samedi 12 juillet 2014

To handle with kid gloves

Handle a situation, or a person or an object, delicately and gingerly.- faire dans la dentelle, ménager quelqu'un ou quelque chose



  • During the World Cup 2014, Germany didn't handle Brazil with kid gloves, to say the least...

Origin:

Kid gloves are gloves made from the skin of a young goat. In fact, when they were first fashioned in the 18th century they were more often made from lambskin, as that was easier to come by. They were clearly not intended for use when you were pruning the hedge and wearing kid gloves was the sartorial equivalent of pale white skin, that is, it indicated that the wearer was rich enough to indulge in a life of genteel indoor idleness.
It was only when the expression (and presumably also, the gloves) crossed the Atlantic that the negative connotations were lost and 'handling (or treating) with kid gloves' began to be used as we use it today, that is with the meaning 'delicately; carefully'.

dimanche 6 juillet 2014

To be soaked to the skin

to be extremely wet, wet clear through one's clothing to the skin. - trempé comme une soupe


  • I forgot my umbrella and got soaked to the skin when I had to go out this afternoon.
  • I was caught in the rain and got soaked to the skin. oh, come in and dry off! You must be soaked to the skin.

samedi 5 juillet 2014

To pitch a tent

to erect a tent at a campsite. - monter une tente

  • The campers pitched their tent in a clearing in the woods. 
  • I pitched my tent next to a large oak tree.