tambour battant

French

Alternative forms
  • tambours battants

Etymology

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
  • IPA(key): /tɑ̃.buʁ ba.tɑ̃/

Adverb

tambour battant

  1. (figuratively) eagerly
  2. (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
  • Chiefly used with the verb mener.

See also

References
  1. Léopold Constans (1890) Chrestomathie de l'ancien français (IXe-XVe siècles)‎ (in French), page 15
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