Example: Face aux critiques, il a préféré faire le dos rond et attendre.
Definition
"Faire le dos rond" is a French expression meaning to endure a difficult or unpleasant situation with patience and resilience, often by keeping a low profile and avoiding confrontation. It implies choosing to tolerate hardship calmly rather than reacting immediately.
Translations
To keep a low profile
Esperar a que pase
Je gedeisd houden
Abaixar el cap
Den Kopf einziehen
Etymology
The phrase "faire le dos rond" literally translates to "make the back round" in English. It originates from the image of animals or people arching their backs to protect themselves from harm or stress. Did you know? This expression evokes the act of bracing oneself quietly against external pressures, much like how a rounded back can shield the vulnerable parts from attack.
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"Faire le dos rond" appears in the Vocaplus list "", containing 105 commonly used expressions.
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To keep a low profile