tirer sur l’ambulance

The French expression “tirer sur l’ambulance” translates literally to “to shoot at the ambulance”. English meanings or equivalent idioms include:

• to throw somebody under the bus
• to kick somebody when they’re down
• to pour water on a drowning man
• to flog a dead horse

French meanings on expressio.fr translate to “to oppress somebody when they’re in a desperate situation and “to set upon somebody when their fate is already challenged”.

Here’s an example sentence:

• On doit soutenir ceux qui travaille pour lutter contre le racisme, pas tirer sur l’ambulance. We have to support those who are fighting racism, now kick them when they’re down.

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