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vaches maigres. In DICTIOUS you will not only get to know all the dictionary meanings for the word
vaches maigres, but we will also tell you about its etymology, its characteristics and you will know how to say
vaches maigres in singular and plural. Everything you need to know about the word
vaches maigres you have here. The definition of the word
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French
Etymology
Literally, “lean cows”; an allusion to the story in Genesis, chapter 41, in which Pharaoh has a dream in which seven lean cows devour seven fat cows. The dream is interpreted by Joseph to mean that seven years of plenty will be followed by seven years of famine (see Joseph (Genesis) § Joseph in prison). Compare Spanish vacas flacas.
Pronunciation
Noun
vaches maigres f pl (plural only)
- (figuratively) scarcity
- Synonyms: disette, pénurie
- Antonyms: vaches grasses, abondance, opulence
- temps de vaches maigres, période de vaches maigres, années de vaches maigres ― lean times, lean period, lean years