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Think about it’s raining cats and canine. You need to order meals supply, but it surely prices an arm and a leg, and also you’re broke. If solely you had gotten your geese in a row earlier, you’d have the suitable components in the home. You resolve to be a sofa potato, and earlier than you already know it, you’re out like a lightweight.
Now think about you’re studying that paragraph with solely a primary understanding of English. Cats? A damaged leg? Why is a potato on the sofa?
Idioms are expressions which have that means past their literal definitions—therefore why they are often so complicated to new language learners. To know them, you want context! In French, you’ll discover that native audio system use them to convey something from humor to ridicule. They’re an superior method so as to add depth and persona to conversations.
Beneath, we’ll check out 50 French idioms that you need to use to boost any alternate! You’ll discover frequent themes as you’re employed your method by means of the record. Followers of fruit, bread, and cats shall be fairly happy with what’s to return.
Need to skip the memorization and be taught these idioms in context? Rosetta Stone may also help you grasp French idioms alongside vocabulary, grammar, and extra. With enjoyable, participating classes and a full suite of studying instruments, our objective is to get you conversation-ready—all it’s a must to do is begin.
What’s an idiom?
An idiom, or idiomatic expression, is a set phrase or expression that may’t be understood actually, or word-for-word. Not solely is the English language filled with them, all languages use idioms as a shorthand strategy to categorical a extra complicated concept. Contemplate the next idioms in English:
- The take a look at? It was a bit of cake.
- Was that your concept? Sorry! I didn’t imply to steal your thunder.
- That’s right! You hit the nail on the pinnacle.
Idioms typically translate pretty carefully between languages, but it surely’s way more frequent that there shall be a distinct strategy to categorical that concept. Studying idioms may be a variety of enjoyable, and can even assist you to to:
- keep away from confusion
- keep away from embarrassing conditions
- catch on to humor and tone of a dialog
- be taught some folklore
- deeply perceive cultural beliefs
- be acquainted historic occasions
- and slot in with a bunch of native audio system!
After getting a very good understanding of what an idiom means and when it’s applicable to make use of it, you possibly can impress native audio system along with your use of French. They might even inform you the story of how this idiom developed of their language, though it is likely to be information to them, too!
50 French idioms and expressions for any dialog
À bon chat, bon rat
The literal translation of à bon chat, bon rat is to a very good cat, a very good rat. It’s a method you would possibly say that somebody has met their match. This expression has been round for hundreds of years, with references in work, performs, and literature to precise a scenario the place a intelligent adversary is ready to match wits or energy with an opponent.
J’ai essayé de gagner le jeu, mais enfin, à bon chat, bon rat. J’ai perdu.
I attempted to win the sport, however ultimately… I met my match. I misplaced.
Cats seem in lots of French idioms:
| French | Literal English that means | English idiom/concept |
| appeler un chat un chat | to name a cat a cat | “to name a spade a spade” to say precisely what one means |
| avoir un chat dans la gorge | to have a cat within the throat | “to have a frog in your throat” to have throat congestion or cough |
| Quand le chat n’est pas là, les souris dansent. | When the cat isn’t right here, the mice dance. | “When the cat’s away, the mice will play.” Missing supervision, some will make the most of the scenario. |
| donner sa langue au chat | to offer one’s tongue to the cat | to be out of concepts to cease guessing when you haven’t any concepts left |
| avoir d’autres chats à fouetter | to produce other cats to whip | “to have greater fish to fry” to have extra vital issues to do |
Il pleut des cordes / Il tombe des clous
You may not guess that these expressions, actually that means it’s raining ropes/nails are falling, could be much like “it’s raining cats and canine,” which implies it’s raining intensely. These vivid expressions possible come from the visible of rain falling so rapidly that it seems there are ropes falling from the sky. The Québecois expression il tombe des clous, paints an analogous picture with nails falling from the sky.
Je reste ici! Il pleut des cordes!
I’m staying right here! It’s raining cats and canine!
Une goutte d’eau dans la mer
The direct that means of une goutte d’eau dans la mer is a drop of water within the ocean. English makes use of “a drop within the bucket,” to precise a small, negligible quantity. Nonetheless, you possibly can’t have a bucket or an ocean filled with water except you begin with a drop. Linguists have traced the origins of this expression way back to 200 BC in writings that used it to check the lifetime of a human with eternity.
J’économise un peu chaque semaine, mais ce n’est qu’une goutte d’eau dans la mer!
I save a bit of every week, but it surely’s solely a drop of water within the ocean!
Lancer une bouteille à la mer
Phrase-for-word, lancer une bouteille à la mer means to throw a bottle to the ocean. Take into consideration the thought of a shipwrecked passenger writing a message in a bottle and throwing it out into the ocean to ask for assist. With that in thoughts, it’s simple to recollect its figurative expression: to name for assist. In the event you can’t ship out an SOS, a bottle is the following smartest thing!
Je ne sais plus quoi faire… je lancerai une bouteille à la mer.
I don’t know what to do anymore… I’ll ship out an SOS!
The ocean-related idioms don’t cease there!
Ce n’est pas la mer à boire
The direct translation of ce n’est pas la mer à boire is it’s not the ocean to drink. You would possibly use this to precise that one thing shouldn’t be that a lot to ask. It is likely to be used to encourage somebody {that a} process actually isn’t an enormous deal.
Braveness! C’est seulement un devoir de quatre pages. Ce n’est pas la mer à boire.
Chin up! It’s solely a 4 web page paper. It’s not asking the unimaginable.
Many expressions come from the ocean—evidently those that lived their lives on the ocean have been notably influential to modern-day language. Notice that not all ocean-related idioms are what they appear although! Take our subsequent instance as proof.
Avoir du vent dans les voiles
The precise concept expressed by the phrase avoir du vent dans les voiles is to have wind within the sails. This feels like somebody has a variety of vitality, or is making progress, however really conveys the thought of being drunk. It’s much like the English expression “to be three sheets to the wind.” You could not need to inform your boss that you’ve wind in your sails this morning, otherwise you’ll give the flawed impression!
Marc avait du vent dans les voiles hier soir.
Marc was three sheets to the wind final evening.
In the event you’d wish to say that you’ve a variety of vitality and are making progress, higher stick with our subsequent instance!
Être en pleine forme
A verbatim translation of être en pleine forme could be to be in full form. This is able to be an ideal expression for a day whenever you merely really feel nice and are filled with vitality. It’s been a preferred strategy to discuss your good temper because the twentieth century.
J’étais très fatiguée hier, mais ce matin je suis en pleine forme.
I used to be actually drained final evening, however this morning I really feel nice!
There are different methods to precise whenever you’re feeling superb.
Avoir la pêche
Phrase-for-word, avoir la pêche interprets to to have the peach. This can be a informal and playful strategy to say you might be in excessive spirits. The expression shouldn’t be vulgar, but it surely’s not one for a proper scenario. It’s been round a very long time, however students aren’t certain whether or not it got here from the expression for a literal pêche (peach), which is a juicy and candy fruit that would offer you a variety of vitality, or whether or not the phrase developed from one other phrase altogether over time.
Elle dansait sur cette picture… elle avait la pêche!
She was dancing on this picture.. she was all fired up!
There are many fruit expressions the place that got here from.
Être haut comme trois pommes
An in depth translation of être haut comme trois pommes is to be tall like three apples. This can be a figurative strategy to name somebody quick. Think about three apples stacked up on prime of one another. Nonetheless, even quick individuals in French have to be pretty tall, in comparison with the idiom in English, “knee-high to a grasshopper.”
Il est haut comme trois pommes mais il joue très bien déjà au foot!
He’s so tiny, however he already performs soccer so nicely!
Ramener sa fraise
A direct translation of ramener sa fraise is to carry one’s strawberry. This expression, possible over a century previous, means about the identical factor as to stay your nostril in. The usage of fraise (strawberry) as a substitute for tête (head), brings it nearer to the English that means of “to stay your head into somebody’s affairs the place it’s not needed.”
If this one is used as an order, comparable to Ramène ta fraise!, the speaker needs you to rush up!
Listed here are a number of different fruit-related French idioms!
| French | Literal English that means | English idiom/concept |
| couper la poire en deux | to chop the pear in two | “to separate the distinction” to fulfill midway, to compromise |
| tomber dans les pommes | to fall within the apples | to faint, to cross out |
| avoir la banane (informal) | to have the banana | to be in a very good temper, to have an enormous smile |
| être bonne poire (informal, pejorative) | to be a very good pear | to be gullible or simply swayed by others; to be a pushover |
| C’est la cerise sur le gâteau. | It’s the cherry on the cake. | “It’s the cherry on prime.”“It’s the icing on the cake.” It’s the ultimate element to complete one thing in a passable method. |
| compter pour des prunes | to rely for plums | to be nugatory; to not be vital. |
| être mi-figue mi-raisin | to be half fig, half grape | “to have its execs and cons” to be each good and unhealthy; to be contradictory ultimately |
S’occuper de ses oignons
Immediately translated, s’occuper de ses oignons means to busy oneself along with his or her onions. You would possibly inform somebody to concentrate to their very own onions if you’d like them to thoughts their very own enterprise.
Occupe-toi de tes oignons! Je n’ai pas besoin de ton aide.
Thoughts your online business! I don’t want your assist.
Right here is an instance of an origin expression that was as soon as much less tasteful than its acquainted utilization at the moment. Some imagine the onions in query seek advice from a sure a part of the anatomy, which wouldn’t have been mentioned in well mannered firm. (You’d definitely need to thoughts your individual and never another person’s.) Others disagree and say it could possibly be way more literal—girls prior to now have been permitted to develop onions to promote and maintain the earnings for her personal spending cash outdoors of the household price range.
Mettre son grain de sel
The that means of mettre son grain de sel means to place one’s grain of salt. That is much like give one’s two cents, and implies a scenario the place somebody shares their opinion, even whether it is unsolicited. Somebody would possibly provide their two cents, or grain of salt, which means that it isn’t of great worth, however the recipient is welcome to it.
Je ne t’ai pas invité à mettre ton grain de sel.
I didn’t invite you to place your two cents in.
This expression, much like “take one thing with a grain of salt” could possibly be derived from the Latin type of the phrase, however this idiom has been in frequent use because the twentieth century.
Avoir du ache sur la planche
Persevering with with some food-based idioms, the literal that means of avoir du ache sur la planche is to have some bread on the board. In the event you’re consuming, it’d appear to be a nice scenario, however in case you’re the baker, you would possibly have a variety of work to do.
Je veux bien sortir, mais j’ai du ache sur la planche ce soir.
I need to exit, however I’ve rather a lot on my plate tonight.
Earlier than the twentieth century, this expression might have meant merely that one had the correct sources, and was not missing, since bread was a important type of sustenance. As business bakeries developed, a baker having a number of loaves of bread on the board nonetheless had work to do with a view to end them.
Gagner son ache à la sueur de son entrance
This bread idiom, gagner son ache à la sueur de son entrance means to earn your bread by the sweat of your forehead. Variations on this expression have been used since Biblical instances, that means to work exhausting and bodily labor for a residing.
Mon grand-père a toujours gagné son ache à la sueur de son entrance, comme agriculteur.
My grandfather has all the time earned his residing by the sweat of his forehead, as a farmer.
Talking of bread, listed here are some extra food-related idioms:
| French | Literal English that means | English idiom/concept |
| mettre du beurre dans les épinards | to place some butter within the spinach | to earn a bit of more money to enhance one’s monetary scenario |
| C’est du ache bénit. | It’s some blessed bread. | It’s a godsend. It’s fortunate and occurring on the opportune second. |
| lengthy comme un jour sans ache | lengthy as a day with out bread | “so long as a month of sundays” seemingly endless |
| en faire tout un fromage | to make an entire cheese of it | “to make a mountain out of a molehill” to create a bigger drawback out of a small one; to magnify |
| avoir la moutarde qui monte au nez | to have mustard that goes up the nostril | to lose your mood |
| Les carottes sont cuites | the carrots are cooked | “the goose is cooked” It’s over; nothing you are able to do about it now |
Filer à l’anglaise
Taking every phrase’s that means on this phrase, it means to depart within the English model. English audio system use a wide range of related expressions with completely different nationalities, comparable to “French exit,” or “Irish exit,” which means to slide out of a social gathering with out saying goodbye. Some imagine that the expression was a response to related anglophone idioms which might have painted the French in a detrimental gentle.
La jeune fille a filé à l’anglaise avant dix heures.
The younger woman slipped out earlier than ten o’clock.
Some linguists level to a much less literal origin of the phrase, with the time period anglaiser being an previous synonym for “to steal.” A thief would clearly need to depart with out being seen. Maybe there may be some reference to the English expression “to steal away.”
Se faire des cheveux blancs
The literal phrase, se faire des cheveux blancs means to make white hair on oneself. It’s not removed from what you would possibly assume—if somebody claims to be getting grey hairs, it’s as a result of they’re worrying excessively.
Il est si malade… Je me fais des cheveux blancs pour lui.
He’s so ailing. I’m nervous sick about him.
This expression could also be based mostly considerably in actuality, as stress from fear or concern could also be linked to hair turning grey. Nevertheless, there are additionally a number of legends of a sudden change to white hair. Allegedly, Marie Antoinette skilled this phenomenon out of shock when she was sentenced to loss of life. Scientists advise that this could’t occur, even whether it is fairly poetic to assume we could possibly be frightened into immediately having a white head of hair.
Listed here are some extra head and hair-related idioms:
| French | Literal English that means | English idiom/concept |
| couper les cheveux en quatre | to chop the hair into 4 | “to separate hairs” to overcomplicate one thing |
| avoir un poil dans la important | to have a hair within the hand | to be extraordinarily lazy |
| se payer la tête | to pay oneself the pinnacle | to make enjoyable of somebody; to play a prank on them |
| avoir la tête dans les nuages | to have the pinnacle within the clouds | “to have your head within the clouds” to be a dreamer; to be unrealistic |
| s’arracher les cheveux | to tear out one’s hair | “to tear your hair out” to be annoyed making an attempt to determine what to do; not discovering an answer |
| perdre la boule | to lose the ball (slang time period for head) | “to lose your marbles”“to lose your thoughts”“to lose your head” to change into irrational |
| avoir la tête sur les épaules | to have one’s head on their shoulders | “to have a very good head in your shoulders” to be balanced and life like; to have frequent sense |
Se mettre sur son trente-et-un
Have you ever ever been “dressed to the nines?” The that means is comparable in French, se mettre sur son trente-et-un interprets as to place oneself on one’s thirty-one. Whichever quantity it’s, in both case, we use these idioms to say that somebody is dressed up, dolled up, or dressed to impress.
Elle s’est mise sur son trente-et-un pour assister au live performance.
She bought dressed to the nines to go to the live performance.
Theories abound as to why the French idiom makes use of 31. It might need to do with a luxurious fabric used within the Center Ages, known as a trentain, or a card sport known as 31. Many web customers are satisfied that it’s tied to a selected model of French army uniform.
Like many idioms, we could by no means know the complete historical past of the expression, because the that means developed all through time and communities.
Bonnet blanc et blanc bonnet
The that means of bonnet blanc et blanc bonnet, is a somewhat ungrammatical and repetitive white hat and hat white. Isn’t that the identical factor? Similar to “six of 1, half dozen of the opposite,” this expression refers to two decisions that are primarily the identical. It received’t matter which you select, so it’s virtually like having no option to make in any respect.
Avant la classe ou après, c’est bonnet blanc et blanc bonnet.
Earlier than class or after, it’s six of 1, half a dozen of the opposite.
Faire la grasse matinée
The literal that means of faire la grasse matinée could be to do or make the fats morning. It actually expresses the pleasant remainder of sleeping late or having a lie in. That is executed deliberately, not as within the expression avoir une panne d’oreiller (to have a pillow breakdown) which might be “to unintentionally oversleep.”
Je n’ai rien à faire demain. Je vais faire la grasse matinée.
I’ve nothing to do tomorrow. I’m going to sleep in.
Ne pas être dans son assiette
Taking every phrase of ne pas être dans son assiette, to not be in a single’s plate, it’s fairly a complicated idiom. The expression refers to feeling beneath the climate or being out of kinds. Whereas even native audio system would possibly affiliate the phrase assiette with the literal that means, “plate,” this expression really comes from the way in which you’ll trip a horse, being secure within the saddle. In the event you’re not balanced, you’re not feeling such as you usually would. One thing feels off.
Luc ne vient pas. Il m’a dit qu’il n’est pas dans son assiette aujourd’hui.
Luc isn’t coming. He instructed me that he’s a bit of out of kinds at the moment.
Poser un lapin à quelqu’un
A phrase by phrase translation could be to place a rabbit to somebody. The idiom means to face somebody up. It could possibly be a date or an appointment. This expression comes from slang from the nineteenth century the place the phrase lapin (rabbit) meant a “refusal of cost.”
J’avais rendez-vous avec Marie, mais elle m’a posé un lapin.
I had a date with Marie, however she stood me up.
Persevering with with the animal theme, listed here are a number of extra animal-related idioms to complete off our record!
| French | Literal English that means | English idiom/concept |
| Quand on parle du loup, on en voit la queue | Whenever you discuss in regards to the wolf, you see its tail. | “Communicate of the satan.” That is used if you end up speaking about somebody after which they seem. |
| comme un éléphant dans un magasin de porcelaine | like an elephant in a china store | “like a bull in a china store” somebody who may be very clumsy or awkward and makes a multitude with out that means to |
| C’est le serpent qui se mord la queue. | It’s the snake that bites its personal tail. | “It’s a vicious cycle.” a sequence of issues that causes its personal continuation |
| Quelle mouche t’a piqué? | What fly bit you? | What’s gotten into you? What’s flawed with you? |
The best way to increase your data of French idioms
Idioms are like at the moment’s memes. Little bits of cultural data, handed down from speaker to speaker, till they evolve and are utilized in a method that conveys that means with out utilizing the literal definition. Not all idioms are to be present in formal studying conditions, although.
To discover ways to use idioms accurately, interact with native audio system. Discover and experiment with idioms by:
- becoming a member of on-line boards of language learners
- discovering a language alternate associate
- watching television exhibits in French
- watching lyric movies of widespread songs
- studying childrens’ books and graphic novels
- trying up expressions that you simply don’t acknowledge
- evaluating English idioms to related French ones
- and studying tales and weblog posts on-line!
Even with the best diploma of focus, you’ll by no means be completed studying idioms. Utilization varies amongst dialects and areas, throughout generations, and in numerous social contexts. The excellent news is, studying idioms may be actually enjoyable. In the event you discover a language associate you possibly can belief, strive some out and get suggestions! Even in case you discover that you simply used an idiom in a method that didn’t fairly match, you’ll have the ability to alter for the following time it’s applicable.
Study French idioms with Rosetta Stone
Think about trying somebody lifeless within the eye, the air heavy with emotion, and saying les carottes sont cuites (the carrots are cooked) with a straight face. That’s the great thing about idioms!
A saying may be downright foolish in its literal sense, however its figurative that means can ship chills down your backbone. With the record above, you possibly can confidently encounter the wildest of idioms—from flies that chunk to butter in spinach—and even sprinkle them in your individual conversations.
And because the French say, c’est du ache bénit. It’s some blessed bread (a godsend) that Rosetta Stone is right here that can assist you grasp French—with out the tedious memorization. With bite-sized classes and studying instruments, you’ll have the distinctive probability to be taught French immersively, which implies you’ll be taught quicker and extra successfully than forging the trail by yourself. Did we point out TruAccent may also help you excellent your pronunciation from the very first lesson?
Written by Jamie Edwards
Jamie is a learner and trainer of Spanish and French. When she’s not studying new phrases, you’ll discover her on the soccer sidelines, ski slopes, and monitor and subject bleachers having fun with the 4 seasons of Western New York.
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