croquer le marmot
French
editEtymology
editLiterally, “to pound on the marmot (an old-fashioned ornamental door knocker)”. The implication is one is waiting a long time for somebody to come to the door.
Pronunciation
editAudio: (file)
Verb
edit- to wait around for a long time. [since 19th C]
- 1879, Joris-Karl Huysmans, Les Sœurs Vatard[1]:
- […] avant qu’elle n’eût franchi le couloir et la porte d’entrée, Auguste croquait le marmot depuis plus de trois quarts d’heure.
- […] by the time she walked down the hallway and through the front door, Augusta had been waiting around for over three quarters of an hour.