reprendre du poil de la bête

French

Etymology

Literally, “to take back the hair of the beast”. From the popular belief that application of the hair of an animal that has bit the applicator will heal the animal bite.

Semantic shift from "to do X" to "to experience the result of doing X".

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ʁə.pʁɑ̃.dʁə dy pwal də la bɛt/

• France (Lyon)

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• Audio (Paris)

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Verb

reprendre du poil de la bête

1. (obsolete) to take a hair of the dog that bit one (to take an alcoholic drink the morning after to try and cure a hangover)

   Synonyms: rallumer la chaudière, soigner le mal par le mal

2. (informal) to get a second wind, to get better, to regain one's strength, to get back on one's feet, to bounce back

   Synonym: se requinquer