Francophonie· easy
faire l’autruche
“to play the ostrich”
Meaning
To ignore an unpleasant truth rather than face it
Explanation
It means refusing to acknowledge something obvious, closing your eyes to a problem instead of dealing with it.
Example
Il continue de faire l'autruche alors que tout le monde voit bien que l'entreprise va mal.
He keeps burying his head in the sand even though everyone can see the company's in trouble.
Origin
It comes from an old, and false, bit of natural history: the belief that ostriches bury their heads in the sand and think danger has vanished if they can't see it.
Source
More like this
- 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 un chat dans la gorgeto have a scratchy voice
- avoir une faim de loupTo be ravenously hungry
- avoir une mémoire d'éléphantTo have an excellent memory