Three French phrases inspired by other cultures
Explore the origins and meanings behind these French expressions related to foreign people and places
Do you know this French expression inspired by Scottish hydrotherapy practices?
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From Turkey to Scotland, we look at three French expressions inspired by different countries and cultures.
Find out how to describe a person's strength, refer to something unimportant, and say that someone is acting 'hot and cold'.
Être fort comme un Turc (‘to be strong like a turk’):
This expression originates in the 15th Century when the Turks had a reputation for being strong, almost unbeatable warriors due to their numerous victories.
At the time, the Ottoman Empire ruled large parts of south-east Europe, north Africa and western Asia.
It is said that François I, King of France, was gifted Turkish armour by Suleiman the Magnificent (the tenth and most famous sultan of the Ottoman Empire) during their alliance.
When he wore it, he is said to have exclaimed: “Here I am now, strong as a Turk!”.
Ce n’est pas le Pérou (literally ‘it’s not Peru’):
When the French say that something n’est pas le Pérou, they mean to say that it has little worth or importance. Equally, the expression can be translated as, ‘it’s not a big deal’.
Around the 16th Century, Peru was an important source of wealth due to its reserves of gold, silver and precious stones. In Europe, it was considered an ‘El Dorado’ – a place of great riches and opportunity.
The Spanish conquerors quickly depleted the country’s natural resources but Peru remained a place of wealth and greatness in the collective imagination for a long time after this.
Initially, the term c’est le Pérou (‘it’s Peru’) would be used to describe something important or valuable but over time, the expression has been inverted and the French now say ‘ce n’est pas le Pérou’ to describe something of little importance.
C’est la douche écossaise (literally ‘it is the Scottish shower’):
This expression refers to someone with an unstable attitude, alternating between good and bad, but can also refer more generally to a series of positive and negative events.
The phrase can be traced back to 19th Century hydrotherapy practices - the Scottish shower being a traditional bathing routine that involves alternating between hot and cold water. It is said to stimulate blood circulation, increase energy levels and enhance skin and hair health.
Just as a literal Scottish shower switches between hot and cold water, an emotional Scottish shower refers to alternating moments of joy and sadness.
