French Idioms and Proverbs / A Companion to Deshumbert's "Dictionary of Difficulties"

by de V. Payen-Payne

Carat

C’est un sot à vingt-quatre carats = He is an out-and-out fool, an A 1 fool.

[“Enfin quoique ignorante à vingt et trois carats.”
La Fontaine, Fables, vii, 15.]

Carême

*Cela arrive comme mars en carême = That comes regularly, like clockwork.

*Cela arrive comme marée en carême = That comes very seasonably, just at the right time.

Une face de carême = A sad, pale, woe-begone face (like that of one who has fasted all Lent).

Prêcher sept ans pour un carême = To do a great deal for little good.

Carpe

Muet comme une carpe = As dumb as an oyster.