French Anapodotons


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An anapodoton is an expression, often a proverb, which is so well known that only the first part is spoken or written, leaving the rest to be filled in mentally by listeners and readers.

Knowing common anapodotons is a clear indication of linguistic and cultural fluency, and offers a sense of shared understanding and community to speakers of a language.

A beau mentir … qui vient de loin		Long ways, long lies lit: [He] lies in vain (who comes from afar)
À bon entendeur … salut		Word to the wise lit: To the good listener (hi)
À cheval donné … on ne regarde pas les dents		Don’t look a gift horse in the mouth lit: Of a horse given (you don’t look at the teeth)
Après la pluie … le beau temps		Things will get better lit: After the rain (nice weather)
Faute de grives … on mange des merles		Beggars can’t be choosers lit: Lacking thrushes (we eat blackbirds)
Plus ça change … plus c’est la même chose		The more things change (the more they stay the same) lit: The more it changes (the more it’s the same thing)
Quand le chat n’est pas là … les souris dansent		When the cat’s away (the mice will play) lit: When the cat isn’t there (the mice dance)
Quand le vin est tiré … il faut le boire		In for a penny (in for a pound) lit: When the wine is poured (you have to drink it)
Quand on parle du loup … on en voit la queue		Speak of the devil (and he appears) lit: When we talk about the devil (we see his tail)
Qui ne dit mot … consente		Silence implies consent lit: He who says nothing (consents)
Qui ne risque rien … n’a rien		Nothing ventured, nothing gained lit: He who risks nothing (has nothing)
Qui se ressemble … s’assemble		Birds of a feather (flock together) lit: Those who look alike (gather)
Qui va à la chasse … perd sa place		You snooze, you lose lit: He who goes hunting (loses his place)