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French Idioms
| Term | Definition |
|---|---|
| En avoir l'eau à la bouche | mouth water, to want something |
| Motus et bouche cousue | lips are sealed, keep a secret |
| Le bouche-à-oreille | Word of mouth, the rumor |
| Faire la fine bouche | have a thin mouth, not easily satisfied |
| faire les doux yeux | make sweet eyes, seduce, look tenderly |
| en avoir la chair de poule | to be horrified by something, to feel a sense of fear |
| tenir sa langue | hold his tongue, do not reveal a secret |
| être sans voix | to be speechless |
| Mettre du baume au coeur | Put balm in the heart: comfort, soothe |
| Il s’en est fallu d’un cheveu | He had taken a hair, he was very close to |
| Etre à deux doigts de | being very close to doing something. |
| Savoir tout faire de ses dix doigts | Know how to do everything with his ten fingers, be very skilled manually |
| Ne pas se laisser marcher sur les pieds | Do not let yourself walk on your feet, do not tolerate certain things, be respected. |
| Avoir le sang chaud | Have warm blood, get angry easily |
| Perdre son sang-froid | Loose temper, losing one's calm |
| J’ai l’estomac noué | My stomach is knotted, I am anxious |
| C’est casse-gueule | It's dicey, there are risks |
| ça saute aux yeux | it's really obvious, we can not miss it |
| ça ne saute pas aux yeux | it does not jump to the eyes: it does not show |
| Ne pas faire le poids | Do not do the weight, do not have the skills |
| Avoir la grosse tête | To hava big head, be pretentious |
| donner un coup de main à quelqu’un | give someone a hand, giving hand |
| être mauvaise langue | to be bad language, to spend one's time saying bad things about others. |
| lever le pied | lift the foot, live at a slower pace |
| avoir la peau dure | tough skin |
| Quel pied! | What a foot, it's great |
| avoir quelque chose dans la peau | something in your skin, love something passionately |
| se prendre en main | take charge |
| ça prend la tête | takes the head, causes worries |
| diriger d’une main de fer | direct with an iron hand, control strictly |
| Boire comme un trou | To drink like a hole, they never stop even if they should |
| Ne rien savoir faire de ses dix doigts | Not knowing how to do anything with one’s ten fingers, useless |
| Arriver comme un cheveu sur la soupe | To arrive like the hair in a soup, awkward |
| Mettre son grain de sel | To put in one’s grain of salt – to give someone an unnecessary opinion |
| C’est dommage | That's a shame |
| Je dis ça, je dis rien | I say that, I say nothing, just saying |
| Ça marche | That works |
| Sauter du coq à l’âne | To jump from topic to topic in conversation. |
| Oh la la | Oh dear |
| Gagner sa vie | Earn a living |
| Mort de rire | Die of laughter |
| Pleuvoir des cordes | To rain ropes Raining cats and dogs |
| Manger sur le pouce | To eat on the thumb Eat on the go |
| Boire un coup | To drink a shock To have a drink |
| Avoir les yeux plus gros que le ventre | To have eye bigger than ones stomach |
| Un froid de canard | A cold of duck To be icy/bitterly cold |
| Jeter l’argent par les fenêtres | To throw money out the window To carelessly spend money |
| Une bouchée de pain | A mouthful of bread For next to nothing |
| Blanchir de l’argent | To whiten money To launder money |
| Coûter les yeux de la tête/un bras | To cost an arm and a leg To cost a fortune |
| S’en mettre plein les poches | To put a lot in one’s pockets To line one's pockets |
| Rouler sur l’or | To roll on gold To be rich |
| Se serrer la ceinture | To tighten one's belt |
| Casser les pieds à quelqu’un | To break someone's feet To annoy/bother someone |
| Casser du sucre sur le dos de quelqu’un | To break sugar on someone’s back To talk about someone behind their back |
| Tourner au vinaigre | To turn to vinegar To get nasty |
| Faire la grasse matinée | To do fat in the morning To sleep in |
| Tomber dans le panneau | To fall into the sign To fall into the trap |
| (Jeter) un coup d’oeil | To throw a stroke of an eye To cast a glance, a look |
| Aller droit au but | To go straight to the goal To get straight to the point |
| Avoir faim | To be hungry |
| Avoir soif | To be thirsty |
| Quel culot | What nerve |
| J'ai la poisse | I have bad luck |
| J'ai un peu faim | I'm a little hungry |
| Ça porte ses fruits | It pays off |
| Arrondir les angles | Smooth it out |
| Quelle audace | What audacity |
| Coûter les yeux de la tête | To cost an arm and a leg |
| Boire comme un trou | Drink like a hole |
| Ne rien savoir faire de ses dix doigts | Completely useless |
| Arriver comme un cheveu sur la soupe | To enter a situation at the most awkward moment |
| Mettre son grain de sel | To give an unsolicited opinion |
| Faire la grasse matinée | To sleep in |
| C’est dommage | That's too bad |
| Je dis ça, je dis rien | I'm just saying |
| Poser un lapin à quelqu’un | To stand somebody up, to not show up to plans |
| Ça marche | That works |
| Sauter du coq à l’âne | To jump from one topic to another |
| Être à l’ouest | Completely crazy, out of it |
| La moutarde me/lui monte au nez | I'm getting angry |
| Il fait un temps de chien! | It's raining cats and dogs |
| Ta gueule! | Be quiet, shut your mouth |
| Avoir le cafard | To be down in the dumps |
| Avoir les chevilles qui enflent | To be excessively proud/arrogant |
| Couper les cheveux en quatre | Being meticulous |
| Avoir un chat dans la gorge | To have a sore throat, heavy cough |
| Quand les poules auront des dents | When pigs fly, when Hell freezes over |
| Les doigts dans la nez | To be able to do it with your eyes closed |
| Sentir le sapin | To feel close to death |
| Manger comme quatre | To eat a lot, too much, enough for multiple people |
| Prendre quelqu’un la main dans le sac | Caught red handed |
| Joyeux Noel | Merry Christmas! |
| C'est dégeulasse! | It's disgusting! |
| Et patati et patata | Yada yada yada. |
| Ça me prend la tête! | It annoys me. |
| C'est chiant | It's annoying. |
| À tout à l'heure | Right away |
| Bonne journée! | Have a great day! |
| Mon amour | My love |
| Bon appétit | Enjoy your meal |
| Santé | Fit |
| Tchin tchin | Cheers! |
| Ça depend! | It depends! |
| Comme ci comme ca | So so |
| Petit à petit | Step by step |
| Oh là là! | Oh dear |
| Faire la grasse matinée | Sleep in... |
| Dormir à la belle étoile | Sleep under the stars |
| Il pleut des cordes | It's raining ropes |
| Découvrir le pot aux roses | Let the cat out of the bag |
| Prendre racine | Take root |
| C'est du gàteau | Easy as cake |
| En prendre plein les yeux | Keep eyes peeled/Pay attention |
| Etre sage comme une image | To be as wise as a painting |
| Pas du tout | Not at all |
| Rien du tout | Absolutely nothing |
| Tout le temps | All the times |
| Une bonne fois pour toutes | Once and for all |
| Tout de suite | Right now |
| Un point c'est tout | And that's all |
| A tout allure | At full speed |
| Tout a l'heure | See you later! |
| avoir envie de | to want (to do something), to feel like (doing something) |
| avoir besoin de | to need |
| avoir l'intention de | to intend (to do something) |
| avoir faim | to be hungry |
| avoir soif | to be thirsty |
| avoir chaud | to be hot |
| avoir froid | to be cold |
| avoir honte (de) | to be ashamed (of) |
| avoir mal (à la tête, à la gorge, aux yeux) | to hurt (to have a headache, to have a sore throat, to have sore eyes) |
| avoir raison | to be right |
| avoir tort | to be wrong |
| avoir sommeil | to be sleepy |
| avoir de la chance | to be lucky |
| être en train de + INF | to be busy; to be in the process of |
| être à + QQN | to belong to someone |
| être à l'heure | to be on time |
| être à l'avance | to be early |
| être en retard | to be late |
| être fatigué | to be tired |
| être d'accord avec | to agree with |
| faire attention | to pay attention; to be careful |
| faire ses devoirs | to do one's homework |
| faire une promenade | to take a walk, ride |
| faire la cuisine | to cook |
| sortir par les yeux | go out by the eyes |
| faire les courses | to do the (food) shopping; to run errands |
| sauter au yeux | jump to the eyes |
| C'est Versailles | It's Versailles |
| pas une miette | not a crumb |
| jeter de la poudre aux yeux | throw powder in the eyes |
| Bon appétit ! | Lets eat! |
| ça a l'air | It seems like |
| Se faire larguer | To get dumped |
| Se prendre un rateau | To hit a rake |
| Poser un lapin a quelqu'un | To put a rabbit to someone |
| S'envoyer en l'air | To throw oneself in the air |
| Avoir le cafard | To have the cockroach |
| Avoir la peche patate | To have a potato shape |
| Avoir la dalle | To have the slab |
| Prendre la tete | To take the head |
| En avoir marre | To have enough of it |
| Avoir du pain sur la planche | To have bread on the board |
| Etre a l'ouest | To be in the west |
| Etre rouge comme un tomate | To be red like a tomato |
| Etre creve | To be flat |
| Etre mal en point | To be bad in point |
| En avoir ras le bol | To have a bowl full of it |
| Avoir la flemme | To be lazy |
| Avoir un peur bleu de | To have a blue fear |
| Ne pas etre dans son assiette | Not to be in one's plate |
| Avoir la moutarde qui monte au nez | To have the mustard going up your nose |
| Etre au taquet | To be at a piece of wood |
| Avoir la gueule de bois | To have the wooden face |
| Avoir un chat dans la gorge | To have a cat in the throat |
| Etre bien dans sa peau | To be good in one's skin |
| Avoir un IQ d'huitre | To have the IQ of an oyster |
| Avoir un poil dans la main | To have a hair in the hand |
| Manger sur le pouce | To eat on the thumb |
| Boire comme un trou | To drink like a hole |
| Boire un coup | To drink a shock |
| Un froid de canard | A cold of duck |
| Pleuvoir des cordes | To be raining ropes |
| Coûter les yeux de la tête | costs the eyes in your head, to cost and arm and a leg |
| Avaler des couleuvre | to swallow grass snakes, to put up with humiliation |
| Avoir bon dos | to have a good back, to be a scapegoat |
| Avoir le coeur sur la main | to have a heart in hand, to be generous |
| Bete noire | black beast, an enemy or an obvious mistake |
| Bon an, mal an | good year, bad year -- year in, year out |
| Comme un poisson dans l'eau | like a fish in water, at ease |
| Conduire comme un pied | to drive like a foot, to drive terribly |
| Ca me dit quelque chose | that tells me something, that rings a bell |
| Ca me prend la tete | that takes my head, that drives me crazy/annoys me |
| (Les) doigts dans le nez | fingers in the nose, very easy |
| Avoir le melon | to have the melon, to be sure of oneself |
| Jeter l'eponge | to throw in the sponge, throw in the towel, to give up |
| Manger ses mots | to eat one's words, to muble |
| Mort de rire | die of laughter |
| Ce ne sont pas vos oignons | these aren't your onions, it's none of your business |
| Pleuvoir des cordes | to rain ropes, it's raining cats and dogs, to rain a lot |
| Se creuser la tete | |
| Quel culot | what nerve |
| J'ai la poisse | I have bad luck |
| Boire comme un trou | to drink like a hole |
| C'est dommage | that's too bad |
| Ca marche | that works |
| Avoir le cafard | to be down in the dumps, sad |
| Avoir un chat dans la gorge | to have a sore throat, heavy cough |
| Avoir la main verte | to have a green thumb |
| Du jour au lendemain | out of the blue, suddenly |
| Voir la vie en rose | to be optimistic |
| Motus et bouche cousue | to keep a secret |
| Faire les doux yeux | seduce, make sweet eyes |
| A point nommé | Timely |
| Un point d'orgue | A highlight |
| Être mal en point | To be in bad shape |
| (Se) prendre un râteau | To get blown off |
| C'est nickel | It's perfect |
| Autant que faire se peut | As much as possible |
| Peu me chaut ! | I do not care |
| Un amour platonique | A platonic love |
| Etre sur la corde raide | Being on a tight rope |
| L'erreur est humaine | Human Error |
| Remuer / tourner le couteau dans la plaie | Stir / turn the knife in the wound |
| Les tenants et les aboutissants | The ins and outs |
| Le talon d'Achille | The Achilles heel |
| De pied en cap | From head to toe |
| La huitième merveille du monde | The eighth wonder of the world |
| Une fine lame | A thin blade |
| Faire main basse sur... | Take control of... |
| Etre terre-à-terre | Being down-to-earth |
| Le revers de la médaille | The flip side |
| Tourner autour du pot | Beat around the bush |
| Motus et bouche cousue | lips are sealed |
| Se tirer la bourre | To get away with it |
| Sans queue ni tête | Nonsensical |
| Le libre arbitre | Free will |
| Jeter l'éponge | To give up |
| Avoir du sang de navet | Have bad blood |
| Scier la branche sur laquelle on est assis | Saw the branch on which you are sitting |
| En faire à sa guise | Do it your way |
| Brûler ses vaisseaux | Burn your ships |
| Comme un poisson dans l'eau | Like a fish in water |
| Paris est la plus belle ville du monde, il n’y a aucun doute ! | Paris is the most beautiful city in the world, there is no doubt! |
| Écoutez monsieur, s’il vous plaît ! | Listen sir, please! |
| Et patati et patata… | Yada yada yada… |
| À tout à l’heure ! | Right away! |
| Quel temps de merde ! | What a horrible time! |
| Ça a l’air bien ! | It looks nice! |
| Enfin, voilà, quoi. | Finally, that's what. |
| Vous êtes français ? | You're French? |
| Et du coup… | And suddenly… |
| On dirait… | Looks like ... |
| Prendre mal quelque chose | Take something wrong |
| Se débrouiller | To get by |
| Ça ne te regarde pas | It does not concern you |
| Tu (n’)as qu’à… | You don't have to ... |
| C’est à qui ? | Who is it to? |
| Tu en es où ? | Where are you? |
| Ça me tarde | That I long |
| S’entendre bien/mal avec quelqu’un | Get along well with someone |
| Demander ou donner un coup de main | Ask or give a hand |
| Jeter ou donner un coup d’oeil | Throw or take a look |
| Un coup de téléphonestep | A phone call |
| En coup de vent | In a gust of wind |
| Un coup de soleil | A sunburn |
| Boire un coup | Have a drink |
| Tenter le coup | To give it a try |
| Ca depend | it depends |
| petit a petit | step by step |
| comme ci comma ca | so so |
| À propos, elle est française cette caméra ? Ah non ! Ah bon ! Tant pis… À propos, elle est française cette caméra ? Ah non ! Ah bon ! Tant pis… | By the way, is she French this camera? Oh no ! Oh! Never mind… |
| La France est le plus beau pays du monde, c’est évident ! | France is the most beautiful country in the world, it's obvious! |
| Il fait un temps de chien! | It's raining cats and dogs! |
| Avoir la moutarde qui monte au nez | To have mustard going up your nose, to lose temper |
| Ta guele | Shut your mouth |
| Avoir les chevilles qui enflent | To have ankles that swell, to be full of yourself |
| Avoir le cafard | To have the cockroach, to be sad |
| Couper les cheveux en quatre | splitting hairs |
| Peter un plomb | to go crazy |
| Avoir un poil dans la main | to be lazy |
| Avoir un chat dans le gorge | to have a sore throat |
| Quand les poules auront des dents | When chickens have teeth |
| Les doigts dans la nez | I can do it with my fingers in my nose, easy to do |
| Sentir le sapin | to be close to death |
| Manger comme quatre | To eat enough food for four people |
| Prendre quelqu’un la main dans le sac | To catch someone red handed |
| Avoir le beurre et l’argent du beurre | To have butter and butter money |
| Une bouchée de pain | I bought it for cheap, or for a mouthful of bread |
| L’habit ne fait pas le moine | The clothing doesn't make the monk |
| Il me court sur le haricot | To get on your nerves |
| Avoir la gueule de bois | To have a hangover |
| Mettre son grain de sel | To give ones unwanted opinion |
| Être dans le cirage | to be half asleep |
| Mettre la charrue avant les bœufs | to put the plow before the cows |
| Ne pas casser trois pattes à un canard | Its nothing special |
| Jeter l'éponge | to give up |
| Poule mouillée | coward |
| Prendre entre quatre yeux | To have an argument with someone |
| Il y une couille dans le potage | There is a problem |
| Peigner la girafe | to do something useless |
| Se faire chier comme un rat mort | To be extremely bored |
| Un peu mon neveu | show |
| Tout à l’heure | See you later |
| Pas du tout | Nothing at all |
| Rien du tout | Nothing at all |
| Tout le temps | All the time |
| Demander ou donner un coup de main | Ask or give hand |
| En coup de vent | In a gust of wind |
| Boire un coup | Have a drink |
| Sur un coup de tête | On a whim |
| On dirait | Looks like |
| Prendre mal quelque chose | Take something wrong |
| Se débrouiller | To get by |
| Ça ne te regarde pas | It does not concern you |
| Tu (n’)as qu’à | You (only) have |
| Tu en es où | Where are you |
| Ça me tarde | That I long |
| S’entendre bien/mal avec quelqu’u | Get along well with someone |
| Une bonne fois pour toutes | Once and for all |
| Tout de suite | Right now |
| tomber de sommeil | To be very sleepy |
| faire mouche | To score a bulls eye |
| Coûter les yeux de la tête | To cost an arm an a leg |
| Se casser la tête | To go through a lot of trouble |
| Se mettre le doigt dans l'œil | To make a mistake |
| être sans voix | To be speechless |
| Donner sa langue au chat | To give up |
| Avoir les dent longues | To be ambitious |
| Avoir un poil dans la main | To be lazy |
| Manger sur le pouce | To grab a bite |
| Prendre ses jambes à son cou | To run away |
| Casser les pieds à quelqu'un | To get on someones nerves |
| Couper la poire en deux | To meet someone half way |
| Pédaler dans la semoule | To go around in circles |
| avoir la tête dans le guidon | To work hard |
| être soupe au lait | To be quick tempered |
| Se faire larguer | To get dumped |
| Se prendre un rateau | To get knocked back |
| Un froid de canard | To be icy cold |
| Jeter l'argent par les fenetres | To waste money |
| Une bouchee de pain | For next to nothing |
| Couter les yeux de la tete | To cost a fortune |
| S'en mettre plein les poches | To line one's pockets |
| Rouler sur l'or | To be rich |
| Casser les pieds a quelqu'un | To annoy someone |
| Casser du sucre sur le dos de quelqu'un | To talk about someone behind his back |
| Tourner au vinaigre | To get out of control |
| Faire la grasse matinee | To sleep in |
| Tomber dans le panneau | To fall into the trap |
| Aller droit au but | To go straight to the point |
| Faire le pont | To take a long weekend |
| Faire gaffe | To be careful |
| Faire la sourde oreille | To turn a deaf ear |
| Tourner la page | To make a fresh start |
| Faire l'andouille | To act silly |
| S'occuper de ses oignons | To mind one's own business |
| En faire tout un fromage | To make a fuss about something |
| Mettre du piment dans sa vie | To spice up one's life |
| Ramener sa fraise | To put one's two cents in |
| Avoir d'autres chats a fouetter | To have better things to do |
| Prendre ses cliques et ses claques | To pack up and go, to leave suddenly |
| Partir en fumee | To go up in smoke, to disappear |
| Prendre ses jambes a son cou | To run for one's life |
| Prendre quelqu'un la main dans le sac | To be caught red-handed |
| N'y voir que du feu | To be clueless |
| Tomber dans les pommes | To faint |
| avoir besoin de | to need |
| avoir envie de | to want (to do something), to feel like (doing something) |
| avoir l'intention de | to intend (to do something) |
| avoir faim | to be hungry |
| avoir soif | to be thirsty |
| avoir chaud | to be hot |
| avoir froid | to be cold |
| avoir honte (de) | to be ashamed (of) |
| avoir mal (à la tête, à la gorge, aux yeux) | to hurt (to have a headache, to have a sore throat, to have sore eyes) |
| avoir raison | to be right |
| avoir tort | to be wrong |
| avoir sommeil | to be sleepy |
| avoir de la chance | to be lucky |
| être en train de + INF | to be busy doing; to be in the process of |
| être à + QQN | to belong to someone |
| être à l'heure | to be on time |
| être à l'avance | to be early |
| être en retard | to be late |
| être fatigué(e) | to be tired |
| être d'accord avec | to agree with |
| faire attention | to pay attention; to be careful |
| faire ses devoirs | to do one's homework |
| faire une promenade | to take a walk, ride |
| faire la cuisine | to cook |
| faire la vaisselle | to do the dishes |
| faire les courses | to do the (food) shopping; to run errands |
| faire des achats (du shopping) | to go shopping |
| faire le lit | to make the bed |
| faire une promenade | to take a walk |
| faire la cuisine | to do the cooking |
| Arriver comme un cheveu sur la soupe | To enter a situation at the most awkward time |
| Ça a l’air | It seems like |
| Gagner sa vie | Earn a living |
| Mort de rire | Die of laughter |
| Pleuvoir des cordes | To rain ropes, raining cats and dogs |
| Avoir d’autres chats à fouetter | To have other /better things to do |
| Avoir le cœur sur la main | To be generous |
| Comme un poisson dans l'eau | Like a fish in water, to be at ease |
| Coûter les yeux de la tête | To cost the eyes of head, to be expensive |
| Ça me dit quelque chose | That rings a bell |
| En un clin d’œil | Quickly, fast |
| C'est du gâteau! | It's a piece of cake |
| Occupe-toi de tes oignons | Mind your own business |
| Ce n'est pas de gâteau | It is not easy |
| Casser les pieds á quelqu'un | To get on someone's nerves |
| Avoir le bras long | To have influence |
| Avoir le cœur sur la main | To be kindhearted |
| Se croire sorti de la cuisse de Jupiter | To think a lot of ones self |
| Couper l'herbe sous le pied de quelqu'un | To pull the rug out from under someone |
| Avaler des couleuvres | To put up with humiliation |
| Bête noire | Enemy, nemesis |
| Conduire comme un pied | To drive horribly |
| Ça me prend la tête | That drives me crazy |
| Ça ne tient pas debout | It doesn't make sense |
| Manger sur le pouce | Eat very quickly |
| Prendre son pied | Have a good time |
| Se creuser la tête | Think hard about something, remember |
| J'ai la poisse | I have bad luck |
| Quand les poules auront des dents | When pigs fly |
| C’est dommage | That is too bad |
| Coûter les yeux de la tête | To cost a fortune |
| Boire comme un trou | To drink all the time |
| Ne rien savoir faire de ses dix doigts. | Not knowing what to do with your ten fingers |
| Arriver comme un cheveu sur la soupe | To arrive like the hair in a soup |
| Mettre son grain de sel. | To put in one's grain of salt |
| Faire la grasse matinée | To have a fat morning |
| C’est dommage | That's too bad or that's a shame |
| Je dis ça, je dis rien. | Just saying. |
| Poser un lapin à quelqu’un | To stand someone up or not show up |
| Ça marche! | That works! |
| Sauter du coq à l’âne | To jump from topic to topic in a conversation |
| Être à l’ouest | completely crazy or out of it |
| La moutarde me/lui monte au nez | I'm getting angry |
| Avoir le cafard | to feel low |
| Avoir la flemme | To be lazy |
| Etre creve | To be tired |
| Un froid de canard | to be extremely cold |
| Pleuvoir des cordes | It's raining ropes |
| Faire gaffe | To be careful |
| Chercher la petite bête | To look for something to complain about |
| Sentir le sapin | to have one's foot in the grave |
| Prendre ses cliques et ses claques | to pack up and leave |
| Avoir une peur bleue de | To have a fear close to terror |
| Avoir un chat dans la gorge | To have a cat (frog) in one's throat |
| En avoir ras le bol | to be fed up with |
| un coup d’oeil | to throw a glance |
| Faire la sourde oreille | to pretend not to hear when someone is talking to you |
| Prendre ses jambes à son cou | To run for one's life |
| S’occuper de ses oignons | Asking someone to stop bothering you and leave you alone |
| Changer de crèmerie | To take one's custom elsewhere |
| Avoir la main verte | To have a green thumb |
| Rien à cirer | I don't care |
| Devenir chèvre | To go/become insane |
| Voir la vie en rose | To be optimistic |
| Être blanc comme un linge | To be pale |
| Avoir du pain sur la planche | To have a lot of work to do |
| Avoir les yeux en amande | To have almond (pretty) eyes |
| C'est la fin des haricots | We've had it; that's the last straw |
| Je n'ai plus un radis | I haven't got any money |
| Chercher la petite bête | To split hair; to look for something to complain about |
| Laisser le meilleur pour la fin | Save the best for last |
| Ça coûte les yeux de la tête | That costs an arm and a leg |
| Les chiens ne font pas des chats | The apple doesn't fall far from the tree |
| Avoir sur le bout de la langue | To have on the tip of your tongue |
| C'est facile comme tout | It's as easy as pie |
| Ne mets pas tous tes oeufs dans le même panier | Don't put all of your eggs in one basket |
| Il vaut mieux aller au moulin qu'au médecin | An apple a day keeps the doctor away |
| Il ne faut jamais mettre la charrue avant les boeufs | Don't put the cart before the horse |
| Qui naît poule aime à caqueter | A leopard can't change their spots |
| Faute de grives, on mange des merles | Beggers can't be choosers |
| Paris ne s'est pas fait en un jour | Rome wasn't built in a day |
| Avoir la bouche fendue jusqu'aux oreilles | Grinning from ear to ear |
| Le chat parti, les souris dansent | When the cat's away, the mice will play |
| Aux grands maux les grands remèdes | Desperate times call for desperate measures |
| Avoir un poil dans la main | To be lazy |
| Il fait un temps de chien | It's raining cats and dogs |
| Avoir la moutarde qui monte au nez | To lose your temper; to be angry |
| Avoir les chevilles qui enflent | To be full of yourself; big-headed |
| Quand les poules auront des dents | When pigs fly; when chickens have teeth |
| Un chien vivant vaut mieux qu'un lion mort | A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush; be happy with what you have rather than being greedy |
| Se creuser la tête | to dig into your head (to think really hard / to try to remember something) |
| Boire comme un trou | to drink like a hole (they never stop drinking) |
| Ne rien savoir faire de ses dix doigts | not knowing how to do anything with one’s ten fingers (somebody is completely useless) |
| Arriver comme un cheveu sur la soupe | to arrive like the hair in a soup (entering a situation at the most awkward moment possible) |
| Mettre son grain de sel. | to put in one’s grain of salt (to give someone an unsolicited and unnecessary opinion) |
| Faire la grasse matinée | to have a fat morning (to sleep in) |
| C’est dommage | that’s a shame |
| Quand on parle du loup | one speaks about the wolf (speaking of the devil when someone you were just talking about enters the room) |
| Rien à cirer | I don’t care, I’m leaving! |
| Revenons à nos moutons | For now, let’s get back to the topic at hand. |
| Poser un lapin à quelqu’un | to put a rabbit on somebody (to stand someone up) |
| Ça marche! | that works |
| Sauter du coq à l’âne | jump from the rooster to the donkey (jump from topic to topic in conversation) |
| Être à l’ouest | being in the West (being completely crazy or out of it) |
| La moutarde me/lui monte au nez | the mustard is getting to my nose (I’m getting angry) |
| Perdre la boule | To lose your ball (To lose your head) |
| Ce n'est pas la mer à boire | It's not like you have to drink the ocean (It's not difficult) |
| Passer une nuit blanche | To have a white night (To stay up / awake all night (usually on purpose, not because of insomnia)) |
| Passer un mauvais quart d'heure | To have a bad quarter of an hour (A short, difficult period in one's life) |
| Dormir à la belle étoile | To sleep in the pretty star (To sleep outside) |
| Être blanc comme neige | To be as white as snow (To be completely innocent) |
| Faire boule de neige | To make like a ball of snow (To get bigger / more important) |
| Faire du chemin / faire son chemin | To go along the path / to go along your path (To make progress) |
| Mordre la poussière | To bite the dust (To suffer a defeat) |
| Traîner quelqu'un dans la boue | To drag someone through the mud (To dirty someone's reputation) |
| Se perdre les chèvres | To lose your goats (To forget what you were just saying, or lose your place in a conversation. (This isn't widely used, but there are goats!)) |
| Les actes valent mieux que les mots | actions are worth more than words |
| Mieux vaut tard que jamais | better late than never |
| C’est du gâteau | it was a piece of a cake |
| La goutte d’eau qui fait déborder le vase | it’s the drop of water that makes the vase overflow (hit your breaking point, over the edge, at the last straw) |
| Coûter un bras | cost me an arm and a leg (a cost that's unreasonable) |
| Tenez-moi au courant | Keep me posted, I’m worried. |
| être sans voix | to be without voice (to be speechless) |
| Donner sa langue au chat | to give one's tongue to the cat (to give up) |
| Casser les pieds à quelqu'un | to break someone's feet (to get on someone's nerves) |
| Couper la poire en deux | to cut the pear in two (to meet someone halfway) |
| Mettre son grain de sel. | To put in one's grain of salt: To give an unsolicited opinion |
| Ça marche! | That works |
| Ne rien savoir faire de ses dix doigts. | Not knowing how to use your ten fingers: Somebody who is useless. |
| N’importe quoi! | Whatever |
| Être à l’ouest | Being in the West: Somebody who is crazy |
| Ça te dit? | You up for it? |
| Je dis ça, je dis rien. | I say that I say nothing: Just saying. |
| Poser un lapin à quelqu’un. | To put a rabbit on someone: To stand someone up. |
| Boire comme un trou. | Drink like a hole: Unending/insatiable |
| Sauter du coq à l’âne | To jump from the rooster to the donkey: To frequently change the subject of a conversation |
| Faire la grasse matinée. | To have a fat morning: To sleep in. |
| La moutarde me/lui monte au nez | The mustard is getting in my nose: I'm getting angry |
| Arriver comme un cheveu sur la soupe. | Arrive like a hair in soup: Entering an awkward situation. |
| C’est n’importe quoi! | That's nonsense |
| T’sais | Ya know |
| C’est dommage. | That's a shame/that's too bad |
| Tiens-moi au courant! | Keep me up to date! |
| Allez savoir pourquoi! | For whatever reason! |
| Laisse tomber | Forget it |
| Allez! | C'mon! |
| C’est naze | That sucks |
| Revenons à nos moutons! | Let's get back to the subject at hand. |
| Je n’en crois pas mes yeux! | I can't believe my eyes! |
| Tu t’en sors? | Doing okay? |
| J’en mettrais ma main au feu! | I'd bet my life on it! |
| Tu fais quoi? | Watcha doin'? |
| Un chien vivant vaut mieux qu'un lion mort | It's better to be happy with what you have than to be greedy and ask for more. |
| Laisser le meilleur pour la fin. | Leave the best for last. |
| Le chat parti, les souris dansent. | When the cat's away, the mice will play: When a threat is gone, people will relax. |
| Avoir de la chance. | To be lucky. |
| Avoir mal à... | To have an ache (specific to body parts) |
| Faire ses devoirs | To do homework. |
| Coûter les yeux de la tête. | To cost an unreasonable price: To cost your eyes and your head (English version: an arm and a leg) |
| Boire comme un trou | To drink like a hole (to never stop drinking) |
| Arriver comme un cheveu sur la soupe | To arrive like the hair in the soup (to enter a situation at the most awkward moment possible) |
| Faire la grasse matinée | To have a fat morning (to sleep in) |
| C’est dommage | That's a shame (that's too bad) |
| Ça marche | That works (I'm on board) |
| Sauter du coq à l’âne | To jump from the rooster to the donkey (to change from topic to topic) |
| La moutarde monte au nez | The mustard is getting to my nose (I'm getting angry) |
| Péter un plomb | To blow a fuse (to get very angry) |
| Avoir un poil dans la main | To have a hair in on'es hand (to be lazy) |
| Une bouchée de pain | A mouthful of bread (a low price) |
| L’habit ne fait pas le moine | The clothing doesn't make the monk (don't judge things by their appearances) |
| Jeter l'éponge | To throw in the sponge (to give up) |
| Avoir le beurre et l’argent du beurre | To have butter and butter money (to have something while getting rid of it) |
| Ne rien savoir faire de ses dix doigts | Not knowing how to do anything with one's ten fingers (to be useless) |
| Coûter les yeux de la tête | To cost the eyes in your head (to cost an unreasonable amount) |
| Prendre quelqu’un la main dans le sac | To catch someone with their hand in the bag (to catch someone stealing something) |
| Quand les poules auront des dents | When chickens have teeth (it is very unlikely to happen) |
| Mettre son grain de sel | To put in one's grain of salt (to give someone an unsolicited opinion) |
| Il fait un temps de chien | It's dog weather (the weather is very bad) |
| Ne pas casser trois pattes à un canard | It doesn't break three legs on a duck (it isn't special) |
| Il me court sur le haricot | He's running on my bean (he's annoying me) |
| Je dis ça, je dis rien | I say that, I say nothing (just saying) |
| Être à l’ouest | To be in the West (to be completely crazy) |
| Avoir les doigts dans la nez | To have one's fingers in their nose (to be very easy) |
| Avoir un chat dans la gorge | To have a cat in on'es throat (to have a sore throat or a cough) |
| Manger comme quatre | To eat like four (to eat too much) |
| Avoir le cafard | To have the cockroach (to feel sad) |
| Avoir la gueule de bois | To have a wooden mouth (to have a hangover) |
| Poser un lapin à quelqu’un | To put a rabbit on something (to stand someone up) |
| Être dans le cirage | To be in the polish (to be groggy or drowsy) |
| Avaler des couleuvres | "to swallow grass snakes" to put up with humiliation |
| Avoir d'autres chats fouetter | "to have other cats to whip" - "to have other fish to fry" to have other/better things to do |
| Avoir le coeur sur la main | "to have a heart in hand" to be generous |
| Bon an, mal an | "good year, bad year" year in year out |
| Comme un poisson dans l'eau | "like a fish in water" at ease |
| Couter les yeux de la tete | "to cost the eyes of the head" to be very expensive |
| Ca me dit quelque chose | "that tells me something" that rings a bell |
| Ca me prend la tete | "that takes my head" that makes me crazy/that annoys me |
| Ca ne tient pas debout | "it dosnt stand upright" it dosnt make any sense |
| En un clin d'oeil | "in the wink of an eye" quickly |
| avoir le melon | "to have the melon" to be sure of oneself |
| Jeter l'eponge | "to throw in the sponge" to give up |
| Manger sur le pouce | "eat on the thumb" eat very quickly |
| Mort de rire | "die of laughter" |
| Ce ne sont pas vos oignons | "these arnt your onion" its none of your business |
| Pleuvoir des cordes | "to rain ropes" raining cats and dogs |
| Se creuser la tete | "to dig into the head" to think of something, remember |
| Quel culot | what nerve |
| a bientot | see you later |
| a bon compte | cheap |
| a bon entendeur salut | a word to the wise is enough |
| a bout de bras | at an arms length |
| Bete noire | "black beast" enemy, nemesis, or an obvious mistake |
| Conduire comme un pied | "to drive like a foot" to drive horrible |
| Esprit de l'escalier | "thinking of the stairway" thinking of a witty response way too late |
| Prendre son pied | "take ones foot" have a great time |
| Mieux vaut tard que jamais | Better late than never |
| Avoir de la chance | to be lucky |
| avoir chaud | to be hot |
| avoir du courage | to be brave |
| avoir envie de | to feel like |
| Et du coup | and suddenly |
| On dirait | it looks like |
| Prendre mal quelque chose | take something wrong |
| Se débrouiller | fend for yourself |
| Ça ne te regarde pas | It does not concern you |
| Tu (n’)as qu’à… | You only have to |
| C’est à qui ? | Who is it to? |
| Tu en es où ? | Where are you from? |
| Ça me tarde | I'm sorry |
| S’entendre bien/mal avec quelqu’un | Get along well with someone |
| un froid de canard | freezing cold |
| briser la glace | break the ice |
| glacer le sang | chilling blood |
| sur un coup de tête | on a whim |
| faire la tête | to make head |
| avoir la main verte | have a green thumb |
| baisser les bras | to give up |
| casser la croûte | have a snack |
| passer son chemin | go his way |
| rebrousser chemin | turn back |
| se tourner les pouces | twiddle one's thumbs |
| manger sur le pouce | eat fast |
| Si jamais | if ever |
| prendre ses jambes à son cou | take to one's heels |
| donner la langue au chat | to give up |
| faire la tete | to sulk |
| garder la tete froide | to keep one's cool |
| se mettre le doigt dans l'oeil | to make a mistake |
| être sans voix | to be speechless |
| manger sur le pouce | to grab a bite to eat |
| Coûter les yeux de la tête | That costs the eyes in your head!(That price is unreasonable!) |
| Boire comme un trou | You Drink like a hole!(The person never stops drinking) |
| Ne rien savoir faire de ses dix doigts | You don't know how to do anything with your 10 fingers(You are useless) |
| Arriver comme un cheveu sur la soupe | You arrive like a hair in a soup(You arrive very akwardly) |
| Mettre son grain de sel | To put ones grain of salt(To give them an unnecessary action) |
| Faire la grasse matinée | To have a fat morning(To sleep in) |
| C’est dommage | That' a shame |
| Je dis ça, je dis rien. | I say that, I say nothing(Just saying) |
| Poser un lapin à quelqu’un | To put a rabbit on somebody(To not show up to something you planned) |
| Ça marche | That works! |
| Sauter du coq à l’âne | To Jump from the rooster to the Donkey(To jump from topic to topic in conversation) |
| Être à l’ouest | To be in the west(To be zoned out) |
| La moutarde me/lui monte au nez | The Mustard is getting to my nose(I'm getting angry/upset) |
| Avoir le Cafard | To have the cockroach(To be Depressed) |
| Avoir la pêche/banane/patate | To have the peach/banana/potato shape(To be happy or full of energy) |
| Prendre la tête | To Take the Head(To get a headache, for something to be irritating) |
| Avoir du pain sur la planche | To have the bread on board(To have alot to do |
| Être crevé | To be flat, To be dead(To not have energy anymore, to be exausted) |
| En avoir ras le bol | To have a bowl full of it(To be sick of it) |
| Avoir une peur bleue de | To have blue fear(To be Terrified) |
| Être au taquet | To be a piece of wood(Something is blocking you) |
| Avoir la gueule de bois | To have the wooden face(To be on a hangover |
| Avoir un chat dans la gorge | To have a cat in your throat(To have the need to clear your throat) |
| Être bien dans sa peau | To be good in ones skin(To be confident and ignore other's negative opinions) |
| Coûter les yeux de la tête | That costs the eyes in your head!(That price is unreasonable!) |
| Boire comme un trou | You Drink like a hole!(The person never stops drinking) |
| Ne rien savoir faire de ses dix doigts | |
| Arriver comme un cheveu sur la soupe | You arrive like a hair in a soup(You arrive very akwardly) |
| Mettre son grain de sel | To put ones grain of salt(To give them an unnecessary action) |
| Faire la grasse matinée | To have a fat morning(To sleep in) |
| C’est dommage | That' a shame |
| Je dis ça, je dis rien. | I say that, I say nothing(Just saying) |
| Poser un lapin à quelqu’un | To put a rabbit on somebody(To not show up to something you planned) |
| Ça marche | That works! |
| Sauter du coq à l’âne | To Jump from the rooster to the Donkey(To jump from topic to topic in conversation) |
| Être à l’ouest | To be in the west(To be zoned out) |
| La moutarde me/lui monte au nez | The Mustard is getting to my nose(I'm getting angry/upset) |
| Avoir le Cafard | To have the cockroach(To be Depressed) |
| Avoir la pêche/banane/patate | To have the peach/banana/potato shape(To be happy or full of energy) |
| Prendre la tête | To Take the Head(To get a headache, for something to be irritating) |
| Avoir du pain sur la planche | To have the bread on board(To have alot to do |
| Être crevé | To be flat, To be dead(To not have energy anymore, to be exausted) |
| En avoir ras le bol | To have a bowl full of it(To be sick of it) |
| Avoir une peur bleue de | |
| Être au taquet | To be a piece of wood(Something is blocking you) |
| Avoir la gueule de bois | To have the wooden face(To be on a hangover |
| Avoir un chat dans la gorge | To have a cat in your throat(To have the need to clear your throat) |
| Être bien dans sa peau | To be good in ones skin(To be confident and ignore other's negative opinions) |