il n'y a pas de bon temps qui tienne

/il n‿i.j‿a pa də bɔ̃ tɑ̃ ki tjɛn/◆idiom

no matter the circumstances, life goes on

Il n'y a pas de bon temps qui tienne, nous devons continuer notre travail.

No matter the circumstances, we must continue our work.

◆ What It Really Means

The idea that life's challenges are inevitable and must be endured with resilience.

¶ Literal Meaning

There is no good weather that lasts.

Literal Breakdown

il n'y a pasthere is no+de bon tempsgood weather+qui tiennethat lasts

◇ Mental Image

The metaphor of enduring all weather conditions, both good and bad, as a representation of life's ups and downs.

◈ When to Use

A friend is complaining about a minor problem, and you respond with this phrase to encourage them to keep going.

◉ Cultural Note

This idiom reflects the French cultural value of resilience and acceptance of life's inevitable challenges.

informal

An expression used to emphasize that life's difficulties or bad situations are inevitable and must be endured; things will continue regardless of obstacles.

Il a perdu son emploi, mais il n'y a pas de bon temps qui tienne, il doit chercher un nouveau travail.

He lost his job, but no matter, he must look for a new one.

La météo est mauvaise, mais il n'y a pas de bon temps qui tienne, nous partons en randonnée.

The weather is bad, but no matter, we're going hiking.

This idiom is often used to encourage perseverance or to downplay minor setbacks.

Synonyms

il faut faire avec c'est la vie on n'y peut rien

Antonyms

profiter du bon temps se laisser aller

to make the best of a bad situation

Pro Tip

Usage Context

This phrase is often used to encourage someone to keep going despite difficulties.

Word Origin

The phrase likely originates from the idea that 'good weather' (bon temps) is fleeting, and one must endure all conditions.

Usage Notes

This expression is commonly used in everyday French to express resilience or acceptance of life's challenges.

Dictionnaire Français-Anglais