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phrase

de quel bois quelqu'un se chauffe

/də kɛl bwa kɛl.k‿œ̃ s(ə) ʃof/

phrase/də kɛl bwa kɛl.k‿œ̃ s(ə) ʃof/

what someone is made of, what someone is capable of, someone's true mettle

montrer de quel bois on se chauffeto show one's mettle

Synonyms: ce qu'on a dans le ventre

Literally, “with what wood someone is heated”