Brewer's: Mettre de la Paille dans ses Souliers

or Mettre du Foin dans ses Bottes. To amass money, to grow rich, especially by illicit gains. The reference is to a practice, in the sixteenth century, followed by beggars to extort alms.

“... Des quemands et belistres qui, pour abuser le monde, mettent de la paille en leurs souliers.” —Supplément du Catholicon, ch. ix.

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