comme un pet sur une toile cirée

French

FWOTD – 20 June 2018

Etymology

Literally, “like a fart on an oilcloth”.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /kɔ.m‿œ̃ pɛ sy.ʁ‿yn twal si.ʁe/

• Audio:

  (file)

Adverb

comme un pet sur une toile cirée

1. (simile, informal) like grease through a goose, as fast as greased lightning (very rapidly)
   • René Sussan, Dupont et le bonheur des hommes, 1965, p. 122.

     Découvert, il fila parmi les gardes ahuris comme un pet sur une toile cirée.

     With his cover blown, he slipped through the dumbstruck guards as fast as greased lightning.

Usage notes

• Used with verbs such as filer and partir (“to leave”).

See also

• comme un voleur