François Lasserre
Like pissing cow and other animal expressions
Illustrations Roland Garrigue
(2014)
127 pages
Delachaux and Niestlé
(175x145x15)mm
Weight: 270 grams

The author has selected 100 famous expressions in which animals are celebrating! It is an opportunity to discover or rediscover the treasures of the French language from yesterday to today, but above all it is a nice excuse to dissect these expressions, their probable and proven origins and learn a little about the animals – especially insects, the first to be mocked… Why do we say “hold on by the ass like cockchafers”, “kill flies at fifteen paces”, “be as excited as a flea”, “have sea urchins in pockets”, “don’t tie your dog with sausages”, “hit the mark”, “feel blue”…? François Lasserre responds as a connoisseur of the animal world and a lover of language.
In passing, he seizes the opportunity to challenge certain preconceived ideas about animals. A subject that lends itself perfectly to the humor and elegance of Roland Garrigue's illustrations, inspired by these 100 expressions that are as eccentric as they are evocative.