The French expression “prendre la poudre d’escampette” translates literally to “to take flight or escape powder”.
English meanings:
- to bolt
- to take to your heels
French meanings:
- s’enfuir – to flee
Example sentence:
- C’était un prisonnier modèle pendant cinq ans mais un jour il a pris la poudre d’escampette. He was a model prisoner for five years but one day he bolted.
Related expressions:
- prendre ses jambes à son cou – to make a run for it, run for your life
- prendre le large – to run off, to hightail it
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David Issokson is a lifelong language enthusiast. His head is swimming with words and sounds as he speaks over six languages. Of all the languages he speaks, he's the most passionate about French! David has helped hundreds of students to improve their French in his private online lessons. When procrastinating working on his site, FrenchLearner.com, David enjoys his time skiing and hiking in Teton Valley, Idaho.
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Bonjour! My name is David Issokson. I'm based in Victor, Idaho (near Jackson, Wyoming) and have helped hundreds of students to learn French online since 2013.
