la vengeance est un plat qui se mange froid

French

Etymology

Literally, “revenge is a dish that is eaten cold”.

The phrase, which became widely used from the 19th century, is also found in other Romance languages, such as Italian la vendetta è un piatto che va servito freddo and Spanish la venganza es un plato que se sirve frío.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /la vɑ̃.ʒɑ̃s ɛ.t‿œ̃ pla ki s(ə) mɑ̃ʒ fʁwa/

• Audio:

  (file)

Proverb

la vengeance est un plat qui se mange froid

1. revenge is a dish best served cold (revenge is best or most satisfying when delayed, when the person whom one wants to exact revenge from won't have any inkling that something is coming their way)