Tirer plus vite que son ombre

Expression: Tirer plus vite que son ombre

Pronunciation: [tee ray plu veet k(eu) so no(n)br(eu)]

Meaning: to be quick off the mark, to move at lightning speed

Literal translation: to shoot faster than his shadow

Register: informal

Notes: The French expression tirer plus vite que son ombre comes from the Belgian comic-book series Lucky Luke, created in 1946.* Lucky Luke (pronounced [lu ki luk]) is a cowboy in the American Old West and an incredibly quick draw, l'homme qui tire plus vite que son ombre - the man who shoots faster than his shadow.

It's not one of the most common French idioms, but plus vite que son ombre is used with tirer and other verbs to talk about something that happens very quickly; for example:

   tirer plus vite que son ombre
   to shoot quickly, to be quick off the mark

   aller plus vite que son ombre
   to go/move at lightning speed

   jouer du piano plus vite que son ombre
   to play piano with one's fingers flying over the keys

Note that the possessive adjective son must change to match the subject of the sentence, as in Tu joues de la guitare plus vite que ton ombre ! - Your fingers fly over the guitar strings!

Just for fun:
   Lucky Luke (official site)
   Est-ce que Lucky Luke peut vraiment tirer plus vite que son ombre ?


More

• Expressions with tirer
• Expressions with plus
• Most common French phrases
• French fun and games

*Another French expression from comic books: tomber dans la marmite