In conclusion, I have to thank Mr. W. G. Lipscomb, M.A., Headmaster of Bolton Grammar School, Mr. E. Latham, and especially M. Georges Jamin of the École Lavoisier, Paris, for valuable suggestions; while M. Marius Deshumbert, and Professor Walter Rippmann, in reading through the proof sheets, have made many corrections and additions of the greatest value, for which I owe them my sincere gratitude.
DE V. PAYEN-PAYNE.
AUTHORITIES CONSULTED
Belcher, H., and Dupuis, A., “Manuel aux examens.” London, 1885.
Belcour, G., “English Proverbs.” London, 1888.
Bohn, H. G., “Handbook of Proverbs.” London, 1855.
Cats, Jacob, and Fairlie, R., “Moral Emblems.” London, 1860.
Duplessis, M. Gratet, “La fleur des Proverbes français.” Paris, 1851.
Furetière, A., “Dictionnaire universel.” La Haye, 1727.
Génin, F., “Récréations philologiques.” Paris, 1856.
Howell, James, “Lexicon Tetraglotton.” London, 1660.
Karcher, T., “Questionnaire français.” Seventh Edition. London, 1886.
Lacurne de Ste. Palaye, “Dictionnaire historique de l’ancien langage françois.” Paris, 1875–82.
Larchey, Lorédan, “Nos vieux Proverbes.” Paris, 1886.
Larousse, P., “Grand Dictionnaire universel du xixe siècle.” 1865–76.
Le Roux de Lincy, A. J., “Livre des Proverbes français.” 2e édition. Paris, 1859.
Littré, E., “Dictionnaire de la langue française.” Paris, 1863–72.
Loubens, D., “Proverbes de la langue française.” Paris, 1889.
Martin, Éman, “Le Courrier de Vaugelas.” Paris, 1868.
Quitard, P. M., “Dictionnaire étymologique des Proverbes.” Paris, 1842.
Quitard, P. M., “Études sur les Proverbes français.” Paris, 1860.
Rigaud, Lucien, “Argot moderne.” Paris, 1881.
Tarver, J. C., “Phraseological Dictionary.” London, 1854.
Trench, R. C., “Proverbs and their Lessons.” Sixth Edition. London, 1869.
Quarterly Review. July 1868.
Notes and Queries. Passim.
FRENCH IDIOMS AND PROVERBS
Expressions to which an Asterisk is prefixed are Proverbs.
A.
A
Il ne sait ni A ni B = He does not know B from a bull’s foot; He cannot read; He is a perfect ignoramus.
Être marqué à l’A = To stand high in the estimation of others.
[This expression is supposed to have originated in the custom of stamping French coin with different letters of the alphabet. The mark of the Paris Mint was an “A,” and its coins were supposed to be of a better quality than those stamped at provincial towns. But as this custom only began in 1418 by command of the Dauphin, son of Charles VI., and as the saying was known long previous, it is more probable that its origin is to be sought in the pre-eminence that A has always held in all Aryan languages, and that the French have borrowed it from the Romans. Compare Martial, ii. 57, and our A i, at Lloyd’s.]
Abandon
Tout est à l’abandon = Everything is at sixes and sevens, in utter neglect, in confusion.
[Also: Tout va à la dérive.]
Abattre
*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.
Parler d’abondance = To speak extempore.
Abonder
Il abonde dans mon sens = He is entirely of the same opinion as I am; He has come round to my opinion.
Abord
Il a l’abord rude, mais il s’adoucit bientôt = He receives you roughly at first, but that soon passes off.
A (or, De) prime abord = At first sight; At the first blush.
Aboutir
Les pourparlers n’ont pas abouti = The preliminary negotiations led to nothing.
Absent
*“Les absents ont toujours tort” = When absent, one is never in the right.
“When a man’s away,
Abuse him you may.”
[Néricault-Destouches, L’obstacle imprévu, i. 6.]
Absurde
L’homme absurde est celui qui ne change jamais = The wise man changes his opinion—the fool never.
[Barthélemy, Palinode. 1832.]
Accommodement
Il est avec le ciel des accommodements = One can arrange things with heaven.
[Compare Molière, Tartufe, iv. 5: “Le ciel défend, de vrai, certains contentements,
Mais on trouve avec lui des accommodements.”
The scene in which Orgon, hidden beneath the table, learns Tartufe’s hypocrisy.]
Un méchant accommodement est mieux que le meilleur procès = A bad arrangement is better than the best lawsuit.
Accommoder
Je l’accommoderai comme il faut = I will give him a good hiding.
Il s’accommode de tout = He is satisfied with everything; He is easy to please.
Accord
D’accord = Granted.
Accorder
Accordez mieux