How do you say “Leave no stone unturned” in French?
The closest natural French equivalent is ne négliger aucune piste, which literally means “to not neglect any track/lead”. English speakers use leave no stone unturned to mean to try every possible method or look in every place to solve a problem or find something. This is the most authentic equivalent in investigative, political, or professional problem-solving contexts. French speakers use it whenever an exhaustive search or inquiry is required. Register: neutral, formal. Usage frequency: common.
Closest natural French
ne négliger aucune piste
/nə ne.ɡli.ʒe o.kyn pist/
- Literal meaning
- “to not neglect any track/lead”
- Register
- neutral, formal
- How often it's used
- common
- Equivalence
Near-exact equivalent
92 out of 100
What a native French speaker would actually say
The English idiom "leave no stone unturned" originates from an ancient Greek legend concerning treasures buried under stones after the Battle of Plataea. In modern English, it implies an exhaustive, methodical search or the exploration of every possible avenue to resolve a dilemma. In French, this methodical thoroughness is most naturally captured by "ne négliger aucune piste", which refers to examining every possible path, clue, or option without bias.
While "ne négliger aucune piste" aligns best in formal and professional situations, such as police investigations, business strategies, and journalism, French shifts idioms depending on the nuance. If the search is purely spatial, speakers opt for "fouiller de fond en comble". If the effort is driven by intense emotional urgency and desperation, "remuer ciel et terre" becomes the preferred natural choice.
How close is the meaning?
- Meaning5 out of 5
- Tone5 out of 5
- Context4 out of 5
- Literal similarity2 out of 5
These ratings are editorial approximations, not measurements.
What are other ways to say it in French?
remuer ciel et terre
Literally: “to stir heaven and earth”
More emotional and dramatic; equivalent to 'move heaven and earth'.
fouiller de fond en comble
Literally: “to search from bottom to top”
Used strictly for exhaustive physical searches of a place.
ne rien laisser au hasard
Literally: “to leave nothing to chance”
Emphasizes meticulous preparation rather than exhaustive investigation.
Common translation traps
ne laisser aucune pierre non retournée
A literal word-for-word calque that sounds completely unnatural and nonsensical in French.
The notes above explain why these versions do not work in this context in French.
In context
English
The investigators promised to leave no stone unturned to find the missing child.
French
Les enquêteurs ont promis de ne négliger aucune piste pour retrouver l'enfant disparu.
English
To resolve this financial crisis, we must leave no stone unturned.
French
Pour résoudre cette crise financière, nous ne devons négliger aucune piste.
Related expressions
Last updated 2026-09-11