French Proverbs
A
Aide-toi, le ciel t'aidera.Idiomatic translation: God helps those who help themselves.
Literal translation: Help yourself and the sky (heaven) will help you.
À chaque jour suffit sa peine.
English equivalent: Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof.(New Testament, Matthew6:34)
À Cheval donné on ne regarde pas la bride. or les dents
Idiomatic translation: Don't look a gift horse in the mouth.
Literal translation: For a given horse one doesn't look at the reins.
Avoir une araignée au plafond.
Idiomatic translation: To have bats in the belfry.
Literal translation: To have a spider on the ceiling.
Avoir un chat dans la gorge.
Idiomatic translation: To have a frog in the throat.
Literal translation: To have a cat in the throat.
Avoir d'autres chats à fouetter.
Idiomatic translation: To have another fish to fry.
Literal translation: To have others cats to whip.
B
Bien mal acquis ne profite jamais.Idiomatic translation: Ill-gotten gains seldom prosper.
Literal meaning: Goods badly acquired never profit.
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: Don't leave till tomorrow what can be finished today.
Literal translation: What is done no longer needs to be done.
Qui s’excuse, s’accuse.
He who excuses himself accuses himself.
C'est trop aimer quand on en meurt.
Idiomatic translation: They love too much who die for love.
Literal translation: It's loving too much when one dies of it.
C'est bonnet blanc et blanc bonnet.
Idiomatic translation 1: It's six of one and half a dozen of the other.
Literal translation: It's white hat and hat white.
C'est dans le besoin qu'on reconnaît ses vrais amis.
Idiomatic translation: A friend in need is a friend indeed.
Literal translation: It's when in need that one recognizes his friends.
C'est dans les vieilles marmites qu'on fait les meilleures soupes.
Idiomatic translation: The best broths are made in the oldest pots.
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 d'eau qui fait déborder le vase.
Literal meaning: It's the drop of water that makes the jug overflow.
Idiomatic translation: It's the straw that breaks the camel's back.
C'est la paille et la poutre.
Literal meaning: It's the straw and the beam.
Idiomatic translation: It's the mote and the beam (or the pot calling the kettle black).
C'est la Pitié / l'hôpital qui se moque de la Charité.
Literal meaning: It's a pity / the hospital that mocks Charity.
Idiomatic translation: It's the pot calling the kettle black.
C'est la poule qui chante qui a fait l'oeuf.
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.
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.
Chien qui aboie ne mord pas.
Idiomatic translation: Barking dogs seldom bite.
Translation 2: His bark is worse than his bite.
Chose promise, chose due.
Idiomatic translation: Promises are made to be kept.
Coeur qui soupire n'a pas ce qu'il désire.
Idiomatic translation: The heart that sighs does not have what it desires.
Comme on fait son lit on se couche.
Idiomatic translation: As you make your bed, so you are going to 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 1: Early to bed and early to rise makes a man healthy, wealthy, and wise.
Idiomatic translation 2: An apple a day keeps the doctor away.
Literal meaning: Going to bed with the hen 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. More often abbreviated: Des goûts et des couleurs..
Idiomatic translation: There's no accounting for tastes.
Literal meaning: One shouldn't argue about tastes or colors. (No need to argue about tastes and colors.)
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 whom 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.
Literal translation: In every country, there's a league of bad paths.
Entre deux maux, il faut choisir le moindre.
Translation: Of two evils one must choose the lesser.
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 wants.
Filer à l'anglaise.
Idiomatic translation: To take French leave.
Literal translation: Let out the English way.
Force fait loi.
Idiomatic translation: Might makes right.
H
Hâtez-vous lentement.Literal translation: Make haste slowly.
Idiomatic translation: More haste less speed
Latin: Festina lente.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.
Literal meaning: A dead man cannot make war.
Honni soit qui mal y pense.
Idiomatic translation: Evil be to he 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.
Literal Translation: It is necessary to strike the iron while it is hot.
Il faut casser le noyau pour avoir l'amande. "Il faut casser des oeufs pour faire une omelette".
Literal Translation: It is necessary to break the shell to have the almond.
Translation 1: He who would eat, crack the kernel.
Translation 2: No pain, no gain.
Translation 3: To make an omelet, you have to crack/break some eggs.
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.
Literal translations: One doesn't have to wash one's dirty laundry with family around.
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: Boys will be boys.
Literal translation: Youth must happen.
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 ».Most often said Il ne faut jamais dire Fontaine.
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: Never put off to tomorrow what you can do today.
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 cat who sleeps.
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.
Literal translation: There's no smoke without fire.
Idiomatic translation: Where there's smoke, there's 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.
Literal meaning: There is no small profit.
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: Truth hurts.
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 1: If one will not, another will.
Idiomatic translation 2: There's plenty more fish in the sea
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 deux sans trois.Literal translation: Never twice without thrice.
Je ne suis ni pour, ni contre, bien au contraire.'
Literal translation: 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 chance sourit aux audacieux.
Idiomatic translation: Fortune favors the brave.
Literal meaning: Luck smiles at the bold.
La culture c'est comme la confiture, moins on en a plus on l'étale.
Literal meaning: Culture is like jam, the less we have the more we spread it.
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.
Translation: The festival has passed, goodbye to the saint.
La fin justifie les moyens.
Idiomatic translation: The ends justify the means.
La nuit porte conseil.
Translation 1: Take advice of your pillow.
Translation 2: Sleep on it.
Literal meaning: The night brings advice.
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.
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'herbe est toujours plus verte chez le voisin.
Idiomatic translation: The grass is always greener on the other side.
Literal translation: The grass is always greener round the neighbors.
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 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 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.
Le roi est mort, vive le roi!
Translation: "The King is Dead, Long live the king!"
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: Errare 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 or alternative: les ennemis de mes ennemis sont mes 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 bonheurs n'arrivant jamais seuls alternative : le malheur n'arrive jamais seul
Translation: Happiness does not arrive alone.
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.
Phrase for Phrase Translation: The apple does not fall far from the tree.
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.
Literal translation: The cobbler's children have the worst shoes.
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: The days follow one another and do not look alike.
Les loups ne se mangent pas entre eux.
Translation 1: Dog does not eat dog.
Translation 2: There is honor 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 ones.
L'espoir fait vivre.
Idiomatic translation: Where there's life, there's hope.
Literal meaning: Hope makes living or hope lives.
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 coeur.
Idiomatic translation: Out of sight, out of mind.
Literal translation: Far from the eyes, far from the heart.
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
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: An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.
Mieux vaut rire que pleurer.
Idiomatic translation: Laughter is the best medicine.
Literal meaning: Better to laugh than to 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 in flight.
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.
Ne vendez pas la peau de l'ours avant de l'avoir tué.
Idiomatic translation: Don't count your chickens before they're hatched.
Literal meaning: Do not sell the skin of the bear before you have killed it.
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.
O
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.
Literal meaning: One is never so well served as by oneself.
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.
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 rolling 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.
Proverbe ne peut mentir.
Literal translation: Proverbs cannot lie.
Prudence est mère de sûreté.
Idiomatic translation: Discretion is the better part of valor.
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.
Quand on veut, on peut.
Literal translation: When we want, we can.
Idiomatic meaning: Where there's a will, there's a way.
Qu'est-ce que l'ennemi du bien ?Le mieux.
Literal meaning: What's the enemy of good?Better.
Qui a bon voisin a bon matin.
Idiomatic translation: Good neighbors 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.
Historical origin: Travelers staying overnight at hostels were required to also purchase meals.
Qui m'aime aime mon chien.
Idiomatic translation: Love me, love my dog.
Compare in Latin,
Qui me amat, amat et canem meum.
Who loves me, also loves 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 naught but one bell, hears naught but 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 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'accuse 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
Remuer le couteau dans la plaie.Idiomatic translation: To rub it in.
Literal meaning: To twist the knife in the wound.
Rien ne sert de courir, il faut partir à point.
Idiomatic translation: Slow and steady wins the race.
Literal meaning: It is useless to run, one must leave in time.
Rira bien qui rira le dernier.
Idiomatic translation: He who laughs last laughs best.
Rouge soir et blanc matin, c'est la journée du pèlerin.
Idiomatic translation: Evening red and morning grey will set the traveler 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.
Suffisance vaut abondance.
Idiomatic translation: Enough is as good as a feast.
Literal meaning: Enough is worth plenty.
T
Tant crie-t-on Noël qu'il vient.Idiomatic translation: A constant importunity at length prevails.
Literal meaning: So much does one shout 'Christmas' that it comes.
Tant dort le chat qu'il se réveille.
Idiomatic translation: The sleeping cat at length awakes.
Tant va la cruche à l'eau qu'à la fin elle se brise.
Literal meaning: The jug goes to water so often that at the end it breaks.
Idiomatic translation: Things break with repeated use.
Tel est pris qui croyait prendre.
Idiomatic translation: It's the biter bit.
Literal meaning: He is caught who thought to catch.
Tel maître, tel valet.
Idiomatic translation: Like master, like man.
Tel père, tel fils.
Idiomatic translation: Like father, like son.
Tel qui rit vendredi, dimanche pleurera.
Idiomatic translation: Sing before breakfast, cry before night.
Literal meaning: Laugh on Friday, cry on Sunday.
Tous les chemins mènent à Rome.
Idiomatic translation: All roads lead to Rome.
Tous les goûts sont dans la nature.
Idiomatic translation: It takes all sorts to make a world.
Literal meaning: Nature is made up of all tastes.
Toute médaille a son revers.
Translation 1: Every rose has its thorn.
Translation 2: Every path has its puddle.
Literal meaning: Every medal has its back.
Toute peine mérite salaire.
Idiomatic translation: The laborer is worthy of his hire.
Literal meaning: Every job deserves a wage.
Toute vérité n'est pas bonne à dire.
Idiomatic translation: The truth is sometimes best left unsaid.
Tout est poison. Rien n'est poison. Le poison c'est la dose.
Literal meaning: Everything is poison. Nothing is poison. The poison is the dose.
Attributed to Paracelsus.
Tout nouveau, tout beau.
Translation 1: Anything for a change.
Translation 2: New brooms sweep clean.
Literal meaning: All new, all beautiful.
Tout vient à point à qui sait attendre.
Translation 1: All things come to those who wait.
Idiomatic translation: Every dog has his day.
Trop de hâte nuit.
Idiomatic translation: Haste makes waste.
Literal meaning: Too much haste is harmful.
Trop gratter cuit, trop parler nuit.
Idiomatic translation: Too much scratching pains, too much talking plagues.
U
Un bienfait n'est jamais perdu.Idiomatic translation: A favor is never lost.
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 make a habit.
Une hirondelle ne fait pas le printemps.
Literal meaning: One swallow doesn't make spring.
Un petit dessin vaut mieux qu'un long discours.
Idiomatic translation: A picture is worth a thousand words.
Literal meaning: A small drawing is worth more than a long speech.
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 sou est un sou.
Idiomatic translation: Every little helps.
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 which is yours is worth better than two that you will have.
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: Hooray for the difference!
Literal meaning: Long live the difference.
Voir, c'est croire
Idiomatic translation: Seeing is believing.
Vouloir, c'est pouvoir.
Idiomatic translation: Where there's a will there's a way.
Literal meaning: To want to is to be able to.
