"Tel est pris qui croyait prendre"

Ayça B.C1Kwiziq community member

"Tel est pris qui croyait prendre"

Bonjour tout le monde,

Je me demande ce que "Tel est pris qui croyait prendre" veut dire, quelqu'un pourrait m'aider ?

Merci bien !

This question relates to:French interactive reading exercise "L'Arnacœur - French Film Fest"

Reading B1, Film & TV, Listening or Seeing B1

Asked 6 years ago

Like1Answer1

CécileKwiziq Native French TeacherCorrect answer

Hi Ayça,

It is a saying which comes from a fable of Jean de la Fontaine 'Le Rat et l'Huitre' to convey a trick which has gone wrong when the roles have been reversed having the opposite results to the one intended.

In English, you might say -

Hoisted by his own petard!

The tables are turned!

The joke's on him!

Hope this helps!

Like26 years ago

Ayça B. asked: