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

by de V. Payen-Payne

C’est jeter de l’huile sur le feu = It is adding fuel to the fire (flames).

Jeu

*Jeu qui trop dure ne vaut rien (Charles d’Orléans) = Too much of a good thing is bad.

C’est vieux jeu = That is quite old-fashioned.

Ne me mettez pas en jeu = Do not mix me up in it.

Cela passe le jeu = That is beyond a joke.

*Jeu de mains, jeu de vilains = 1. Horse-play is not gentlemanly. 2. Rough play often ends in tears.

Il fait bonne mine à mauvais jeu = He puts a good face on the matter; He makes the best of a bad job.

*A beau jeu beau retour = One good turn deserves another.