French proverbs

B

• Bien mal acquis ne profite jamais.
  • Idiomatic translation: Ill-gotten gains seldom prosper.

• Bon chien chasse de race.
  • Idiomatic translation: Like father, like son.

• Bon repas doit commencer par la faim.
  • Idiomatic translation: Hunger is the best spice.
  • Literal meaning: A good meal must begin with hunger.

• Bon sang ne saurait mentir.
  • Idiomatic translation: Blood will out.
  • Literal meaning: Good blood cannot lie.

• Bonne renommée vaut mieux que ceinture dorée.
  • Idiomatic translation: A good name is better than riches.
  • Literal meaning: Better a good name than a golden belt.

C

• Ce qui est fait n'est plus à faire.
  • Idiomatic translation: What's done is done.

• C'est trop aimer quand on en meurt.
  • Idiomatic translation: They love too much who die for love.

• Ce n'est pas la vache qui crie le plus fort qui donne le plus de lait.
  • Idiomatic translation: Great cry, little wool.
  • Literal meaning: It is not the cow who shouts the loudest who gives the most milk.

• Ce que femme veut, Dieu le veut.
  • Idiomatic translation: A woman's will is God's will.

• C'est bonnet blanc et blanc bonnet.
  • Idiomatic translation: It's six of one and half a dozen of the other.

• C'est dans le besoin qu'on reconnaît ses vrais amis.
  • Idiomatic translation: A friend in need is a friend indeed.

• C'est dans les vieilles marmites qu'on fait les meilleures soupes.
  • Idiomatic translation: Good broth may be made in an old pot.

• C'est en forgeant qu'on devient forgeron.
  • Literal meaning: By dint of forging one becomes a blacksmith.
  • Idiomatic translation: Practice makes perfect.

• C'est la goutte / goutte d'eau qui fait déborder le vase.
  • Literal meaning: It's the drop / drop of water that makes the vase overflow.
  • Idiomatic translation: It's the straw / last straw that breaks the camel's back.

• C'est la paille et la poutre.
  • Literal meaning: It's the mote and the beam.
  • Idiomatic translation: It's the pot calling the kettle black.

• C'est la Pitié / l'hôpital qui se moque de la Charité.
  • Literal meaning: It's Mercy / the hospital looking down on Charity.
  • Idiomatic translation: It's the pot calling the kettle black.

• C'est la poule qui chante qui a fait l'œuf.
  • Literal meaning: It is the chicken which sings which has laid the egg.
  • Idiomatic translation: The guilty dog barks the loudest.

• C'est l'arroseur arrosé.
  • Literal meaning: It's the waterer getting drenched.
  • Idiomatic translation: It's the biter bit.

• C'est le poêle qui se moque du chaudron.
  • Literal meaning: It's the stove looking down on the cauldron.
  • Idiomatic translation: It's the pot calling the kettle black.

• C'est le ton qui fait la chanson.
  • Literal meaning: It's the melody that makes the song.
  • Idiomatic translation: It's not what you say but the way you say it.

• C'est un prêté pour un rendu.
  • Translation 1: Tit for tat.
  • Translation 2: One good turn deserves another.
  • Literal meaning: It is one loaned for one returned.

• Chacun pour soi et Dieu pour tous.
  • Translation 1: Every man for himself, and God for us all.
  • Translation 2: Every man for himself, and the Devil take the hindmost.

• Chacun son métier, les vaches seront bien gardées.
  • Idiomatic translation: One should mind one's own business.
  • Literal meaning: Each to his craft, and the cows will be well looked after.

• Chacun voit midi à sa porte.
  • Idiomatic translation: To each his own.
  • Literal meaning: Everyone sees noon at his door.

• Chantez à l'âne, il vous fera des pêts.
  • Idiomatic translation: Sing to an ass, he will fart in your face.

• Charbonnier est maître chez soi.
  • Translation (British): An Englishman's home is his castle.
  • Literal meaning: A coalman is master of his own house.

• Charité bien ordonnée commence par soi-même.
  • Idiomatic translation: Charity begins at home.

• Chassez le naturel, il revient au galop.
  • Idiomatic translation: A leopard cannot change its spots.
  • Literal meaning: Chase away the natural and it returns at a gallop.

• Chat échaudé craint l'eau froide.
  • Literal meaning: A scalded cat fears cold water.
  • Translation 1: Once bitten, twice shy.
  • Translation 2: A burned child dreads the fire.

• Cherchez la femme.
  • Literal meaning: Look for the woman.
  • Idiomatic translation: A woman is probably at the heart of the quarrel.

• Chien qui aboie ne mord pas.
  • Idiomatic translation: Barking dogs seldom bite.

• Chose promise, chose due.
  • Idiomatic translation: Promises are made to be kept.

• Cœur qui soupire n'a pas ce qu'il désire.
  • Idiomatic translation: A heart that sighs is one that has not what it desires.

• Comme on fait son lit on se couche.
  • Idiomatic translation: As you make your bed, so you must lie in it.

• Comparaison n'est pas raison.
  • Idiomatic translation: Comparisons are misleading.

• Contentement passe richesse.
  • Idiomatic translation: Happiness is worth more than riches.

• Coucher de poule et lever de corbeau écartent l'homme du tombeau.
  • Idiomatic translation: Early to bed and early to rise makes a man healthy, wealthy, and wise.
  • Literal meaning: Going to bed with the chicken and waking with the crow keeps the man from the grave.

D

• Dans le doute, abstiens-toi.
  • Idiomatic translation: When in doubt, forbear.

• De la discussion jaillit la lumière. or Du choc des idées jaillit la lumière
  • Idiomatic translation: Two heads are better than one.
  • Literal meaning: Out of discussion springs forth the light.

• Demain il fera jour.
  • Idiomatic translation: Tomorrow is another day.

• Des goûts et des couleurs, il ne faut pas discuter.
  • Idiomatic translation: There's no accounting for tastes.
  • Literal meaning: One shouldn't argue about tastes or colours.
  • Latin: De gustibus et coloribus non est disputandum.

• Deux avis valent mieux qu'un.
  • Idiomatic translation: Two heads are better than one.
  • Literal meaning: Two opinions are better than one.

• Dis-moi qui tu hantes, je te dirai qui tu es.
  • Idiomatic translation: A man is known by the company he keeps.
  • Literal meaning: Tell me who you haunt and I will tell you who you are.

• Douce parole n'écorche pas langue.
  • Idiomatic translation: Good words break no bones.
  • Literal meaning: Soft words don't scratch the tongue.

E

• En avril, ne te découvre pas d'un fil; en mai, fais ce qui te plaît.
  • Idiomatic translation: Never cast a clout till May is out.
  • Literal meaning: In April, do not shed a single thread; in May, do as you please.

• En tout pays, il y a une lieue de mauvais chemins.
  • Idiomatic translation: There will be bumps on the smoothest roads.

• Entre deux maux, il faut choisir le moindre.
  • Translation 1: Of two evils one must choose the lesser.
  • Translation 2: Forgive and forget.

• Entre l'arbre et l'écorce, il ne faut pas mettre le doigt.
  • Idiomatic translation: Do not meddle in other people's family affairs.
  • Literal meaning: Don't poke your finger 'twixt the bark and the tree.

F

• Fais ce que dois, advienne que pourra.
  • Idiomatic translation: Do your duty, come what may.

• Fais ce que je dis, ne fais pas ce que je fais.
  • Idiomatic translation: Do as I say, not as I do.

• Faute avouée est à moitié pardonnée.
  • Idiomatic translation: A fault confessed is a half redressed.

• Faute de grives, on mange des merles.
  • Translation 1: Half a loaf is better than no bread.
  • Translation 2: You have to cut your coat according to your cloth.
  • Literal meaning: Eat blackbirds if you can't have thrushes.

• Femme rit quand elle peut et pleure quand elle veut.
  • Idiomatic translation: A woman laughs when she can and weeps when she will.

• Filer a l'anglaise.
  • Idiomatic translation: To take a French leave.
  • Literal translation: Let out the English way.

• Force fait loi.
  • Idiomatic translation: Might makes right.

H

• Hâtez-vous lentement.
  • Idiomatic translation: Make haste slowly.

• Heureux au jeu, malheureux en amour.
  • Idiomatic translation: Lucky in cards, unlucky in love.

• Homme mort ne fait guerre.
  • Idiomatic translation: A dead man deals no blows.

• Honni soit qui mal y pense.
  • Idiomatic translation: Evil be to him who evil thinks.
  • Literal meaning: Shameful be they who thinks badly of it.

I

• Il faut battre le fer pendant qu'il est chaud .
  • Translation 1: Strike while the iron is hot.
  • Translation 2: Make hay while the sun shines.

• Il faut casser le noyau pour avoir l'amande.
  • Translation 1: He who would eat the nut must first crack the kernel.
  • Translation 2: No pain, no gain.

• Il faut de tout pour faire un monde.
  • Idiomatic translation: It takes all sorts to make a world.

• Il faut laver son linge sale en famille.
  • Idiomatic translation: Don't air your dirty laundry in public.

• Il faut manger pour vivre, et non vivre pour manger.
  • Idiomatic translation: Eat to live, don't live to eat.

• Il faut ménager la chèvre et le chou.
  • Idiomatic translation: One must run with the hare and hunt with the hounds.
  • Literal meaning: One must consider both the cabbage and the goat.

• Il faut prendre le taureau par les cornes.
  • Idiomatic translation: Take the bull by the horns.

• Il faut que jeunesse se passe.
  • Translation 1: Youth must have its fling.
  • Translation 2: Boys will be boys.

• Il faut qu'une porte soit ouverte ou fermée.
  • Idiomatic translation: There can be no middle ground.
  • Literal meaning: A door must be either open or shut.

• Il faut savoir obéir avant que de commander.
  • Idiomatic translation: Obedience comes before leadership.

• Il faut tourner sa langue sept fois dans sa bouche avant de parler.
  • Idiomatic translation: Think before you speak.
  • Literal meaning: One must turn the tongue seven times in the mouth before speaking.

• Il ne faut jamais dire « Fontaine je ne boirai pas de ton eau ».
  • Idiomatic translation: Never say never.
  • Literal meaning: Never say, "Fountain, I shall not drink of your water."

• Il ne faut jamais remettre au lendemain ce qu'on peut faire le jour même.
  • Translation 1: Procastination is the thief of time.
  • Translation 2: One of these days is none of these days.

• Il ne faut pas chercher midi à quatorze heures.
  • Idiomatic translation: Don't complicate the issue.
  • Literal meaning: Don't look for noon at two o'clock.

• Il ne faut pas confondre vitesse et précipitation.
  • Idiomatic translation: More haste, less speed.
  • Literal meaning: One must not confuse speed with haste.

• Il ne faut pas déshabiller Pierre pour habiller Paul.
  • Idiomatic translation: Don't rob Peter to pay Paul.
  • Literal meaning: Don't undress Peter to dress Paul.

• Il ne faut pas mettre la charrue avant les bœufs.
  • Idiomatic translation: Don't put the cart before the horse.
  • Literal meaning: Don't put the plough before the oxen.

• Il ne faut pas mettre tous les œufs dans le même panier.
  • Idiomatic translation: Don't put all your eggs in one basket.

• Il ne faut pas réveiller le chat qui dort.
  • Idiomatic translation: Let sleeping dogs lie.
  • Literal meaning: Don't wake a sleeping cat

• Il ne faut pas vendre la peau de l'ours avant de l'avoir tué.
  • Idiomatic translation: Don't count your chickens before they're hatched.
  • Literal meaning: Don't sell the bearskin before you've killed the bear.

• Il n'est jamais trop tard pour bien faire.
  • Idiomatic translation: It is never too late to mend.
  • Literal meaning: It is never too late to do well.

• Il n'est pire aveugle que celui qui ne veut pas voir.
  • Idiomatic translation: There are none so blind as they who will not see.

• Il n'est pire eau que celle qui dort.
  • Idiomatic translation: Still waters run deep.
  • Literal meaning: There is no worse water than the water which sleeps.

• Il n'est pire sourd que celui qui ne veut pas entendre.
  • Idiomatic translation: There is none so deaf as he who will not hear.

• Il n'y a pas d'ânesse qui ne trouve son âne.
  • Idiomatic translation: Every Jack has his Jill.
  • Literal meaning: There is no jenny who does not find her donkey.

• Il n'y a pas de fumée sans feu.
  • Idiomatic translation: There's no smoke without fire.

• Il n'y a pas de petit chez soi.
  • Idiomatic translation: There's no place like home.

• Il n'y a pas de petit profit.
  • Idiomatic translation: A penny saved is a penny earned.

• Il n'y a pas de sot métier.
  • Idiomatic translation: Every trade has its value.

• Il n'y a que la vérité qui blesse.
  • Idiomatic translation: Only the truth wounds.

• Il n'y a que les montagnes qui ne se rencontrent jamais.
  • Idiomatic translation: There are none so distant that fate cannot bring together.
  • Literal meaning: Only mountains never meet.

• Il y a loin de la coupe aux lèvres.
  • Idiomatic translation: There's many a slip 'twixt the cup and the lip.

• Il y a plus d'un âne à la foire qui s'appelle Martin.
  • Idiomatic translation: If one will not, another will.
  • Literal meaning: There is more than one donkey at the fair called Martin.

• Impossible n'est pas français.
  • Idiomatic translation: There is no such word as "can't".
  • Literal meaning: Impossible is not French. OR French do not consider things impossible.

J

• Jamais couard n'aura belle amie.
  • Idiomatic translation: Faint heart never won fair lady.

• Jamais deux sans trois.
  • Literal translation: Never twice without thrice.

• ''Je ne suis ni pour, ni contre, bien au contraire.'
  • ''Literal traslation: On the contrary, I am neither for it or against it.

L

• La bave du crapaud n'atteint pas la blanche colombe.
  • Idiomatic translation: Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me.
  • Literal meaning: The spit of the toad doesn't reach the white dove.

• La caque sent toujours le hareng.
  • Idiomatic translation: What's bred in the bone will come out in the flesh.
  • Literal meaning: A herring barrel will always smell of herring.

• La curiosité est un vilain défaut.
  • Idiomatic translation: Curiosity killed the cat.
  • Literal meaning: Curiosity is a wicked fault.

• La faim chasse le loup hors du bois.
  • Idiomatic translation: Hunger drives the wolf out of the wood.

• La fête passée, adieu le saint.
  • Idiomatic translation: The river passed, and God forgotten.

• La fin justifie les moyens.
  • Idiomatic translation: .

• La nuit porte conseil.
  • Translation 1: Take advice of your pillow.
  • Translation 2: Sleep on it.

• La nuit tous les chats sont gris.
  • Translation: At night all cats are grey.

• La parole est d'argent, mais le silence est d'or.
  • Idiomatic translation: Silence is golden.
  • Literal meaning: Talk is silver, silence is golden.

• La plus belle fille du monde ne peut donner que ce qu'elle a.
  • Translation: The prettiest girl in the world can only give what she has.

• L'appétit vient en mangeant.
  • Idiomatic translation: The more you have, the more you want.
  • Literal meaning: Eating whets the appetite. OR Appetite arrives while eating.

• La raison du plus fort est toujours la meilleure.
  • Idiomatic translation: Might is always right.
  • Literal meaning: The motive of the strongest is always the best.

• L'argent n'a pas d'odeur.
  • Idiomatic translation: Money is money (wherever it comes from).
  • Literal meaning: Money has no smell.

• L'argent ne fait pas le bonheur.
  • Idiomatic translation: Money can't buy happiness.
  • Literal meaning: Money doesn't make happiness.

• L'argent ne se trouve pas sous le pas / le sabot d'un cheval.
  • Idiomatic translation: Money doesn't grow on trees.
  • Literal meaning: Money is not found under a horse's hoof.

• L'homme est un loup pour l'homme.
  • Idiomatic translation: Brother will turn on brother. /'dog eat dog'
  • Latin: Homo homini lupus
  • Literal meaning: Mankind is a wolf for mankind.

• La vengeance est un plat qui se mange froid.
  • Idiomatic translation: Revenge is a dish best served cold.
  • Literal: Vengeance is a dish that is eaten cold.

• La vérité est dans le vin.
  • Idiomatic translation: In wine is truth.
  • Latin: In vino veritas
  • Literal: The truth is in the wine.

• La vérité sort de la bouche des enfants.
  • Idiomatic translation: Out of the mouths of babes and sucklings comes forth truth.
  • Latin: Ex ore parvulorum veritas
  • Literal meaning: The truth comes from the mouth of children.

• Le crime ne paie pas.
  • Translation: Crime does not pay.

• Le Diable chie toujours au même endroit.
  • Idiomatic translation: The criminal always returns to the scene of the crime.
  • Literal meaning: The Devil always shits in the same place.

• Le malheur des uns fait le bonheur des autres.
  • Idiomatic translation: One man's meat is another man's poison. OR One man's trash is another man's treasure.
  • Literal meaning: The troubles of some make the joy of others.

• Le mieux est l'ennemi du bien.
  • Idiomatic translation: Let well alone.
  • Literal meaning: Better is the enemy of good.

• Le monde appartient à ceux qui se lèvent tôt.
  • Idiomatic translation: The early bird catches the worm.
  • Literal meaning: The world belongs to those who rise early.

• L'enfer est pavé de bonnes intentions.
  • Idiomatic translation: The road to Hell is paved with good intentions.
  • Literal meaning: Hell is paved with good intentions.

• L'erreur est humaine.'
  • Translation: To err is human.
  • Latin: Errore humanum est

• Les absents ont toujours tort.
  • Idiomatic translation: The absent are always in the wrong.
  • Literal meaning: Absentees are always wrong.

• Les affaires sont les affaires.
  • Translation: Business is business.

• Les amis de nos amis sont nos amis.
  • Idiomatic translation: A friend of yours is a friend of mine.
  • Literal meaning: Friends of our friends are our friends.

• Les apparences sont trompeuses.
  • Idiomatic translation: All that glitters is not gold.
  • Literal meaning: Appearances are deceptive.

• Les bons comptes font les bons amis.
  • Translation 1: Short reckonings make long friends.
  • Translation 2: Neither a borrower nor a lender be.
  • Literal meaning: Good accounts make good friends.

• Les bons outils font les bons ouvriers
  • Translation: Good tools make good workers.

• Les chiens aboient, la caravane passe.
  • Idiomatic translation: Let the world say what it will.
  • Literal meaning: The dogs bark, the caravan passes by.

• Les chiens ne font pas des chats.
  • Idiomatic translation: Like breeds like.
  • Literal meaning: Dogs don't make cats.

• Les conseillers ne sont pas les payeurs.
  • Idiomatic translation: Advice is cheap.
  • Literal meaning: Advisors aren't the ones who pay.

• Les cordonniers sont les plus mal chaussés.
  • Idiomatic translation: The cobbler's children go barefoot.

• Les fruits défendus sont les meilleurs.
  • Idiomatic translation: Forbidden fruits are the sweetest.
  • Literal meaning: Forbidden fruits are the best.

• Les grands diseurs ne sont pas les grands faiseurs.
  • Idiomatic translation: Talkers are not doers.
  • Literal meaning: Big talkers are not big doers.

• Les grands esprits se rencontrent.
  • Idiomatic translation: Great minds think alike.
  • Literal meaning: Great spirits meet one another.

• Les jours se suivent et ne se ressemblent pas.
  • Translation 1: After Christmas comes Lent.
  • Translation 2: Time changes and we with time.
  • Literal meaning: Days follow themselves and do not resemble themselves.

• Les loups ne se mangent pas entre eux.
  • Translation 1: Dog does not eat dog.
  • Translation 2: There is honour among thieves.
  • Literal translation: Wolves don't eat each other.

• Les murs ont des oreilles.
  • Translation: Walls have ears.

• Le soleil luit pour tout le monde.
  • Idiomatic translation: The sun shines for one and all.
  • Literal meaning: The sun shines for everybody.

• Les petits ruisseaux font les grandes rivières.
  • Idiomatic translation: Tall oaks from little acorns grow.
  • Literal meaning: Little streams make big rivers.

• Les plaisanteries les plus courtes sont les meilleures.
  • Idiomatic translation: Brevity is the soul of wit.
  • Literal meaning: The shortest jokes are the best.

• L'espoir fait vivre.
  • Idiomatic translation: Where there's life, there's hope.
  • Literal meaning: Hope makes living.

• Les voyages forment la jeunesse.
  • Idiomatic translation: Travel broadens the mind.
  • Literal meaning: Travels make youth.

• Le temps c'est de l'argent.
  • Translation: Time is money.

• L'exactitude est la politesse des rois.
  • Translation: Punctuality is the politeness of kings.

• L'exception confirme la règle.
  • Idiomatic translation: It's the exception that proves the rule.

• L'excès en tout est un défaut.
  • Idiomatic translation: Too much is too much.
  • Literal meaning: Excess in anything is a fault.

• L'habit ne fait pas le moine.
  • Idiomatic translation: Don't judge the book by its cover.
  • Literal meaning: The cowl does not make the friar.

• L'occasion fait le larron.
  • Idiomatic translation: Opportunity makes the thief.

• Loin des yeux, loin du cœur.
  • Idiomatic translation: Out of sight, out of mind.

• L'oisiveté est la mère de tous les vices.
  • Translation 1: Idleness is the root of all evils.
  • Translation 2: An idle mind is the devil's workshop.

• L'union fait la force.
  • Idiomatic translation: United we stand, divided we fall.
  • Literal meaning: Unity makes strength.

M

• Mange ton poisson à présent qu'il est frais, marie ta fille à présent qu'elle est jeune.
  • Idiomatic translation: Eat your fish while it is fresh, marry your daughter while she is young.

• Mars venteux et avril pluvieux font mai gai et gracieux.
  • Idiomatic translation: March winds and April showers bring forth May flowers.

• Mieux vaut être seul que mal accompagné.
  • Idiomatic translation: Better be alone than in bad company.

• Mieux vaut faire que dire.
  • Translation 1: Well done is better than well said
  • Translation 2: Actions speak louder than words.

• Mieux vaut plier que rompre.
  • Idiomatic translation: Adapt and survive.
  • Literal meaning: Better bend than break.

• Mieux vaut prévenir que guérir.
  • Idiomatic translation: Prevention is better than cure.

• Mieux vaut rire que pleurer.
  • Idiomatic translation: Laughter is the best medecine.
  • Literal meaning: Better laugh than weep.

• Mieux vaut s'adresser à Dieu qu'à ses saints.
  • Idiomatic translation: It is better to talk to the organ-grinder than to his monkey.
  • Literal meaning: It is better to appeal to God than to His saints.

• Mieux vaut tard que jamais.
  • Idiomatic translation: Better late than never.

• Mieux vaut tenir que courir.
  • Idiomatic translation: A bird in hand is worth two in a bush.
  • Literal meaning: Better hold than run.

• Moineau à la main vaut mieux que grue qui vole.
  • Idiomatic translation: A bird in hand is worth two in a bush.
  • Literal meaning: Better a sparrow in hand than a crane on the wing.

• Morte la bête, mort le venin.
  • Idiomatic translation: Dead dogs don't bite.
  • Literal meaning: Dead is the beast, dead is the venom.

N

• Nécessité fait loi.
  • Idiomatic translation: Beggars can't be choosers.
  • Literal meaning: Need makes law.

• Noël au balcon, Pâques au tison.
  • Idiomatic translation: A warm Christmas means a cold Easter.
  • Literal meaning: Christmas on the balcony, Easter by the fireside.

• Nul n'est prophète en son pays.
  • Idiomatic translation: No man is a prophet in his own country.

O

• Oignez vilain, il vous poindra.
  • Idiomatic translation: Claw a churl by the breech, and he will shite in your fist.

• On n'apprend pas à un vieux singe à faire des grimaces.
  • Idiomatic translation: You can't teach an old dog new tricks.
  • Literal meaning: You can't teach an old monkey how to make faces.

• On ne change pas une équipe qui gagne.
  • Literal meaning: One doesn't change a team that wins.
  • Idiomatic translation: If it ain't broke, don't fix it.

• On ne fait pas boire un âne qui n'a pas soif.
  • Idiomatic translation: You can lead a horse to water but you can't make it drink.

• On ne fait pas d'omelette sans casser des œufs.
  • Idiomatic translation: You can't make an omelette without breaking eggs.

• On ne marie pas les poules avec les renards.
  • Idiomatic translation: Different strokes for different folks.
  • Literal meaning: You can't marry a hen and a fox.

• On ne peut avoir le beurre et l'argent du beurre.
  • Idiomatic translation: You can't have your cake and eat it.
  • Literal meaning: You can't have both the butter and the butter money.

• On ne peut avoir le lard et le cochon.
  • Idiomatic translation: You can't have your cake and eat it.
  • Literal meaning: You can't have the bacon and the pig.

• On ne peut être à la ville et aux champs.
  • Idiomatic translation: You can't be in two places at once.
  • Literal meaning: You can't be in town and in the fields.

• On ne peut être au four et au moulin.
  • Idiomatic translation: You can't be in two places at once.
  • Literal meaning: You can't be at the oven and in the mill.

• On ne peut faire d'une buse un épervier.
  • Idiomatic translation: You can't make a silk purse out of a sow's ear.
  • Literal meaning: You can't turn a buzzard / a dolt into a sparrowhawk.

• On ne prend pas les mouches avec du vinaigre.
  • Idiomatic translation: Honey catches more flies than vinegar.
  • Literal meaning: You don't catch flies with vinegar.

• On ne prête qu'aux riches.
  • Translation 1: Reputations shape reactions.
  • Translation 2: Only the rich get richer.
  • Literal meaning: One lends only to the rich.

• On n'est jamais si bien servi que par soi-même.
  • Idiomatic translation: If you want something done right, do it yourself.

• On revient toujours à ses premiers amours.
  • Literal meaning: One always returns to his first loves.

• Où la vache / la chèvre est attachée, il faut qu'elle broute.
  • Idiomatic translation: The cow / goat must browse where she is tethered.

P

• Paris / Rome ne s'est pas fait / faite en un jour.
  • Idiomatic translation: Rome wasn't built in a day.

• Pas de nouvelle, bonne nouvelle.
  • Idiomatic translation: No news is good news.

• Peu importe le flacon, tant qu'il y à l'ivresse.

• Petit à petit l'oiseau fait son nid.
  • Translation 1: Many a mickle makes a muckle.
  • Translation 2: Little strokes fell great oaks.
  • Literal meaning: Little by little the bird builds its nest.

• Petite pluie abat grand vent.
  • Idiomatic translation: Little rain lays great dust.
  • Literal meaning: Little rain overcomes great wind.

• Petit poisson deviendra grand.
  • Translation 1: Tall oaks from little acorns grow.
  • Translation 2: Boys will be men one day.
  • Literal meaning: The little fish will grow.

• Pierre qui roule n'amasse pas mousse.
  • Idiomatic translation: A rollling stone gathers no moss.

• Plaie d'argent n'est pas mortelle.
  • Idiomatic translation: Money isn't everything.
  • Literal meaning: A money worry isn't a mortal wound.

• Plus ça change, plus c'est la même chose. or
• Plus ça change, plus c'est pareil.
  • Idiomatic translation: The more things change, the more they're the same.

• Plus fait douceur que violence.
  • Idiomatic translation: Kindness succeeds where force will fail.
  • Literal meaning: Gentleness accomplishes more than violence.

• Plus on est de fous, plus on rit.
  • Idiomatic translation: The more the merrier.

• Promettre et tenir sont deux.
  • Idiomatic translation: It's one thing to promise and another to perform.

• Prudence est mère de sûreté.
  • Idiomatic translation: Discretion is the better part of valour.
  • Literal meaning: Caution is the mother of safety.

Q

• Quand le chat n'est pas là les souris dansent.
  • Idiomatic translation: While the cat's away the mice will play.
  • Literal meaning: While the cat's away the mice will dance.

• Quand le vin est tiré, il faut le boire.
  • Idiomatic translation: In for a penny, in for a pound.
  • Literal meaning: Once the wine is drawn, it must be drunk.

• Quand on parle du loup on en voit la queue.
  • Idiomatic translation: Talk of the Devil and he will appear.
  • Literal meaning: Talk of the wolf and you'll see his tail.

• Qu'est-ce que l'ennemi du bien ? Le mieux.
  • Literal meaning: What's the ennemy of good? Better.

• Qui a bon voisin a bon matin.
  • Idiomatic translation: Good neighbours give good days.

• Qui a bu boira.
  • Idiomatic translation: Once a drunkard, always a drunkard.
  • Literal meaning: Who has drunk, will drink.

• Qui aime bien châtie bien.
  • Idiomatic translation: Spare the rod and spoil the child.
  • Literal meaning: Who loves well, chastises well.
  • Latin: Qui bene amat, bene castigat

• Qui casse les verres les paie.
  • Idiomatic translation: Who breaks pays.
  • Literal meaning: Who breaks the glasses, pays for them.

• Qui cherche trouve.
  • Idiomatic translation: Seek and ye shall find.
  • Literal meaning: Who seeks, finds.

• Qui donne aux pauvres prête à Dieu.
  • Idiomatic translation: Charity will be rewarded in heaven.
  • Literal meaning: Who gives to the poor, lends to God.

• Qui dort dîne.
  • Idiomatic translation: He who sleeps forgets his hunger.
  • Literal meaning: Who sleeps, dines.

• Qui m'aime aime mon chien.
  • Idiomatic translation: Love me, love my dog.

• Qui ne dit mot consent.
  • Idiomatic translation: Silence gives consent.
  • Literal meaning: Who says no word, consents.

• Qui n'entend qu'une cloche n'entend qu'un son.
  • Idiomatic translation: Hear the other side and believe little.
  • Literal meaning: Who hears only one bell, hears only one sound.

• Qui ne risque rien n'a rien.
  • Idiomatic translation: Nothing ventured, nothing gained.
  • Literal meaning: Who risks nothing, gets nothing.

• Qui ne veut rien n'a rien.
  • Idiomatic translation: Where there's a will there's a way.
  • Literal meaning: Who wants nothing, gets nothing.

• Qui paye ses dettes s'enrichit.
  • Idiomatic translation: The rich man is the one who pays his debts.
  • Literal meaning: Who pays his debts, gets rich.

• Qui peut le plus peut le moins.
  • Idiomatic translation: He who can do more can do less.

• Qui plus sait, plus se tait.
  • Idiomatic translation: He who knows most, says least.

• Qui se couche avec les chiens se lève avec des puces.
  • Idiomatic translation: Lie down with dogs, wake up with fleas.

• Qui se fait brebis le loup le mange.
  • Idiomatic translation: Who will needs be sheep, the wolf devours.

• Qui sème le vent récolte la tempête.
  • Translation 1: As you sow, so you shall reap.
  • Translation 2: He who sows the wind shall reap the whirlwind.

• Qui se ressemble s'assemble.
  • Translation 1: Birds of a feather flock together.
  • Translation 2: Like attracts like.

• Qui se sent morveux, qu'il se mouche.
  • Idiomatic translation: Who feels snotty, let him blow his nose.

• Qui s'y frotte s'y pique.
  • Idiomatic translation: Gather thistles, expect prickles.

• Qui trop embrasse mal étreint.
  • Idiomatic translation: Grasp all, lose all.

• Qui va à la chasse perd sa place.
  • Idiomatic translation: He who leaves his place, loses it.
  • Literal meaning: Who goes hunting, loses his place.

• Qui veut la fin veut les moyens.
  • Idiomatic translation: He who wills the end wills the means.

• Qui veut noyer son chien l'acccuse de rage.
  • Idiomatic translation: Give a dog a bad name and hang him.
  • Literal meaning: He who wants to drown his dog says it has rabies.

• Qui veut voyager loin, ménage sa monture.
  • Idiomatic translation: He who wishes to ride far spares his horse.

• Qui vivra verra.
  • Idiomatic translation: Time will tell.
  • Literal meaning: Who shall live, shall see.

• Qui vole un œuf vole un bœuf.
  • Idiomatic translation: He that will steal an egg will steal an ox.

R

• Rien ne sert de courir, il faut partir à point.
  • Idiomatic translation: Slow and steady wins the race.

• Rira bien qui rira le dernier.
  • Translation 1: He who laughs last laughs best.
  • Translation 2: We will see who gets the last laugh.

• Rouge soir et blanc matin, c'est la journée du pèlerin.
  • Idiomatic translation: Evening red and morning grey will set the traveller on his way.
  • Literal Meaning: Red evening and white morning, such is the pilgrim's day.

S

• Secret de deux, secret de Dieu; secret de trois, secret de tous.
  • Idiomatic translation: When three people know, the whole world knows.
  • Literal meaning: A secret shared by two is shared with God; a secret shared by three is shared with everybody.

• Si jeunesse savait, si vieillesse pouvait.
  • Idiomatic translation: Youth is wasted on the young.
  • Literal meaning: If youth but knew, if old age but could.

• Si tu veux la paix, prépare la guerre.
  • Literal meaning: "If you want peace prepare for war."
  • (Original in Latin by Scipio Africanus: "Si vis pacem para bellum.")

• Souris qui n'a qu'un trou est bientôt prise.
  • Idiomatic translation: Better safe than sorry.
  • Literal meaning: A mouse that has only one hole is soon caught.

• Souvent femme varie, bien fol qui s'y fie.
  • Idiomatic translation: Woman is fickle, man beware!

• Suffisance vaut abondance.
  • Idiomatic translation: Enough is as good as a feast.
  • Literal meaning: Enough is worth plenty.

T

U

• Un bienfait n'est jamais perdu.
  • Idiomatic translation: A favour is never lost.

• Un chien regarde bien un évêque.
  • Idiomatic translation: A cat may look at a king.
  • Literal meaning: A dog may look at a bishop.

• Un clou chasse l'autre.
  • Idiomatic translation: One man goes and another steps in.
  • Literal meaning: One nail drives out the other.

• Un(e) de perdu(e), dix de trouvé(e)s.
  • Idiomatic translation: There are plenty more fish in the sea.
  • Literal meaning: One lost, ten found.

• Une fois n'est pas coutume.
  • Translation 1: Just this once will not hurt.
  • Translation 2: Once in a while does no harm.
  • Literal meaning: Once does not a habit make.

• Une hirondelle ne fait pas le printemps.
  • Literal meaning: A mere swallow doesn't announce Spring.

• Une place pour chaque chose et chaque chose a sa place.
  • Idiomatic translation: A place for everything and everything in its place.

• Un homme averti en vaut deux.
  • Translation 1: Forewarned is forearmed.
  • Translation 2: Better the devil you know than the devil you don't.
  • Literal meaning: A forewarned man is worth two.

• Un malheur ne vient jamais seul.
  • Translation 1: When it rains it pours.
  • Translation 2: Misfortune never comes alone.

• Un sou est un sou.
  • Idiomatic translation: Every penny counts.
  • Literal meaning: A penny is a penny.

• Un tiens vaut mieux que deux tu l'auras.
  • Idiomatic translation: A bird in hand is worth two in a bush.
  • Literal meaning: One held is worth more than two: You'll have it.

V

• Vache de loin a lait assez.
  • Idiomatic translation: Blue are the hills that are far away.
  • Literal meaning: From afar, the cow has milk aplenty.

• Ventre affamé n'a pas d'oreilles.
  • Idiomatic translation: Words are wasted on a starving man.
  • Literal meaning: The hungry belly has no ears.

• Vive la différence.
  • Idiomatic translation: Long live the difference.

• Vouloir, c'est pouvoir.
  • Idiomatic translation: Where there's a will there's a way.
  • Literal meaning: To want is to be able.