jeter un pavé dans la mare

The French expression “jeter un pavé dans la mare” translates literally to “to throw a cobblestone in to the pond”.

English meanings:

  • to start a ruckus
  • to make waves

French meanings:

  • troubler une situation sans histoireto trouble a normally quiet situation

Example sentence:

  • L’homme politique a jeté un pavé dans la mare en accusant ses collegues de méfaits. The politician made waves by accusing his colleagues of wrongdoings.

Synonyms:

  • faire des vaguesto make waves
  • faire des histoiresto make stories

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