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

by de V. Payen-Payne

Crémaillère

Pendre la crémaillère = To give a house warming.

[Crémaillère = tige de fer suspendue au dessus du foyer d’une cheminée garnie de crans, qui permettent de la fixer plus ou moins haut, et terminée par un bout recourbé auquel on accroche une marmite. Compare Longfellow’s poem “The Hanging of the Crane.”]

Crever

Le roi Jean a crevé les yeux à Arthur = King John caused Arthur’s eyes to be put out.

Je ne voyais pas mon livre, cependant il me crevait les yeux = I did not see my book, yet it was staring me in the face (right under my nose).

Cri

Il n’y a qu’un cri sur son compte = There is only one opinion about him.

Elle poussa les hauts cris = She screamed at the top of her voice; She complained loudly.

C’est le dernier cri = It is the last thing out.