enfoncer des portes ouvertes

French

Alternative forms

• enfoncer une porte ouverte

Etymology

Literally, “to push in open doors”. Compare Italian sfondare una porta aperta, German offene Türen einrennen, Russian ломи́ться в откры́тую дверь (lomítʹsja v otkrýtuju dverʹ), and the same in most other European languages.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ɑ̃.fɔ̃.se de pɔʁ.t‿u.vɛʁt/

• Audio (Vosges):

  (file)

Verb

enfoncer des portes ouvertes

1. (figuratively) to state the obvious as though it were new or controversial; to try to force or persuade someone who is already convinced; ≈ to preach to the choir

Derived terms

• enfonceur de portes ouvertes
• enfonceuse de portes ouvertes

See also

• lapalissade
• truisme
• prêcher un convaincu