely, and the forestry sense is now the surprising one.
More French idioms
- Aux quatre coins de All over; in every part of a place.
- Frappé au coin du bon sens Manifestly sensible; bearing the stamp of sound judgment.
- Collet monté Prim, stiff and old-fashioned in manner.
- Dans le collimateur In someone's sights; singled out for scrutiny.
- Le complexe d'Œdipe A child's unconscious attachment to the opposite-sex parent and rivalry with the other.
- De conserve Together, in company — not to be confused with de concert.
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- Casse-pieds A massive bore or pain in the neck — someone who wears you down with their irritating way…
- Espèce de patate You dim bulb — a potato being the very picture of inert, unthinking stodginess.
- Quel râleur / quelle râleuse You never stop moaning — everything is a complaint, nothing is ever good enough.
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