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

by de V. Payen-Payne

*Petite pluie abat grand vent = A little rain lays much dust; Often quite a trifle calms a torrent of wrath.

[Compare: “Hi motus animorum atque haec certamina tanta
Pulveris exigui jactu compressa quiescunt.” Vergil, Georgics, iv. 86-7.]

Abattre de l’ouvrage = To get through a great deal of work.

Aboi

Être aux abois = To be reduced to the last extremity; To be at bay.

[Compare Boileau: “Dès que j’y veux rêver, ma veine est aux abois.”]

Abondance

*Abondance de biens ne nuit pas = Store is no sore; One cannot have too much of a good thing.

Parler avec abondance = To speak fluently.