oil-spot strategy
n.— «France’s Moroccan policies were skillfully guided by the flamboyant Resident General Hubert Lyautey, whose patient “oil-spot” strategy of conquest and “indirect” methods of governing both avoided a bloody and divisive conquest and preserved much of Morocco’s traditional political structure.» —“French Military Rule in Morocco: Colonialism and its Consequences” by Douglas Porch Middle East Journal Oct. 1, 2000. (source: Double-Tongued Dictionary)
Further reading
A Francophone who’s feeling low might say so with J’ai le moral dans les chaussettes. The idiom avoir le moral dans les chaussettes means “to have morale in your socks.” This is part of a complete episode.
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