Faire une croix dessus

Expression: Faire une croix dessus

Pronunciation: [feh roon crwa deu soo]

Meaning: (figurative) to kiss good-bye, write off; to know you'll never see something again, never get it back

Literal translation: to make a cross on, to x something out

Register: informal

Notes: The French expression faire une croix dessus warns someone about a mistake that will cost whatever it is the cross is being put on - the person is "crossing out" a great opportunity by doing something wrong, or is bound to lose something because s/he is loaning it to someone untrustworthy.

I find this expression interesting because une croix is also a religious term: faire le signe de la croix means "to make the sign of the cross" or "to cross oneself." It's an interesting link between the two expressions - in both languages.

Example:
   Si tu prêtes de l'argent à Marc, tu peux faire une croix dessus !
   If you loan money to Marc, you can kiss it good-bye!

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More: Expressions with faire | Dessus vs dessous