Glossary entry (derived from question below)
French term or phrase:
La loup dans la bergerie
English translation:
The fox is in the the henhouse
Added to glossary by
Nova language solutions
Jul 20, 2004 10:46
19 yrs ago
3 viewers *
French term
Ireland
Pitch perfect English translations
Native in: English 
Works in: French to English, German to English, Spanish to English
La loup dans la bergerie
French to English
Other
Slang
Does any have a nice equivalent for this proverb?
The full context, for info, is as follows:
"Le pirate n'a alors qu'à venir y brancher son ordinateur et le loup est dans la bergerie."
- the cat is in the bag?"
All help much appreciated!
The full context, for info, is as follows:
"Le pirate n'a alors qu'à venir y brancher son ordinateur et le loup est dans la bergerie."
- the cat is in the bag?"
All help much appreciated!
Proposed translations
(English)
Proposed translations
+10
7 mins
translatol
Native in English
Translations that read like originals
Native in: English 
Works in: Spanish to English, French to English, Catalan to English
Related KudoZ points
:
4
Selected
The fox is in the the henhouse
"Fox in the henhouse" is widely used, with variations, according to Google.
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Note added at 1 day 1 hr 57 mins (2004-07-21 12:44:18 GMT)
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This has really turned out to be a fun question.
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Note added at 1 day 1 hr 57 mins (2004-07-21 12:44:18 GMT)
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This has really turned out to be a fun question.
4 KudoZ points awarded for this answer.
Comment: "Wow! What a response! Excellent! Yes this is definitely the best option by far, many thanks for your support ;-)"
+9
4 mins
Rowan Morrell
New Zealand
New Zealand
Native in English
New Zealand
Committed to the Customer
Native in: English (Variant: New Zealand)
Works in: French to English, German to English, Spanish to English
the cat has been set among the pigeons
You wouldn't say "cat is in the bag", but there is a saying about the cat being set among the pigeons, which sounds like it might be the equivalent of the French phrase.
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Note added at 5 mins (2004-07-20 10:52:45 GMT)
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Here you might say something like \"That\'ll set the cat among the pigeons\".
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Note added at 7 mins (2004-07-20 10:54:12 GMT)
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Actually, the Collins Robert says \"set the fox to mind the geese\".
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Note added at 8 mins (2004-07-20 10:55:13 GMT)
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In fact, \"fox is in the henhouse\" might be even better yet!
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Note added at 5 mins (2004-07-20 10:52:45 GMT)
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Here you might say something like \"That\'ll set the cat among the pigeons\".
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Note added at 7 mins (2004-07-20 10:54:12 GMT)
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Actually, the Collins Robert says \"set the fox to mind the geese\".
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Note added at 8 mins (2004-07-20 10:55:13 GMT)
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In fact, \"fox is in the henhouse\" might be even better yet!
Peer comment(s):
| agree |
translatol
: This is a good alternative, I agrre that 'cat in the bag' expresses a different meaning.
4 mins
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Thanks translatol.
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| agree |
Vicky Papaprodromou
19 mins
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Thanks Vicky.
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| agree |
Kit Cree
20 mins
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Thanks Kit.
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| agree |
Paul Lambert
: Yes Rowan - cat among the pigeons - cat/bag phrase is 'to let the cat out of the bag', something entirely different. ;o)
28 mins
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Yes indeedy - thanks Paul.
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| neutral |
Franck Le Gac (X)
: Interesting question: English has all these predator/prey metaphors, but in French they get translated differently by dictionaries: for cat/pigeons, "lancer un pavé dans la mare" (Rob-Coll), which 'only' means to cause a stir, to upset sne's habits.
42 mins
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Thank you for those observations, Franck.
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| agree |
Orla Ryan
1 hr
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Thanks Orla.
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| agree |
Bourth (X)
: THis is the one I like best. It DOES imply resulting chaos, which might not be the primary signification of the French.
2 hrs
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Good point - thanks Bourth.
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| agree |
Sheila Hardie
: this is the most commonly used phrase in English in my opinion
3 hrs
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Thanks Sheila.
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| agree |
Jean-Claude Gouin
3 hrs
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Thanks 1045.
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| neutral |
Tony Pratschke (X)
: "to set the cat among the pigeons" usually implies doing or saying something deliberately to cause upset.
14 hrs
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That can often be the purpose of a malicious pirate or hacker.
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| agree |
Jennifer White
: yes, I'd use this too.
1 day 6 hrs
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Thanks Jennifer.
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+2
1 hr
the wolf is in the fold
nice echoes of Byron and the Bible while folloiwng the same metaphor as the original
Peer comment(s):
| agree |
Bourth (X)
: My second preference. I'm simply not familiar with the fox/henhouse one; the situation, yes, the expression, no.
1 hr
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| agree |
translatol
: I like this one too, especially as it keeps the same metaphor. I don't think 'sheep' (see Brian Gaffney's answer) is mentioned in the traditional expression.
1 day 43 mins
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5 hrs
the wolf is in the sheep-fold
I like CarolynB's answer, but I'd include "sheep" before "fold" for clarity of image and for the sound of it.
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Note added at 5 hrs 52 mins (2004-07-20 16:38:58 GMT)
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It\'s not a case of the cat being in the bag or the fox being set to mind the geese, really. The meaning is that the predator has breached the defences meant to protect the vulnerable. The fox in the henhouse is correct as regards the exact meaning of the French phrase. We\'ve had a fox in our henhouse, and it\'s total devastation! But I like the wolf in the sheep-fold, as it captures the menace of the original. More gore!
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Note added at 5 hrs 52 mins (2004-07-20 16:38:58 GMT)
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It\'s not a case of the cat being in the bag or the fox being set to mind the geese, really. The meaning is that the predator has breached the defences meant to protect the vulnerable. The fox in the henhouse is correct as regards the exact meaning of the French phrase. We\'ve had a fox in our henhouse, and it\'s total devastation! But I like the wolf in the sheep-fold, as it captures the menace of the original. More gore!
14 hrs
A wolf in sheep's clothing
This is the common English phrase that I think approximates to the French offered. It means someone is pretending to be something he/she isn't and has predatory intentions. Without knowing the broader context in which the phrase was offered I think that this is a possible interpretation. As ever, I am modest in my assertions! ;-)
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Note added at 14 hrs 11 mins (2004-07-21 00:58:28 GMT)
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Interpreting the phrase in the context offered, I would say \"The fox is now in sheep\'s clothing\"!
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Note added at 14 hrs 11 mins (2004-07-21 00:58:28 GMT)
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Interpreting the phrase in the context offered, I would say \"The fox is now in sheep\'s clothing\"!
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