Autre
Comme dit l’autre = As the saying is.
[Or: Comme on dit.]
Nous parlions de choses et d’autres = We were speaking of different things.
C’est tout un ou tout autre = It is either one thing or the other.
L’un vaut l’autre = One is as bad as the other.
Il en sait bien d’autres = He knows more than one trick.
C’est une autre paire de manches = That is quite another thing; That is a horse of another colour.
Il n’en fait pas d’autres = That is always the way with him; He is at it again.
Allez conter cela à d’autres = Tell that to the marines.
[Often shortened to “À d’autres.”]
Nous autres Anglais sommes très réservés = We English are very reserved.
[“Nous autres ignorants estions perdus si ce livre ne nous eust relevé du bourbier.” Montaigne, Essais, ii. 4, speaking of Amyot’s translation of Plutarch.]
*Autres temps, autres mœurs = Manners change with the times.
J’en ai vu bien d’autres = I have outlived worse things than that.
Avaler
Faire avaler des couleuvres à quelqu’un = To say very humiliating things to a man who, on account of his inferior position, is obliged to put up with them; To make any one swallow a bitter pill.
Avancer
Votre montre avance de dix minutes = Your watch is ten minutes fast.
[Compare: “Votre montre retarde de dix minutes” = Your watch is ten minutes slow.]
Cela m’avance bien! (ironic.) = What good is that to me?
Vous voilà bien avancé! (ironic.) = Here you are in a pretty mess! What good have you gained by that?
Je n’en suis pas plus avancé = I am none the wiser (or, nearer).
Avant
Vous allez trop avant = You are going too far.
Ils sont arrivés bien avant dans la nuit = They arrived very late at night.
Avare
*A père avare, enfant prodigue = A miserly father has a spendthrift son.
[“A femme avare, galant escroc.”
La Fontaine, Contes,ii.]
Avec
Avec ça! (colloquial) = Nonsense!
Averti
*Un bon averti (or, prévenu) en vaut deux = A man well warned is twice a man; Forewarned, forearmed.
Aveu
C’est un homme sans aveu = He is a vagabond.
[In feudal times a vassal had to make an avowal to his lord of the lands he held, placing them under his lord’s protection. A man who had no property could not do so.]
*Rien ne soulage comme un aveu sincère = Open confession is good for the soul.
Aveugle
Crier comme un aveugle (qui a perdu son bâton or, son chien) = To yell with all one’s might.
[A variant is: Crier comme un sourd, although deaf people generally speak very quietly.]
Avis
Il est toujours du bon avis = His opinion is always good.
Il y a jour d’avis = There is no hurry; There is plenty of time for consideration.
*Avis au lecteur = A note to the reader; A word to the wise; Verb. sap.
(Il) m’est avis qu’il cherche à vous tromper = Somehow I think he wants to deceive you.
*Deux avis valent mieux qu’un = Two heads are better than one.
[The Greeks said: εἷς ἀνήρ, οὐδεὶς ἀνήρ = One man, no man.]
Sauf avis contraire = Unless I hear (or, write) to the contrary.
Aviser
C’est un avisé compère = He is a cunning fellow.
On y avisera = We will see to it.
Il ne s’avise jamais de rien = He never thinks of anything; He has no initiative.
On ne s’avise jamais de tout = One never thinks of everything.
Ne vous en avisez pas = You had better not.
Un fou avise bien un sage = Good advice often comes whence we do not expect it.
Un verre de vin avise bien un homme = A glass of wine puts wit into a man.
Avoir
[The French use avoir frequently where we use to be, as in—Avoir faim, soif, chaud, froid, raison, tort, pitié, honte, peur, soin, besoin, mal = To be hungry, thirsty, hot, cold, right, wrong, sorry, ashamed, afraid, careful, in want, ill.]
J’aurai raison de son entêtement = I will master his obstinacy.
J’en ai bien envie = I should like it very much.
Elle n’a pour tout bien que sa beauté = She has nothing but her beauty in her favour; Her face is her fortune.
J’en ai pour deux heures = I shall be two hours over it.
J’en ai pour six mois à m’ennuyer = I am looking forward to (or, in for) six months’ boredom.
Vous avez la parole = It is your turn to speak.
Vous avez la main = It’s your turn to play (at cards).
Vous avez le dé = It’s your turn to play (at dice).
Il ne fera cela qu’autant que vous l’aurez pour agréable = He will never think of doing it if you object to it.
Avoir de quoi (pop.) = To be in easy circumstances.
J’ai de quoi payer = I have enough money to pay.
Il y a de quoi = (lit.) There is good reason; (ironic.) There is no reason.
Je vous demande pardon.—Il n’y a pas de quoi = I beg your pardon.—Pray do not mention it.
J’ai beau dire, il en fera à sa tête = It is of no use my talking, he will do as he likes.
C’est un homme que j’ai dans la main = He is a man I hold in the hollow of my hand, i.e. I can make him do what I like.
Qu’avez vous? J’ai que je m’ennuie = What is the matter with you? The matter is that I am bored to death.
Vous en aurez = You will catch it.
Contre qui en avez-vous? = Against whom have you a grudge?
Il n’est rien de tel