*Grand bruit, petite besogne = The more hurry, the less speed; Great cry, little wool.
*Qui a bruit de se lever matin peut dormir jusqu’au soir = A good reputation covers many sins.
Les tonneaux vides sont ceux qui font le plus de bruit = The worst wheel makes the most noise.
Brûler
Il s’est brûlé la cervelle = He blew his brains out.
Ils tirèrent sur lui à brûle-pourpoint = They fired at him point-blank (so as to burn his doublet).
Il m’a posé cette question à brûle-pourpoint = He asked me that question quite unexpectedly.
Brûler une station (une étape) = To run through a station (or, a halting-place) without stopping.
Brûler le pavé = To dash along at full speed, to “scorch.”