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

by de V. Payen-Payne

Quand

Je le ferai quand même = I shall do it just the same; I shall do it whatever it may cost.

Quant

Se tenir sur son quant-à-soi = To stand on one’s dignity.

Quart

Le quart d’heure de Rabelais = The moment of payment. (See [Heure].)

Passer un mauvais quart d’heure = To have a bad time of it.

Quatorze

Avoir quinte et quatorze = To have the game in one’s own hand.

[This phrase refers to terms used in the game of piquet. Quinte is to have five cards of the same colour, which counts fifteen. Quatorze is to have four cards of the same value (i.e. four knaves, aces, etc.), and counts fourteen.]