Arriver comme un chien dans un jeu de quilles

Arriver comme un chien dans un jeu de quilles
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French Expression

Meaning to arrive at just the wrong time, to turn up when least wanted
Literally to arrive like a dog in a game of ninepin bowling
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Pronunciation French sound files [ah ree vay kuh moo(n) shyeh(n) da(n) zoo(n) zheu deu keey]
IPA   [a ʁi ve kɔ mœ̃ ʃjɛ̃ dã zœ̃ ʒə də kij]

Usage notes: Ninepin bowling is all about knocking over delicately balanced pins with the help of a strategically thrown ball. So you can imagine how a dog arriving on the lane and being his normal playful self could really mess up the game. The French expression arriver comme un chien dans un jeu de quilles is a vivid way of describing something that arrives at the worst possible time.

Par exemple…

Je me relaxais après une longue journée quand ma belle-famille est arrivée comme un chien dans un jeu de quilles.
I was relaxing after a long day when my in-laws arrived (the moment I least wanted to see them).

Related expression: recevoir quelqu’un comme un chien dans un jeu de quilles – to give someone a cold reception, make someone feel unwelcome

 More French expressions with chien

 Verbs

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Il est arrivé comme un chien dans un jeu de quilles

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