French Expression of the Day: Tirer les vers du nez

This French expression doesn't actually mean you're pulling the worms out of someone's nose.

A good expression to know if you need to get information from someone.

The expression tirer les vers du nez, roughly pronounced tee-ray lay vair dew nay (listen here ), literally translates to "pull the worms out of someone's nose".

In reality it means to extract information with difficulty from someone, or simply get someone to talk.

It is used when someone is reluctant to speak, and you have to ask lots of questions or encourage them before they finally reveal what they know or how they feel.

The medical explanation dates back to the 15th century. At that time, it was common to be infested with nasal worms, yes - worms that lived in the nose. Although this was relatively common in the Middle Ages, people were nonetheless too ashamed to talk about it, even to the doctor who was supposed to treat them. And the doctor had to subject his patients to a lengthy interrogation to find out what was bothering them in order to treat the problem accordingly. This eventually led to the expression we now know today.

Another theory traces vers (worms) back to the Latin word verum , meaning "truth." According to this explanation, tirer les vers du nez originally meant extracting the truth from someone. However, this theory has its weaknesses: after all, people speak with their mouths, not their noses...

Another theory actually points to the English language. The expression to "worm a secret out of someone" means to coax or gradually extract information from a reluctant person. Since the verb to worm out closely resembles the French image of pulling out worms, some believe the two expressions may be related.

Finally, the simplest explanation is that the expression is purely metaphorical. Getting someone to reveal an embarrassing or closely guarded secret can be an awkward and uncomfortable process, much like the unpleasant image of pulling worms out of someone's nose. The vivid, slightly disgusting image perfectly conveys just how difficult it can be to get someone to talk.

The French word vers ( worms ) is pronounced exactly the same as verre ( glass ), vert ( green ), and vers ( towards ).

Il ne disait rien. J'ai dû lui tirer les vers du nez. - He wasn't saying anything. I had to coax it out of him.

Les journalistes ont essayé de lui tirer les vers du nez. - The journalists tried to get him to reveal more.

Avec les adolescents, il faut parfois leur tirer les vers du nez. - With teenagers, you sometimes have to drag the information out of them.