pied de nez

French

Etymology

(This etymology is missing or incomplete. Please add to it, or discuss it at the Etymology scriptorium.)

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /pje d(ə) ne/

Noun

pied de nez m (plural pieds de nez)

1. snook (disrespectful gesture, performed by placing the tip of a thumb on one's nose with the fingers spread, and typically while wiggling the fingers back and forth)

   faire un pied de nez à quelqu’un ― to cock a snook at someone

2. (figuratively) act of defiance

   faire un pied de nez à quelqu’un ― to thumb one's nose at someone

Further reading

• “pied”, in Trésor de la langue française informatisé [Digitized Treasury of the French Language], 2012.
• “nez”, in Trésor de la langue française informatisé [Digitized Treasury of the French Language], 2012.