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

by de V. Payen-Payne

Bien lui en prit d’avoir fermé sa porte = It was lucky for him that he shut his door.

Il prend le chemin de l’hôpital = He is on the highway to ruin.

Je m’en prends à vous = I lay the blame at your door.

Je vous y prends = I catch you at it.

Ça ne prend pas (fam.) = “That’s no go.”

Je sors d’en prendre (fam.) = I had rather be excused; You will not catch me again so soon.

Qu’est-ce qui vous prend? = What is the matter with you?

[This is said to persons doing something suddenly without any apparent reason, or suddenly becoming bad-tempered, etc., not to invalids.]

Je vais vous montrer comment il faut s’y prendre = I am going to show you how to set about it.