IdiomDaily Life
French
FrenchUne cour des miracles
Meaning: A squalid, lawless place.
Literally: A court of miracles
Example: “Ce vieux parking abandonné est devenu une cour des miracles.” — That old abandoned parking garage has become a den of thieves.
English equivalent: A den of thieves
Equivalents in other languages
English: a den of thieves
Origin: The Cours des miracles were Paris slums where professional beggars lived. The name came from the nightly miracle by which the blind saw and the lame walked as soon as they were home and out of costume.
More French idioms
- Convoler en justes noces To get married.
- Trancher le nœud gordien To solve an intractable problem by refusing its terms.
- Chercher des noises To pick a quarrel deliberately.
- Être en odeur de sainteté To be in favor with someone in authority.
- Œil pour œil, dent pour dent Retaliation exactly proportionate to the injury.
- Tuer dans l'œuf To stop something before it can develop.
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