s’attirer les foudres

The French expression “s’attirer les foudres” translates literally to “attract thunderbolts” and can also be seen as “s’attirer foudres de quelqu’un” or to attract thunderbolts from somebody. English meanings include:

• to provoke an angry response from somebody
• to incur somebody’s wrath

A French definition on expressio.fr suggests the meaning is to attract negative comments (reproach) or condemnation.

Here’s an example sentence:

• En rentrant chez elle apres sa permission de 22h00, elle s’est attiré les foudres de ses parents. By coming home after her 10.00pm curfew, she incurred her parents’ wrath (her parents got very angry at her).

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