IdiomDaily Life
French
FrenchUne fois n'est pas coutume
Meaning: One exception does not establish a habit.
Literally: Once is not custom
Example: “Je prends un dessert ce soir ; une fois n'est pas coutume.” — I'll have dessert tonight; just this once won't hurt.
Origin: A legal maxim in origin: custom required repetition to acquire force, so a single instance created no precedent. It is now said mostly by people about to do something they do not usually do.
More French idioms
- Virer sa cuti To undergo a complete change of convictions.
- Au grand dam de quelqu'un To someone's considerable detriment or annoyance.
- Trouver son chemin de Damas To undergo a sudden and total conversion.
- Une épée de Damoclès A disaster hanging over someone, liable to fall at any moment.
- Entretenir une danseuse To maintain a costly indulgence that serves no purpose.
- À l'usage du Dauphin Expurgated; censored for delicate sensibilities.
Explore another collection: Tongue Twisters
Tricky phrases to practice out loud, from languages around the world.
- Seize chaises sèches sur seize arches sèches. A relentless collision of 'sei', 'sèch', and 's' — the tongue can't find traction.
- Un beau ver vert dans un verre vert verra un ver vert. Ver (worm), vert (green), and verre (glass) are near-homophones — distinguishing them at…
- Didon dîna, dit-on, du dos d'un dodu dindon dont le dodu dos dodine. A 'd' / 'din' / 'dod' avalanche that seems designed to jam the tongue in third gear.
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