tambour battant

French edit

Alternative forms edit

tambours battants

Etymology edit

Literally, “beating [the] drum”, with the positioning of the present participle after its complement which was frequent in Old French^[1] (the modern French equivalent would be battant tambour). Compare chemin faisant, Belle au bois dormant.

Pronunciation edit

IPA^(key): /tɑ̃.buʁ ba.tɑ̃/

Adverb edit

tambour battant

(figuratively) eagerly
(figuratively) promptly, briskly, energetically
Synonym: rondement

mener une affaire tambour battant, mener une affaire rondement ― (please add an English translation of this usage example)

Usage notes edit

Chiefly used with the verb mener.

References edit

^ Léopold Constans (1890) Chrestomathie de l'ancien français (IX^e-XV^e siècles)‎^[1] (in French), page 15

[1] Léopold Constans (1890) Chrestomathie de l'ancien français (IX^e-XV^e siècles)‎^[1] (in French), page 15

[1]