Francophonie· hard· informal
avoir de l’eau dans la cave
“to have water in the cellar”
Meaning
To be wearing trousers that are too short
Explanation
Said of someone whose trousers ride up short enough to show their socks, as though they had hitched them up to keep dry from a flood down in the basement.
Example
Avec un pantalon pareil, il a de l’eau dans la cave.
With trousers like that, he must be expecting a flood.
Origin
Origin uncertain.
More like this
- retourner sa vesteto switch sides for personal gain
- se mettre sur son trente et unTo dress in one's finest clothes
- se serrer la ceintureTo cut back on spending and live frugally
- à la mitaineDone by hand rather than with machines
- attacher sa tuqueTo brace yourself, something intense is about to happen
- habillé comme la chienne à Jacquesto be very badly dressed