One idea · 3 languages

“Sow one's wild oats”in other languages

Behave wildly while young, before settling down.

  • English
  • French
  • German
Behind the words

Same idea, different pictures

English sows wild oats, a useless weed, the work of a young man with more energy than sense. German knocks off its horns, sich die Hörner abstoßen, like a young animal butting everything in sight.

French jeter sa gourme comes from horses: la gourme is strangles, an illness young horses get once and then are over. The phrase looks at the end of the wild years, when they're behind you.

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