perdre son âme

/pɛʁdʁə sɔ̃ n‿am/◆idiom

to lose one's moral integrity

Il a perdu son âme en acceptant ce travail.

He lost his soul by accepting that job.

◆ What It Really Means

To compromise one's values or moral principles for personal gain.

¶ Literal Meaning

To lose one's soul (literally).

Literal Breakdown

perdreto lose+son âmehis/her soul

◇ Mental Image

The mental image is of a person sacrificing their inner moral compass or spiritual essence for external rewards.

◈ When to Use

A person might say this when criticizing someone who has compromised their ethics for money or power.

◉ Cultural Note

The concept of 'losing one's soul' is rooted in religious and philosophical traditions, where the soul represents one's moral essence.

figurative

To compromise one's values or moral principles, often for personal gain or convenience.

Elle a perdu son âme pour réussir dans ce milieu corrompu.

She lost her soul to succeed in that corrupt environment.

This idiom emphasizes the loss of personal integrity or authenticity.

Synonyms

se vendre trahir ses principes perdre ses valeurs

Antonyms

rester fidèle à soi-même garder son intégrité

Word Origin

The expression comes from the idea of sacrificing one's soul or moral compass for worldly gains, a concept present in religious and philosophical traditions.

Usage Notes

This idiom is often used in moral or ethical discussions, emphasizing the cost of compromising one's principles.

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