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

by de V. Payen-Payne

[Lat. Latet anguis in herba.]

Anonyme

Société anonyme = Limited Liability Company (because the names of the shareholders are unknown to the public).

Anse

Faire danser l’anse (or, le manche) du panier = To make dishonest profits on marketing (of servants); To gain a market-penny.

Faire le pot (or, panier) à deux anses = To put one’s arms akimbo.

[Often said of a gentleman who has a lady on each arm.]

Antan

“Où sont les neiges d’antan?” = Where are the snows of yester-year?

[Antan is an old French word derived from ante and annus. The quotation is the refrain of François Villon’s famous “Ballade des Dames du temps jadis.”]