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

by de V. Payen-Payne

On ne connaît pas le vin aux cercles = You can’t judge cigars by the picture on the box.

Tremper son vin = To water one’s wine.

[Tremper = tempérer, not to wet, but to moderate.]

Vous mouillez trop votre vin = You are drowning the miller.

Violent

Cela est un peu violent = That is too bad.

Violon

Payer les violons = To pay the piper.

Visière

Je lui ai rompu en visière = I attacked (or, contradicted) him openly.