When someone "cherche la petite bête", it means someone is looking for small details, usually to find a way not to do something, to say something is not suitable....
- In English, you'd say " s/he is splitting hairs"
If you translate literally: chercher la petite bête
- Chercher means : to look for
- la petite bête: the little beast
So "To look for the little beast"
Welcome to France, enjoy the French language !
