Une fine lame

Meaning: A highly skilled practitioner.

Literally: A fine blade

Example: “En matière de négociation, cette avocate est une fine lame.” — When it comes to negotiating, that lawyer is a dab hand.

English equivalent: A dab hand

Equivalents in other languages

English: a dab hand

Origin: Originally an expert swordsman, the blade standing for the man. It transferred to debaters and negotiators without needing any explanation.

More French idioms

Laver son linge sale en famille Keep internal disputes private.
Par le petit bout de la lorgnette From a needlessly narrow point of view.
Être une lumière To be highly intelligent — used almost exclusively in the negative.
Une lune de miel The first happy period of a marriage, or of any new arrangement.
Bien luné In a good mood — and mal luné, in a bad one.
Depuis belle lurette For ages; for a very long time.

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Words that look familiar in another language but mean something else entirely.

Attendre Actually means 'to wait for'. J'attends le bus = I'm waiting for the bus. For attend an e…
Actuel Actually means 'current' or 'present-day'. Actuellement = currently — not 'actually'.
Blesser Actually means 'to wound' or 'to injure'. Je suis blessé = I am injured — not blessed.

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Equivalents in other languages

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