Francophonie· easy
faire les cent pas
“to do the hundred steps”
Meaning
to pace back and forth
Explanation
This expression means to pace up and down nervously, often while waiting or worrying.
Example
Il faisait les cent pas devant la salle d'attente en attendant des nouvelles.
He was pacing back and forth in front of the waiting room, waiting for news.
Origin
One theory ties it to abbey cloisters, where monks walking the full circuit were said to do 'les cent pas.' The expression has been documented since at least 1811.
Source
More like this
- faire d’une pierre deux coupsTo achieve two things with a single action
- faire des pieds et des mainsTo go to great lengths to get something
- faire le murto slip out of somewhere without permission
- prendre ses jambes à son couTo run away as fast as possible
- tourner autour du potto avoid getting to the point
- trois fois rienalmost nothing at all