To put one’s feet under the table
Now this may seem like a rather obvious statement. Of course your feet will go under the table when you sit down to eat, non?
But you must get the visual. What this expression implies is to let others wait on you; To not do anything while being waited on hand and foot.
The first thing I think of is dinner at my in-laws. My husband, the youngest boy in an Italian family, and my brother-in-law, the oldest boy in the Italian family, are normally quite helpful in the kitchen, and have even been known to cook a meal or two, and clear the table. That is UNTIL they go home to Mama’s house. It the nurturing arms of Mama, these two bambini turn into the biggest loafers you have ever seen. They literally recline back from the table, hands and fingers interlinked behind their heads, as they stretch their legs under the table, bellies full of risotto, while Mama and sister, and sister in law, bring out the next course and serve them more wine. Ah la famiglia.
It’s a phenomenon that probably occurs around many French tables too, non? Tell me.
Anyway, that’s the imagery and the meaning. But it also has a good sense. For example, invite someone to come over, perhaps after a long week, and relax.
“Viens manger a la maison ce soir. Tout ce que tu as a faire est mettre les pieds sous la table.”
Come to dinner at my house tonight. You won’t have to do a thing.
And they will do so, thankful you have cooked them a nice meal.
Eh, voila.
Dear K.,
I think that in French “mettre les pieds sous la table” has especially a pejorative sense, meaning going to eat without daring doing anything, like your two “bambinos” seems to do.
But it also has a good sense, “je n’ai qu’à mettre les pieds sous la table”, meaning that you’re thankfull for the people who cooked for you.
Always nice to read your articles !
E.
Thank you Elodie. La prochaine fois à ste. maxime, viens chez moi et tu n’as q’à mettre les pieds sous la table. Bisous.
Just a little ‘nuance’ about this expression; the complete phrase should read: ‘Se’ mettre les pieds sous la table…
“Je n’avais plus qu’à me mettre les pieds sous la table”
Meaningly, the only effort I had to do was to introduce my feet under the table, and my host was in charge of all the rest…
Merci Jacques. Yes, I have seen it both ways. For example, here http://www.wordreference.com/fren/table
I appreciate the correction and thanks for reading.