IdiomNature
French
FrenchUne volée de bois vert
Meaning: A severe and public dressing-down.
Literally: A volley of green wood
Example: “Le ministre a reçu une volée de bois vert de la part des syndicats.” — The minister was hauled over the coals by the unions.
English equivalent: To haul someone over the coals
Equivalents in other languages
English: haul someone over the coals
Origin: Green wood has not dried out, so it bends rather than breaking and stings far more than seasoned timber. The choice of wood is the point of the threat.
More French idioms
- Rendre son tablier To resign, usually in protest.
- Sans tambour ni trompette Discreetly, without any announcement.
- Prendre la tangente To slip away, or to dodge a question.
- Partir à Tataouine To be packed off somewhere remote and unpleasant.
- Mieux vaut tenir que courir Better to keep what you have than chase what you might get.
- Un travail de Titan An undertaking of enormous scale.
Explore another collection: Compliments & Insults
Compliments and insults from around the world, from the sweet to the savage.
- Quel râleur / quelle râleuse You never stop moaning — everything is a complaint, nothing is ever good enough.
- Peau de vache A mean, difficult, and unpleasant person — tough and unyielding like tanned hide.
- Tu as une cervelle de moineau You're scatterbrained and forgetful.
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