Une planche de salut

Meaning: A last resort; the only remaining hope.

Literally: A plank of salvation

Example: “Pour ce petit éditeur, le prix littéraire a été une planche de salut.” — For this small publisher, the literary prize was a last hope that saved them.

Origin: From shipwreck, where a floating plank is what is left after the vessel is gone. The phrase implies the situation is already lost and this is what remains.

More French idioms

Mettre à pied To suspend someone from their duties.
Jeter la première pierre To be the first to condemn someone.
Avoir pignon sur rue To be soundly established, with a visible and respectable position.
Jouer à pile ou face To decide by tossing a coin.
Un pince-sans-rire Someone who jokes with a completely straight face.
N'être pas à prendre avec des pincettes To be in such a foul mood as to be unapproachable.

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