Pour surcroît (or, comble) de malheur il tomba malade = To crown his misfortunes he fell ill.
*Un malheur ne vient jamais seul = Misfortunes never come singly; It never rains but it pours.
[Ital. Benedetto è quel male, che vien solo = Blessed is that misfortune which comes alone.]
Il n’est qu’heur et malheur = That’s the way of the world.
Manant
C’est un manant = He is a coarse, ill-educated boor.
[From manens = one remaining fixed to the soil, a villein, serf.]
Manche (m.)
Il branle dans le manche (or, au manche) = He is no longer firmly established in his post; He is irresolute.
*Jeter le manche après la cognée = To throw the rope after the bucket; To give up in despair.