Animal proverbs
Here are the most common French proverbs involving animals (Some idiomatic expressions may have also found their way to this page).Enjoy!
Proverbe / Proverb | Literal translation | Idiomatic translation / English equivalent | Meaning |
---|---|---|---|
A bon chat, bon rat. | A good cat deserves a good rat. | To meet one’s match. / Tit for tat | An attacker and an attackee who both grow stronger from finding new ways to outwit each other. |
Appeler un chat un chat. | To call a cat, a cat. | To call a spade, a spade. | To speak plainly and honestly (even if it may hurt one’s interlocutor sensitivity). |
Avoir un chat dans la gorge. | To have a cat in the throat. | To have a frog in your throat. | To have a tight feeling in your throat and being unable to speak clearly. |
Avoir une faim de loup. | Hungry as a wolf. | - | To be really hungry. |
La bave du crapaud n'atteint pas la blanche colombe. | The spit of the toad doesn't reach the white dove. | - | I (i.e “la blanche colombe”) do not care about your (or someone else i.e “le crapaud”) criticism, comment or insult (i.e “la bave). |
Les chiens ne font pas des chats. | Dogs don't make cats. | The apple does not fall far from the tree. | Offspring grow up to be like their parents. |
On n’attrape pas les mouches avec du vinaigre. | You don't catch flies with vinegar. | You can catch more flies with honey than with vinegar. | In order to obtain what you want from people, you have to use appropriate means. |
C'est la montagne qui accouche d'une souris. | The mountain gave birth to a mouse. | - | Expression used to describe a much anticipated event/project which end-up with no significant results. |
Chat échaudé craint l'eau froide. | A scalded cat fears cold water. | Once bitten, twice shy. | Someone who had a bad experience will be more (too?) careful the next time in a similar situation. |
Chien qui aboie ne mord pas. | barking dogs seldom bite. | his bark is bigger than his bite. | Those who make loud threats seldom carry them out. |
La nuit, tous les chats sont gris. | In the heart of the night (in the dark), all cats are grey. | - | The night (darkness) erase differences between people (due to social status, etc.) or things. |
Les chiens aboient, la caravane passe. | The dogs bark, the caravan passes by. | - | Let them say what they want, I know what I am doing. |
Mettre la charrue avant les bœufs . | To put the cart before the ox. | To put the cart before the horse. | 1.You should do things in
the righ order. 2.You should not anticipate too much. |
On ne fait pas boire un âne qui n'a pas soif. | One does not make a donkey drink if it isn't thirsty. | You can lead a horse to water but you can't make it drink. | You can force someone stubborn (or stupid) to do what he/she does not want to do (even if its for her/his own good) |
Petit poisson deviendra grand. | The little fish will grow. | 1. Boys will be men one
day.
2. A little can go a long way. |
1. Boys will be men one
day.
2. A little can go a long way. |
Petit à petit l'oiseau fait son nid. | Little by little the bird builds its nest. | Little strokes fell great oaks . | With patience and perseverance you’ll reach your goal. |
Prendre le taureau par les cornes. | Take the bull by the horns. | Take the bull by the horns. | You need to take decisive action in order to solve a (big) problem. |
Revenons à nos moutons. | Let us get back to our sheep. | - | Let's get back to what we were saying/doing. |
Ce n'est pas aux vieux singes qu'on apprend à faire des grimaces. | You can't teach old monkeys how to make faces. | You can't teach an old dog new tricks. | Don’t teach an expert. |
Ce n'est pas la vache qui crie le plus fort qui donne le plus de lait. | It is not the cow who shouts the loudest who gives the most milk. | Great talkers are little doers. | Those people who talk a lot and are always teaching others usually do not do much work. |
Quand le chat n'est pas là, les souris dansent. | When the cat's away the mice will dance. | When the cat's away the mice will play. | In the absence of their controller, subordinates will take advantage of circumstances to do as they please. |
Quand on parle du loup (on en voit la queue). | Speak of the wolf and you’ll see his tail. | Speak of the devil (and he will arrive). | Expression used when you are talking about a person who suddenly pop up. |
Qui vole un œuf, vole un bœuf . | He that will steal an egg will steal an ox. | He that will steal a pin will steal a pound . | 1. No matter how little
the amount, a theft is never justifiable. 2. Small misdeed will lead to bigger misdeed. |
Un cochon n'y retrouverait pas ses petits. | a pig couldn't find it's piglets here. | - | This expression is generally used to describe a very messy place (room, house, etc.). |
Une hirondelle ne fait pas le printemps. | One swallow does not make a spring. | One swallow does not make a summer. | Do not draw a conclusion too hastily. |
Il ne faut pas vendre la peau de l'ours (avant de l'avoir tué). | Do not sell the bear skin, before you’ve killed the bear. | Don't count your chickens before they are hatched. | This proverb warns one’s not to make (or act upon) an assumption which could turn out to be wrong. |