Avaler des couleuvres is a French idiom that translates literally to “to swallow garter snakes” and means both “to accept something against your will” and “to have something forced on you”. Another meaning is “to be easily persuaded”.
Example sentences
The is first example sentence uses se marier avec, a reflexive verb meaning “to get married”.
Marie ne voulait pas se marier avec Pierre: elle a dû avaler les couleuvres.
Marie didn’t want to marry Pierre. She had to do it against her will.
This second example uses the expression en avoir assez, meaning “to have enough”.
Le patron n’arrête pas de me donner de nouvelles responsabilités. J’en ai assez d’avaler des couleuvres.
The boss does stop giving me new responsibilities. I’ve have enough of having things forced on me.
Expression origin
This idiom originated in the 17th century. The couleuvre or the grass snake is a metaphore for the snake in the bibical story of Genesis. The snake got Adam and Eve to eat the forbidden fruit and represents the art of persuasion.
More idioms with animals
- Temps de chien – Awful weather
- Parler comme une vache espagnole – to speak poorly
- Noyer le poisson – to evade the issue
- Peigner la girafe – to twiddle your thumbs
- Avoir le cafard – to be down in the dumps
Reference
French expressions | Lessons by David Issokson
