IdiomDaily Life
French
FrenchUne tour d'ivoire
Meaning: A position of deliberate detachment from ordinary life.
Literally: An ivory tower
Example: “Ce chercheur vit dans sa tour d'ivoire, loin des problèmes du terrain.” — This researcher lives in an ivory tower, far from real-world problems.
English equivalent: An ivory tower
Equivalents in other languages
English: ivory tower
Origin: The image is from the Song of Songs, but its modern sense comes from Sainte-Beuve, who in 1837 described Vigny as retiring into his ivory tower before noon. The reproach was gentle and has hardened since.
More French idioms
- Un vieux de la vieille A veteran of long standing.
- En quatrième vitesse At top speed; as fast as possible.
- Au temps pour moi My mistake.
- Aller au charbon To head off to work; to steel oneself for something disagreeable.
- Passer l'arme à gauche To die.
- La réponse du berger à la bergère The retort that ends an argument for good; also, giving someone exactly what they gave yo…
Explore another collection: Untranslatable Words
Words that capture a feeling or idea English needs a whole sentence for.
- Épanouissement The full flourishing of a person — blooming into your most complete, radiant self. More t…
- Ressourcement The act of returning to one's roots or origins to find renewal — going back to a place, t…
- Dépaysement The disorienting yet often pleasant feeling of being far from home, immersed in the unfam…
Keep exploring