15秒了解
- To sabotage or hinder someone's progress.
- Commonly used for workplace rivalry or toxic competition.
- Implies sneaky actions to make someone else fail.
意思
Actually, this phrase means to sabotage someone or try to trip them up. It is like trying to knock someone down while they are walking.
关键例句
3 / 6Complaining about coworkers
Au bureau, ils passent leur temps à se tirer dans les pattes.
At the office, they spend their time sabotaging each other.
Warning a friend about a rival
Fais attention à Marc, il va essayer de te tirer dans les pattes.
Watch out for Marc, he's going to try to trip you up.
Discussing a political race
Les candidats se tirent dans les pattes pendant le débat.
The candidates are undermining each other during the debate.
文化背景
In French corporate culture, 'tirer dans les pattes' is often linked to the 'esprit de clocher' where internal competition can be fierce despite a facade of politeness. While used in Quebec, you might also hear 'jouer dans les jambes' which carries a very similar meaning of hindering someone. The phrase is common in Belgian politics, often used to describe the complex negotiations between linguistic groups. In some regions, 'faire des peaux de banane' is more common than 'tirer dans les pattes', though both are understood.
Use the Reflexive
You will sound much more native if you use 'se tirer dans les pattes' to describe a toxic environment rather than just accusing one person.
Not for Joking
Never use this to mean 'I'm just kidding'. It always implies a level of malice or harmful competition.
15秒了解
- To sabotage or hinder someone's progress.
- Commonly used for workplace rivalry or toxic competition.
- Implies sneaky actions to make someone else fail.
What It Means
Imagine you are running a race. Suddenly, someone kicks your shins. That is the essence of tirer dans les pattes. It means to hinder someone. You are actively trying to make them fail. It is usually done in a sneaky way. It is about competition and jealousy. You want to take their place. Or you just want them to lose. It is a very visual image. Think of a dog tripping another dog.
How To Use It
You use this phrase with a person. You say se tirer dans les pattes if it is mutual. This happens often in offices. It also happens in large families. You conjugate the verb tirer normally. For example, Ils se tirent dans les pattes. This means they are constantly sabotaging each other. It is a transitive construction. You can also say Il me tire dans les pattes. He is trying to ruin my progress.
When To Use It
Use this when discussing workplace drama. It is perfect for describing toxic colleagues. You can use it during a vent session. Tell your partner about your mean boss. Use it when watching reality TV shows. The contestants always do this to win. It fits perfectly in competitive sports too. Use it when the sabotage is indirect. It is not a physical punch. It is a social or professional blow.
When NOT To Use It
Do not use this for physical accidents. If you actually trip someone, use faire tomber. Do not use it in very formal reports. Your CEO might find it too colorful. Avoid it if the person is helping you. It is strictly for negative, sabotaging actions. It is not about 'feeling good' at all. In fact, it feels quite bad! It is the opposite of teamwork.
Cultural Background
French culture values sharp wit and competition. In the workplace, 'la hiérarchie' is very important. Sometimes, people use 'les coups bas' to climb up. The word pattes refers to animal paws. Using it for humans adds a layer of disrespect. It implies the person is acting like an animal. It suggests a lack of human dignity. It has been popular for decades in France.
Common Variations
You might hear faire des crocs-en-jambe. This means to literally trip someone up. Another one is mettre des bâtons dans les roues. This means putting sticks in someone's wheels. Both imply sabotaging someone's progress. Tirer dans les pattes is more personal. It feels more like a direct attack on the person. It is a classic 'panier de crabes' (bucket of crabs) behavior.
使用说明
This phrase is strictly informal. Use it when venting or describing drama, but keep it out of formal writing or polite introductions.
Use the Reflexive
You will sound much more native if you use 'se tirer dans les pattes' to describe a toxic environment rather than just accusing one person.
Not for Joking
Never use this to mean 'I'm just kidding'. It always implies a level of malice or harmful competition.
The 'Pattes' Nuance
Remember that 'pattes' is for animals. Using it for humans makes the sabotage sound particularly 'low' or 'dirty'.
例句
6Au bureau, ils passent leur temps à se tirer dans les pattes.
At the office, they spend their time sabotaging each other.
Uses the reflexive form for mutual sabotage.
Fais attention à Marc, il va essayer de te tirer dans les pattes.
Watch out for Marc, he's going to try to trip you up.
Warning someone about a specific person's bad intentions.
Les candidats se tirent dans les pattes pendant le débat.
The candidates are undermining each other during the debate.
Fits well in a professional but heated context.
Mes cousins se tirent encore dans les pattes pour l'héritage.
My cousins are still fighting and sabotaging each other over the inheritance.
Shows the phrase works for family drama too.
Même mes chats se tirent dans les pattes pour les croquettes !
Even my cats sabotage each other for the kibble!
A play on the word 'pattes' since cats actually have paws.
On ne peut pas avancer si tout le monde se tire dans les pattes.
We can't move forward if everyone is undermining each other.
Highlights how this behavior stops progress.
自我测试
Complétez la phrase avec les mots corrects.
Au bureau, ils passent leur temps à se ______ dans les ______.
L'expression exacte est 'se tirer dans les pattes'.
Quelle phrase utilise correctement l'expression ?
Choisissez la bonne option :
L'expression signifie saboter ou nuire, pas faire rire ou tirer physiquement.
Associez l'expression à son synonyme.
Match the pairs:
Tirer dans les pattes is a figurative way to say 'harm' or 'undermine'.
Complétez le dialogue de manière logique.
A: Pourquoi tu ne parles plus à Thomas ? B: Parce qu'il a essayé de me ______ pour avoir ma place.
Thomas tried to sabotage the speaker to get their position.
🎉 得分： /4
视觉学习工具
练习题库
4 练习Au bureau, ils passent leur temps à se ______ dans les ______.
L'expression exacte est 'se tirer dans les pattes'.
Choisissez la bonne option :
L'expression signifie saboter ou nuire, pas faire rire ou tirer physiquement.
将左侧的每个项目与右侧的配对匹配:
Tirer dans les pattes is a figurative way to say 'harm' or 'undermine'.
A: Pourquoi tu ne parles plus à Thomas ? B: Parce qu'il a essayé de me ______ pour avoir ma place.
Thomas tried to sabotage the speaker to get their position.
🎉 得分： /4
常见问题
5 个问题No, it's not vulgar, but it is informal. You can use it with friends or colleagues you know well, but avoid it in very formal settings.
Technically people would understand, but it's not the idiom. It would sound like a literal shooting incident rather than a metaphor.
Yes, it always implies hindering someone's progress or success, usually in a sneaky way.
'Bâtons dans les roues' is more about blocking a project or a process. 'Tirer dans les pattes' is more personal—it's about attacking the person's ability to move forward.
You say 'Il me tire dans les pattes'.
相关表达
mettre des bâtons dans les roues
synonymTo put sticks in the wheels (sabotage progress).
faire un croche-pied
similarTo trip someone up.
se serrer les coudes
contrastTo stick together / support each other.
faire une crasse
specialized formTo do something mean/dirty to someone.
