lâcher la proie pour l'ombre
French
Etymology
Literally, “to let go of the prey for the shadow”; from the fable Le Chien qui lâche sa proie pour l'ombre by Jean de La Fontaine.
Pronunciation
- IPA(key): /la.ʃe la pʁwa puʁ l‿ɔ̃bʁ/, /lɑ.ʃe la pʁwa puʁ l‿ɔ̃bʁ/
France (Lyon) (file) France (Lyon) (file)
Verb
lâcher la proie pour l'ombre
- (literary) to give up what one has already got to go chasing rainbows; to lose everything because one wanted too much; to get sidetracked, to lose sight of what is important
See also
- un tiens vaut mieux que deux tu l'auras