ménager la chèvre et le chou

French

Etymology

Literally, “to go easy both on the goat and the cabbage”, two goals that are contradictory since goats eat cabbage. Compare Dutch de kool en de geit sparen. A similar opposition between goat and cabbage is also found in Finnish pukki kaalimaan vartijana.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /me.na.ʒe la ʃɛvʁ e l(ə) ʃu/

• Audio

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Verb

ménager la chèvre et le chou

1. to run with the hare and hunt with the hounds; to keep both parties sweet; to tread a fine line

Derived terms

• chèvrechoutisme
• chèvrechoutiste

See also

• nager entre deux eaux
• avoir le cul entre deux chaises
• jouer sur tous les tableaux
• avoir le beurre et l’argent du beurre