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

by de V. Payen-Payne

Nous fûmes trempés jusqu’aux os = We were wet to the skin.

Trente

Être sur son trente-et-un (fam.) = To be dressed up to the nines.

Tricherie

*Tricherie revient à son maître = Curses, like chickens, come home to roost.

Trier

Les soldats de la Garde étaient tous triés sur le volet = The soldiers of the Guard were all picked men.

[Volet is a gardener’s board on which he sorts seeds.]

Triste

C’est un triste sire = He is a despicable, dishonourable fellow.