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

by de V. Payen-Payne

Douter

Je ne me doutais de rien = I did not suspect anything.

Je m’en doutais = I thought so.

Douzaine

C’est un poète comme on en trouve à la douzaine = He is a very minor poet.

[Régnier, Sat. iv.]

Dragée

Tenir la dragée haute à quelqu’un = To make a person pay well (or, wait a long time) for what he desires.

Dragon

Cette femme est un vrai dragon = 1. That woman is a virago. 2. That woman is very masculine (in appearance and manners).