The gods, goddesses, multiple titans, nymphs, giants and other mythological creatures have rocked generations of readers eager for fabulous adventure stories.
But our language also owes them a lot!
French is the repository of many expressions that we use on a daily basis.
Sometimes without us suspecting it!
They are the treasures of our language, their origins bear witness to its vivacity and its history.
So when you recount the
"panic fear"
you felt, you are referring... to the god Pan, the god of Nature, protector of shepherds and flocks.
Half-man, half-god, he was repulsively ugly, with his two horns on his head.
When he appeared in public, he caused
"panic fear"
.
The word was used as an adjective in the 16th century, then became a feminine name in the 19th century.
The mythological stories that hide under our daily expressions are numerous.
Le Figaro invites
you to (re)discover them, thanks to Bénédicte Gaillard and her book
Passe-moi l'expression!
300 games on your favorite expressions
(Éditions de l'Opportun, 2021).
Will you have a no-fault?