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

by de V. Payen-Payne

Être sujet à l’heure = To be tied to time.

Être sujet à caution = Not to be relied upon. (See [Caution].)

C’est un mauvais sujet = He is a scamp, “a bad lot.”

[This is used in speaking of tiresome children, of flighty young men, and of real rogues.]

Petit mauvais sujet! = Little rascal! (to children).

Supplice

Être au supplice = To be on thorns.

Sûr

Pour sûr! (fam.) = I should think so, indeed!