Canada· hard· informal
avoir les yeux dans la graisse de bines
“to have one's eyes in the bean grease”
Meaning
To be half asleep
Explanation
This expression describes someone who is fatigued and not fully awake, with a gaze altered by tiredness. The English equivalent would be 'bleary-eyed'.
Example
Je crois que j'ai fait une erreur dans le texte du courriel, j'ai les yeux dans la graisse de bines ce matin!
I think I made a mistake in the email text, I'm half asleep this morning!
Origin
'Bines' is Quebecois for beans (from English). Think of beans bobbing in grease while cooking fèves au lard (pork and beans), a staple from the New England logging camps that made its way into Quebec kitchens.
Where
Quebec
Source
More like this
- des yeux de merlan fritTo look lovesick
- avoir l'estomac dans les talonsto be extremely hungry
- avoir les yeux plus gros que le ventreTo take on more than one can handle
- être haut comme trois pommesto be very small
- la moutarde me monte au nezI'm getting angry
- mettre la main à la pâteto do a share of the actual work yourself