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French Idioms
| Term | Definition |
|---|---|
| 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 |
| 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 |
| 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 |
| À toute à l'heure | See you later |
| Pas du tout | Not at all |
| Rien du tout | Nothing at all |
| Tout le temps | All the time |
| Demander ou donner un coup de main | Ask or give a hand |
| En coup de vent | Briefly |
| Boire un coup | Have a drink |
| Sur un coup de tête | On a whim |
| On dirait | (It) looks like |
| Prendre mal quelque chose | Take something the wrong way |
| Se débrouiller | To get by |
| Ça ne te regarde pas | It does not concern you |
| Tu n'as qu'à | You have only... |
| Tu en es où | Where are you |
| Ça me tarde | I can't wait |
| S'entendre bien/mal avec quelqu'un | Get along well/poorly with someone |
| Une bonne fois pour toutes | Once and for all |
| Toute de suite | Right now |
| Tomber de sommeil | Fall asleep |
| Faire mouche | To hit the mark |
| Se casser la tête | To puzzle/challenge your brain |
| Se mettre le doigt dans l'oeil | To make a mistake |
| Être sans voix | To be speechless |
| Donner sa langue au chat | To give up |
| Avoir les dents longues | To be (ruthlessly) ambitious |
| Manger sur le pouce | To grab a bite to eat |
| Prendre ses jambes a son cou | To run away/make a run for it |
| Casser les pieds a quelqu'un | To get on someone's nerves |
| Couper la poire en deux | To meet someone halfway/split the difference |
| Pédaler dans la semoule | Get nowhere fast/to go around in circles |
| Avoir la tête dans le guidon | To work hard |
| Être soupe au lait | To be quick/short tempered |
| En avoir l'eau à la bouche | To have your mouth water |
| Motus et bouche cousue | My lips are sealed |
| Le bouche-à-oreille | Word of mouth, the rumor |
| Faire la fine bouche | To be a picky eater |
| Faire les doux yeux | To have sweet eyes |
| En avoir la chair de poule | To get goosebumps/to be scared |
| Tenir sa langue | To hold your tongue/keep your mouth shut |
| Mettre du baume au coeur | Put the balm in the heart/comfort/soothe |
| Il s'en est fallu d'un cheveu | He had taken a hair, he was very closely to |
| Être à deux doigts de | Being very close to doing something; almost |
| 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 get walked on; do not tolerate certain things; be respected |
| Avoir le sang chaud | Warm blooded; short tempered |
| Perdre son sang-froid | To loose your temper |
| J'ai l'estomac noué | My stomach is in knots; stomach ache |
| C'est casse-gueule | It's dicey |
| C'est casse-gueule | It's obvious/hard to miss |
| Ça ne saute pas aux yeux | It's not obvious; it doesn't jump out to the eyes |
| Ne pas faire le poids | Do not do the weight; do not have the skills |
| Avoir la grosse tête | To have a big head; to be full of yourself |
| Être mauvaise langue | To say something bad about someone; gossip |
| Lever le pied | Kick back |
| Avoir la peau dure | To be thick skinned; not easily bothered/riled |
| Quel pied | That was great |
| Avoir quelque chose dans la peau | Love something passionately |
| Se prendre en main | To take charge |
| Ça prend la tête | To take time and effort |
| Diriger d'une main de fer | To rule with an iron fist |
| Boire comme un trou | Drink like a fish; to never stop drinking |
| Arriver comme un cheveu sur la soupe | To enter a situation at the most awkward moment possible |
| Faire la grasse matinée | To sleep in/sleep late |
| C'est dommage | That's a shame; that's too bad |
| Ça marche | It works |
| Péter un plomb | Freak out; to get very angry |
| Avoir un chat dans la gorge | To have a frog in your throat; to have something stuck in your throat |
| Une bouchée de pain | It costs next to nothing |
| L'habit ne fait pas le moine | Don't judge a book by its cover |
| Jeter l'éponge | To give up |
| Avoir le beurre et l'argent du beurre | To have the best of both worlds |
| Prendre quelqu'un la main dans la sac | To catch someone red-handed/in the act |
| Mettre son grain de sel | To give an unsolicited opinion |
| Ne pas casser trois pattes à un canard | It isn't special |
| Il me court sur le haricot | He's annoying me |
| Je dis ça, je dis rien | I'm just saying |
| Être à l'ouest | To be dazed and confused; to have one's head in the clouds |
| Avoir les doigts dans le nez | Something that is so easy you could do it in your sleep |
| Manger comme quatre | To eat enough for an army |
| Avoir le cafard | To feel down; to have the blues |
| Avoir la gueule de bois | To have a hangover |
| Poser un lapin à quelqu'un | To stand up to someone |
| Être dans le cirage | To be half-asleep; to be groggy |
| Sauter du coq à l'âne | To jump from one subject to another |
| 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 |
| 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 |
| Boire comme un trou | They never stop drinking even if they should |
| C’est dommage | That's a shame |
| Ça marche | That works |
| Oh la la | Oh dear |
| Gagner sa vie | Earn a living |
| Mort de rire | Die of laughter |
| Pleuvoir des cordes | To rain ropes |
| Avoir les yeux plus gros que le ventre | To have eye bigger than ones stomach |
| Un froid de canard | To be icy, bitterly, cold |
| Jeter l’argent par les fenêtres | To carelessly spend money |
| Blanchir de l’argent | To launder money |
| S’en mettre plein les poches | To line one's pockets |
| Rouler sur l’or | To be rich |
| Se serrer la ceinture | To tighten one's belt |
| Casser les pieds à quelqu’un | To annoy/bother someone |
| Casser du sucre sur le dos de quelqu’un | To talk about someone behind their back |
| Tourner au vinaigre | To get nasty |
| Tomber dans le panneau | To fall into the trap |
| Aller droit au but | To get straight to the point |
| Avoir faim | To be hungry |
| Avoir soif | To be thirsty |
| Joyeux Noel | Merry Christmas! |
| C'est dégeulasse! | It's disgusting! |
| Et patati et patata | Yada yada yada. |
| C'est chiant | It's annoying. |
| Bonne journée! | Have a great day! |
| Mon amour | My love |
| Bon appétit | Enjoy your meal |
| Santé | Fit/healthy |
| Tchin tchin | Cheers! |
| Ça depend! | It depends! |
| Comme ci comme ca | So so |
| Petit à petit | Step by step |
| Dormir à la belle étoile | Sleep under the stars |
| 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 |
| Un point c'est tout | And that's all |
| A tout allure | At full speed |
| Se faire larguer | To get dumped |
| Se prendre un rateau | To get knocked back |
| 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 | |
| En avoir l'eau à la bouche mouth water, to want something | |
| Motus et bouche cousue lips are sealed, keep a secret | |
| Faire la fine bouche have a thin mouth, not easily satisfied | |
| 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 | |
| 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 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 | |
| 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? | |
| C’est n’importe quoi! That's nonsense | |
| T’sais Ya know | |
| 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) |
Created by:
SaffronP
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