ficelle

I.

n. f.

1. 'Neck-gear', tie.

2. (pl.): Ropes surrounding boxing ring.

3. Long thin French loaf, equivalent in weight to half a baguette.

4. (pol.): 'Tail', officer or officers following a suspect's every move.

5. (mil.): Stripe indicating rank in army.

6. (th.): Hackneyed trick of the trade. C'est un vieux de la vieille sur les planches, il connaît toutes les ficelles: You can't teach an old campaigner like him any new tricks, can you?!

7. 'Twister', trickster. Une vieille ficelle: A 'wily old bird', an 'old hand', character who really knows it all.

8. Tirer les ficelles: To 'pull strings', to manipulate. Vous savez, c'est lui qui tire les ficelles! He's the one who really calls the shots, you know!

9. Trop tirer sur laficelle: To 'come it a bit strong', to try it on a bit too much.

10. Connaître les ficelles: To 'know the ropes', to know the whereand-how of something.

11. Voir la ficelle: To 'see the bare bones', to be able to see the truth behind it all.

12. Casser la ficelle: To 'get unhitched', to get a divorce.

II.

adj. inv. 'Crafty', sly, cunning. Pour être ficelle, il l'était! He was as sharp as they come!