Belgium· easy· informal
être un oiseau pour le chat
“to be a bird for the cat”
Meaning
To be an easy target
Explanation
Said of anyone so defenceless that being pounced on is only a matter of time.
Example
Sans avocat et sans économies, il était un oiseau pour le chat face à ses créanciers.
Without a lawyer or savings, he was easy prey for his creditors.
Origin
Borrowed directly from Dutch 'een vogel voor de kat zijn', which explains why it mostly turns up on the Belgian side of the language border.
Source
More like this
- jouer un pied de cochonto play a mean trick on someone
- aller au pas de caméléonTo move very slowly
- appeler un chat un chatto speak plainly and directly
- avoir des fourmis dans les jambesTo feel a tingling, restless urge to move
- avoir la chair de pouleTo get little bumps on the skin
- avoir ses bibittesto have one's own personal issues