Bras dessus bras dessous = Arm in arm.
J’ai les bras rompus = My arms are tired.
Cette perte nous coupe bras et jambes = This loss cripples us entirely.
Les bras me tombent de surprise (or, m’en tombent) = I am struck dumb with surprise.
Il a le bras long = He has great influence.
Si vous lui en donnez long comme le doigt, il en prendra long comme le bras = Give him an inch, he will take an ell.
[“Laissez leur prendre un pied chez vous
Ils en auront bientôt pris quatre.”
La Fontaine, Fables, ii. 7.
German: Wer sich auf den Achseln sitzen lässt, dem sitzt man nachher auf dem Kopfe = Who lets one sit on his shoulders shall have him presently sit on his head.
Italian: Si ti lasci metter in spalla il vitello, quindi a poco ti metter an la vacca = If thou suffer a calf to be laid on thee, within a little they’ll clap on the cow.]