Hello, you have come here looking for the meaning of the word
tirer le diable par la queue. In DICTIOUS you will not only get to know all the dictionary meanings for the word
tirer le diable par la queue, but we will also tell you about its etymology, its characteristics and you will know how to say
tirer le diable par la queue in singular and plural. Everything you need to know about the word
tirer le diable par la queue you have here. The definition of the word
tirer le diable par la queue will help you to be more precise and correct when speaking or writing your texts. Knowing the definition of
tirer le diable par la queue, as well as those of other words, enriches your vocabulary and provides you with more and better linguistic resources.
French
Etymology
Attested in Dictionnaire de l'Académie française (1694), p. 326, as tirer le diable par la queuë. Literally, “to pull the devil by the tail”.
Pronunciation
- IPA(key): /ti.ʁe lə dja.blə paʁ la kø/
Verb
tirer le diable par la queue
- to scrape by, to live from hand to mouth, to feel the pinch, to have trouble to make ends meet, not to have enough to live
See also
Further reading