Why do French say ...." faire long feu" ?

Literally it means "fizzle out".  When the action drags on length and it does not produce the desired effect, it is said to "faire long feu". This phrase has its origin in the middle of the artillery. Formerly, when too wet powder was put in the barrel of a pistol or a rifle to load it, the primer within was consumed very slowly. So the wick could not ignite and couldn't cause the explosion required to propel the ball out of the barrel.

Why French say..." tout le saint-frusquin " ?

To avoid long lists, the French language is full of phrases such as "tout le saint-frusquin" ( " all the holy frusquin"), used to conclude a
inventory of various things, like the Latin phrase "etcetera." In the slang of the XVIIth  century, the term frusquin designated  clothes worn by the most modest. This term has given rise to the particular word "frusque" which described the clothes cheap. When talking about the whole frusquin of a person (usually poor), it thus referred to everything she had. The "saint" was added a century later, in reference to St. Crispin, the saint patron  of tailors and shoemakers, who never went anywhere without having all his tools with him.

Why do French say ...."pleurer comme une madeline" ?

When a person is overcome with emotion, she may start to "cry like a madeleine," that is to say, weeping bitterly. The term has its roots in the Gospel. It refers to the story of Mary Magdalene, repentant prostitute who, upon hearing that Jesus came to Galilee, had presented to him in tears, consumed by remorse for his sins. Her tears were so heavy she could wash the feet of Christ, before drying them with her hair. She then became one of his most faithful disciples. Today, a Magdalene or Mary Magdalene means a former prostitute, and they say a person to "cry like a madeleine" when one finds that her tears are excessive or unjustified.

Why French say... "où le bât blesse" ?

A person, whether well intentioned or not, can cause his interlocutor to react by pressing "là où le bât blesse" (where the pack saddle pinches), that is to say, touching his chord or evoke a sentence, suffering or hidden troubles. Originating from the farmers culture of the XV century, this term refers to wooden device, called the bât ("pack saddle"), put on the back of a donkey or a mule to carry heavy loads. It should be well placed to avoid injuring the animal. It was of great importance because the wounds couldn't be notice until the pack saddle was removed. A person knowing "where the pack saddle pinches" was therefore able to prevent hidden injury, and therefore to safeguard the welfare of their animal.

 

Why do French say..."tout de go" ?

When he has nothing to hide or lose, a person can achieve or say something "tout de go" ("straight out"), which means directly or frankly. Although the word "go" suggests an English origin, it is actually derived from the French verb "gobler" ("suck"). During the  mid-seventeenth century, one could "swallow a whole gob of" an oyster (literally) as well as good news (meaning figuratively), that is to say to eat or digest in a single swallow. Over time, the term has become synonymous with "no difficulty " and was reduced to its present spelling, simpler.

Why do French say..." prendre son pied" ?

To know the origin of "prendre son pied" (literally "take his foot"), we should not take this expression, which means "get a kick out of something", "having fun doing something", literally. Here, the "foot" refers to a measurement unit still widely used during the XIXth century. At the time, the foot, which measures about 30 cm, was used by pirates and thieves to share their booty. It was collected in a heap. After measuring the height, each one took up the equivalent of a "foot" of the treasure, objects or money stolen. Part of this amount was then spent for their pleasure in various activities (mainly prostitutes...). "Take his foot" was then generalized in the popular language. This unit of measurement is however still valid in aeronautics.

Why do French say ... "l’habit ne fait pas le moine" ?

Well-known proverb, "clothes do not make the man"  invites never to trust appearances. The term was coined in XIIIe century, but two hypotheses compete on its origin. The first relates to a historical event, when on January 8, 1297 Francois Grimaldi decided to conquire Monaco. The ancestor of the current House of Grimaldi, the family of the current Monte Carlo Principality, had his men disguised as Franciscan monk to trick the guards. An event still engraved in the Grimaldi coat of arms, symbolizing monks holding a sword. A second hypothesis refers in turn to Pope Gregory IX (1145-1241) as saying: "It is not by the dress that you recognizes the monk, but by the observance of the rule and the perfection of his life". 

Why do French say .... " tomber dans le panneau " ?

The term "tomber dans le panneau" (fall into the trap) is used to describe a person who has fallen into a trap without realizing it. This phrase refers to the origin to the field of hunting. During the XIII century, the "panneau" (panel), from the Latin "pannellus" (piece of cloth), described a net that hunters tended to catch small game such as rabbit or hare. The animals were often deceived by this trick and found themselves prisoners. The term therefore has no connection with traffic signs (panels)  or advertising that did not exist at the time.