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

by de V. Payen-Payne

*Tomber de fièvre en chaud mal (or, de la poêle dans la braise, de Charybde en Scylla) = To fall out of the frying-pan into the fire.

[“Incidit in Scyllam cupiens vitare Charybdim.”—Compare Homer, Od. xii. 85.

“Thus when I shun Scylla, your father, I fall into Charybdis, your mother.”—Shakespeare, Merchant of Venice, iii. 5.]

Figue

*Moitié figue, moitié raisin = 1. Partly willingly, partly by force. 2. Half one thing and half another. 3. Half in jest, half in earnest.

[This expression is often used of a remark that may be complimentary or not.]

Fil

Je lui donnerai du fil à retordre = I will cut out his work for him; I will give him a deal of trouble.

Ce sont des finesses cousues de fil blanc = Those tricks are easily found out.