Literal translation
to scratch the front of one's legs to bring on red marks
Meaning
to scratch one's legs raw to fake an ailment
Explanation
The expression describes a deliberate staging of illness or suffering: by scratching the front of one's legs, the skin eventually becomes irritated and red, giving the appearance of marks or sores that can then be shown as proof of an ailment one does not actually have, or not to that degree. The figurative meaning thus refers to faking a malaise, an injury, or a hardship, in order to attract sympathy, obtain an excuse, or escape an obligation, physical playacting reinforcing a moral one. The phrase faire veni li bas rouge (literally to bring on red stockings) plays on the image of reddened legs as if they wore stockings of that color, the skin irritation taking on the look of a worn garment. The verb grata (to scratch) and the noun cambo (leg) are common and unambiguous. The register is familiar, often used with amused irony to call out someone's playacting when they feign an ailment to be pitied or excused from a task.