Le mot du jour : “La croix et la bannière”
This expression (“the cross and the banner”) is used to talk about something difficult to do.
Ex : “Les taches de framboises, c’est la croix et la bannière à laver” (“Raspberries stains are very hard to take out” – you can see where my inspiration came from 😄)
But why would cross and banners mean difficulties?
Once again, it goes back to the catholic background of my country, when processions were a common occurrence.The organisation of these events was apparently very complex : who is going to carry the cross (and so be in the first place)? In what order should the different banners follow? Where to put the local public figures? And so on…So it turns out a procession was a very sensitive, diplomatic operation.
Next time you are faced with a tough job to do, don’t forget to launch your arms in the air and say in an exasperated tone : “C’est la croix et la bannière !”