Une vérité de La Palice / Une lapalissade
Meaning: A statement so obvious it is comic — a truism.
Language: French
Literally: A La Palice truth
Category: The Absurd
Origin: The soldier's epitaph read that a quarter-hour before his death he was still alive, meaning he fought to the last. A copyist's f read as s turned il ferait envie into il serait en vie, and the tribute became the most famous statement of the obvious in French. French went on to make his name an ordinary noun, and une lapalissade is now much the commoner word of the two.
More idioms — The Absurd
- Prendre des vessies pour des lanternes — To be grossly deceived about something.
- Être piqué de la tarentule — To be seized by frantic, uncontrollable agitation.
- Tonnerre de Brest ! — An exclamation of astonishment or annoyance.
- En voiture, Simone ! — Right then, off we go.
- Ça ne casse pas trois pattes à un canard — It's nothing special or impressive.
- C'est comme pisser dans un violon — A completely pointless effort.
More French idioms
- Une tempête dans un verre d'eau — A great commotion over something trivial.
- Contre vents et marées — In the face of every obstacle.
- Autant en emporte le vent — Said of promises and words that will come to nothing.
- Aller à vau-l'eau — To fall into ruin; to drift towards collapse.
- Se mettre au vert — To retreat to the countryside to rest or lie low.
- Une volée de bois vert — A severe and public dressing-down.
From our compliments & insults
- Tu as du chien — You have a certain irresistible magnetism — a je-ne-sais-quoi that draws people in.
- Tu as la tête sur les épaules — You're grounded, sensible, and dependable — not easily swept off course.
- Tu as le vent en poupe — Everything is going your way — you're riding a wave of momentum and success.
Browse all compliments & insults →
Loading the full interactive collection…