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

by de V. Payen-Payne

Potasser

Je vais potasser (piocher) un brin (students’ slang) = I’m going to swot (mug up) a bit.

Potin

Faire du potin (chambard, boucan) (pop.) = To kick up a row, a shindy.

Pouce

Manger sur le pouce = To take a snack.

Mettre les pouces = To give in, to knuckle under.

Lire du pouce (or, doigt) = To skip in reading (i.e. to do more work with the thumb than the brain).

Poudre

*Il n’a pas inventé la poudre = He will never set the Thames on fire.