Une grenouille de bénitier

Meaning: A woman conspicuously and tiresomely devout.

Literally: A holy-water-font frog

Example: “La grenouille de bénitier du village surveille qui manque la messe.” — The village Bible thumper keeps track of who skips Mass.

English equivalent: A Bible thumper

Equivalents in other languages

English: a Bible thumper

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 French idioms

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.
Se laisser tondre la laine sur le dos To let oneself be exploited without resisting.

Explore another collection: False Friends

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

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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Equivalents in other languages

More idioms — Animals

More French idioms

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