Dictionary of Phrase and Fable—B

Bete

Morte la bête, mort le venin. Dead men tell no tales; dead dogs don't bite. When one is dead his power of mischief is over. Literally, if the beast is dead, its poison is dead also.

Quand Jean-Bête est mort, il à laissè bien des héritiers.
Casimir Delavigne says to the same effect, Les sots depuis Adam sont en majorité. Jean-Bête means a fool or dolt.

Source: Dictionary of Phrase and Fable, E. Cobham Brewer, 1894
Bête Noire
Bestiaries
A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

More on Bete from Fact Monster:

  • What does it mean? bete noir - bete noir When Francis referred to Frances as his bete noir, he meant that she was a.) the apple of ...
  • Foreign Words and Phrases - Foreign Words and Phrases1 The English meanings given below are not necessarily literal ...
  • Beauty and the Beast - The first animated feature nominated for a Best Picture Oscar
  • Donald H. Rumsfeld - Donald H. Rumsfeld George W. Bush's secretary of Defense Born: 7/9/1932 Birthplace: Chicago, ...
  • Philip Glass - Glass, Philip Glass, Philip, 1937–, American composer, b. Baltimore. Considered one of the ...

Related Content