coudre la peau du renard à celle du lion
French
Etymology
Literally, “to sew the skin of the fox to that of the lion.”
Pronunciation
- IPA(key): /ku.dʁə la po dy ʁ(ə).naʁ a sɛl dy ljɔ̃/
France (Lyon) (file) France (Vosges) (file)
Verb
coudre la peau du renard à celle du lion
- (figuratively) to combine cunning with strength, to be cunning as well as strong
- Synonym: joindre la ruse à la force