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

by de V. Payen-Payne

Rebrousse

À rebrousse poil = Against the grain; (To rub) the wrong way.

Reconnaître

Je vous reconnais bien là = That is just like you.

Je ne m’y reconnais plus = I don’t know where I am, what I am about; I am quite at sea.

Reculer

Il a reculé pour mieux sauter = 1. He waited for something better. 2. (ironic.) He avoided a small evil to fall into a greater.

[Compare: Mieux reculer que mal assaillir.]

Marcher à reculons = To walk backwards.