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

by de V. Payen-Payne

Là

Je jette là mon soufflet avec dépit = I fling aside my bellows in disgust.

[É. Souvestre, Le Philosophe sous les toits.]

Laine

Nous sommes allés chercher de la laine et nous sommes revenus tondus = We went out to shear and returned shorn; The biter bit.

Laisser

Cela laisse à désirer = There is room for improvement; It is not quite the thing.

Je ne laisse pas d’être inquiet = In spite of all that, I am anxious.

[Here we have the old meaning of laisser (= laxare) to leave off. Hence, I do not leave off being anxious.]

C’est à prendre ou à laisser = You must take it or leave it; It’s a case of Hobson’s choice.