Une grenouille de bénitier
Meaning: A woman conspicuously and tiresomely devout.
Language: French
Literally: A holy-water-font frog
Category: Animals
Origin: The image is of an animal permanently installed in the font at the church door, never leaving the water. It is dismissive and was always intended to be.
More idioms — Animals
- Faire le pied de grue — To stand around waiting for a long time.
- Une hirondelle ne fait pas le printemps — A single encouraging sign does not prove a trend.
- Crier haro sur le baudet — To denounce someone publicly and unanimously.
- Courir plusieurs lièvres à la fois — To pursue too many aims at the same time and catch none.
- Lever un lièvre — To raise an awkward question nobody wanted opened.
- Une tête de linotte — A scatterbrain.
More French idioms
- La part du lion — By far the largest portion, taken by the strongest party.
- Être connu comme le loup blanc — To be known by absolutely everyone.
- Se jeter dans la gueule du loup — To walk straight into obvious danger.
- Un vieux loup de mer — A seasoned old sailor.
- Avoir des yeux de lynx — To have extremely sharp eyesight, or to notice everything.
- Des larmes de crocodile — Insincere grief performed for effect.
From our false friends
- Librairie — Actually means 'bookshop'. A library is une bibliothèque.
- Pain — Actually means 'bread'. The hurting kind of pain is la douleur.
- Coin — Actually means 'corner'. A coin you spend is une pièce.
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