Francophonie· medium· informal

ne pas être sorti de l’auberge

to not be out of the inn

Meaning

To still have a lot of trouble ahead

Explanation

Used when the hard part clearly isn't over yet, however things might look at the moment.

Example

Le procès commence à peine, on n'est pas sortis de l'auberge.

The trial's only just started, we're nowhere near out of the woods.

Origin

Comes from 19th-century thieves' slang, where 'auberge' meant prison (inmates got fed and housed there for free). Having a long sentence left to serve became 'not being out of the auberge yet', and the phrase later softened into everyday use for any drawn-out ordeal.

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