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

by de V. Payen-Payne

[“Selon le clerc est deu le maistre.”—Villon, Grand Testament, 568.]

*Telle vie, telle fin = Men die as they live.

Je vous le rends tel quel = I return it to you just as it was lent to me.

Je la prendrai telle quelle = I will take it just as it is.

Ce sont des gens tels quels (fam.) = They are “no great shakes,” just ordinary people, humdrum people.

Tel est pris qui croyait prendre = It is a case of the biter bit.

Monsieur un tel = Mr. So-and-so.

Temps

Il se donne du bon temps = He does not work too hard; He enjoys himself; He has a good time of it.