IdiomDaily Life
French
FrenchUne messe basse
Meaning: A whispered aside between two people in company.
Literally: A low mass
Example: “Pendant le discours, les deux ministres tenaient des messes basses au premier rang.” — During the speech, the two ministers were whispering to each other in the front row.
Origin: A low mass was said quietly and without music, as against a sung high mass. The phrase is usually a reproach delivered by whoever has been excluded.
More French idioms
- Sainte Nitouche A woman who feigns innocence she does not have.
- Le nerf de la guerre Money, as the thing without which nothing can be done.
- 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.
Explore another collection: Tongue Twisters
Tricky phrases to practice out loud, from languages around the world.
- 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.
- Un chasseur sachant chasser doit savoir chasser sans son chien. The classic French 'ch' / 's' tangler.
- Les chaussettes de l'archiduchesse sont-elles sèches, archi-sèches? A merciless duel between 'ch' and 's'.
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