Exercising rights 
Here's a popular and low-brow (but fun) French expression from days gone by--and inspired by the late 19th century liberation of women from their tight corsets and cumbersome skirts so they could pedal bicycles: Je ne te demande pas si ta grand-mère fait du vélo. (I don't ask you if your grandmother rides a bike; i.e., I haven't asked your advice, mind your own business.)
A delightful réplique to quell indiscreet questions, the expression is used as a refrain in a 1925 hit opérette Trois Jeunes Filles Nues, Est-ce que je te demande.
un vélo: a bike; the word is short for vélocipède
une grand-mère: a grandmother
demander: to ask
une bicyclette: a bicycle
une réplique: a retort
une opérette: a musical genre mixing comedy, song and dance
©2011 P.B. Lecron
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