France· medium· informal
rond comme une queue de pelle
“round as a shovel's tail”
Meaning
to be completely drunk
Explanation
One of many French ways of saying someone's had far too much to drink, this one riffs on the rounded end of a garden shovel's handle.
Example
Il est rentré rond comme une queue de pelle après le mariage de son cousin.
He came home completely plastered after his cousin's wedding.
Origin
The word 'rond' (round) has long been used for someone who's had too much to drink, picturing a belly rounded out with booze. This version compares that roundness to the curved end of a shovel handle.
Where
France
Belgium
Switzerland
Source
More like this
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- aller aux Allemandsto spend a stint among German speakers
- arranger les bidonsto sort out a dispute, acting as go-between
- attendre de la familleto be expecting a child
- avoir des oursins dans la pocheto be stingy
- avoir les chevilles qui enflentto become full of oneself after a small success