IdiomAnimals
French
FrenchUne tunique de Nessus
Meaning: A gift that destroys the person who accepts it.
Literally: A tunic of Nessus
Example: “Ce poste de ministre prestigieux s'est révélé une tunique de Nessus.” — That prestigious ministerial post turned out to be a poisoned chalice.
English equivalent: A poisoned chalice
Equivalents in other languages
English: a poisoned chalice
Origin: The centaur Nessus, dying by Heracles' arrow, told Deianira his blood would keep her husband faithful. She soaked a shirt in it, and the poison killed him — a revenge that took years to arrive.
More French idioms
- Une tarte à la crème A tired cliché trotted out as though it were an argument.
- Décrocher la timbale To carry off the prize.
- Trier sur le volet To hand-pick with great care.
- À tue-tête At the top of one's voice.
- Dire ses quatre vérités à quelqu'un To tell someone exactly what is wrong with them.
- Avoir la main verte To have a gift for growing plants.
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