Battre le fer pendant qu'il est chaud
Example: Il faut battre le fer pendant qu'il est chaud pour réussir.
Definition
"Battre le fer pendant qu'il est chaud" is a French expression meaning to take advantage of an opportunity promptly while conditions are favorable, similar to the English phrase 'strike while the iron is hot.' It emphasizes timely action to achieve success.
Etymology
The phrase "battre le fer pendant qu'il est chaud" originates from blacksmithing, where iron must be hammered while still hot and malleable. Did you know this saying metaphorically encourages seizing moments of opportunity before they cool down and become difficult to work with?
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"Battre le fer pendant qu'il est chaud" appears in the Vocaplus list "", containing 105 commonly used expressions.
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Strike while the iron is hot