Idioms exist in every language. They are expressions where the actual meaning of the saying is different from its literal meaning. For example, when you hear, “It’s raining cats and dogs!” you know that animals aren’t actually falling from the sky. Or when somebody tells you to “break a leg,” you know it really means “good luck.” Learning common French idioms can help you understand the French language from a new perspective.
Like American idioms, French idioms are plentiful. Some examples are “être dans la lune” (“to be in the moon”), or to have one’s head in the clouds; and “prendre quelqu’un la main dans le sac” (“to take somebody’s hand in the bag”), or to catch someone red-handed. You could probably guess what “coûter un bras” (“It costs an arm”) means, but could you guess the meaning behind “faire la grasse matinée” (“to do the fat morning”)? Read on to find out. To help you learn French online, enjoy this non-exhaustive list of popular and interesting French idioms along with their explanations.
| French idiom | English meaning |
| avoir le coup de foudre | love at first sight |
| les carottes sont cuites | it’s over for good |
| poser un lapin | to be stood up |
| faire la grasse matinée | a long sleep |
| raconter des salades | spinning yarns |
| en faire tout un fromage | to make a big deal about something that is not worth giving much thought to |
| tomber dans les pommes | faint |
| les doigts dans le nez | to do something easily |
| rouler dans la farine | to get scammed |
| l’habit ne fait pas le moine | don’t judge a book by its cover |
| faire un froid de canard | cold weather |
| yeux de merlan frit | begging puppy dog eyes |
| avoir un oursin dans le portefeuille | someone who is stingy |
| vendre la peau de l’ours avant de l’avoir tué | count your chickens before they’re hatched |
| ne pas faire d’omelette sans casser des oeufs | no pain, no gain |
| donner sa langue au chat | cat’s got my tongue |
| devoir une fière chandelle | owe someone big time |
| avoir la chair de poule | goosebumps |
| avoir d’autres chats à fouetter avoir un chat dans la gorge | bigger fish to fry have a frog in one’s throat |
| s’occuper de ses oignons | mind your own business |
| avoir les yeux plus gros que le ventre | eyes are bigger than your stomach |
| ne pas y aller de main morte | to give 100% |
| se serrer la ceinture | be careful with money |
| prendre ses jambes à son cou | run for your life |
| la goutte d’eau qui fait déborder le vase | the last straw |
| avoir le cafard | feel depressed |
| avoir le coeur sur la main | wear your heart on your sleeve |
| chercher midi à quatorze heures | making something difficult |
| filer à l’anglaise | sneak out |
1. Avoir le coup de foudre
French is said to be the language of love, and here is proof of that. “Avoir le coup de foudre” literally means in English to get struck by lightning. Very romantic, right? Originally, it was used to talk about something unexpected and almost unpleasant. Over time, it took on a more sentimental meaning and is now used to talk about love at first sight.
Example:
Sans même lui parler, je suis tombé amoureux. J’ai eu le coup de foudre.
Without even talking to him/her, I fell in love. It was love at first sight.
2. Les carottes sont cuites
While the literal translation of this idiom is “the carrots are cooked,” the importance of this phrase lies in the fact that the carrots aren’t raw. The phrase expresses when something is finished for good — for example, when somebody is dying or when you have no chance of succeeding on a project.
Example:
Il veut se présenter aux élections mais je pense que pour lui, les carottes sont cuites.
He wants to run for office but I think that it’s over for him.
3. Poser un lapin
“Poser un lapin” literally means “to put down a rabbit.” The idiom, however, means that someone never showed up to their date; in other words, to be stood up.
Example:
Elle ne me répond pas; je crois qu’elle va me poser un lapin.
She isn’t answering me; I think she’s going to stand me up.
4. Faire la grasse matinée
Literally “to do the fat morning,” this amazing activity is something that you can’t do when you become a parent or have a needy pet. “Fat” or “gras/grasse” has the meaning of big, opulent, and long, and therefore “une grasse matinée” means to sleep in for a long, long time.
Example:
Je me suis réveillée à 15h; j’ai fais une belle grasse matinée.
Translation: “I woke up at 3 p.m.; I slept in really late.”
5. Raconter des salades
Meaning “to tell salads” — sometimes replaced by “raconter des histoires” (“to tell stories”) — “raconter des salades” is an idiom used for someone who exaggerates and tells elaborate lies when storytelling. Someone who “tells salads” is sometimes called a “baratineur.” It’s similar to the expression “spinning yarns” in English.
Example:
Il ne savait pas quoi me dire alors il m’a raconté que des salades.
He didn’t know what to tell me so he told me stories.
6. En faire tout un fromage
Since cheese might be the most important thing in France, “en faire tout un fromage” literally translates to “to make a whole cheese about something.” The idiom means do not give something the importance of cheese. The French use this expression when people overreact, exaggerate, or give too much importance to something that isn’t worth it. Nothing is as important as cheese — so don’t make it so.
Example:
Tu ne vas pas en faire tout un fromage!
Don’t make such a big deal about it!
7. Tomber dans les pommes
In this case, “to fall in the apples” means to faint, most likely because the old French word “pâmer” (“to faint”) over time turned into “pomme” (“apple”).
Example:
L’odeur était si forte qu’il est tombé dans les pommes.
The smell was so strong that he fainted.
8. Les doigts dans le nez
Often translated as “fingers in the nose,” this French idiom is used to talk about something that we can do easily and therefore without the use of hands. Don’t mistake it with “se curer le nez,” which means to pick your nose. “Les doigts dans le nez” is similar to the English expression “to do something with one hand tied behind your back” or to say “I could do this with my eyes closed.”
Example:
J’ai passé le test les doigts dans le nez.
I could have passed that test with my eyes closed.
9. Rouler dans la farine
Literally “rolled in flour,” this expression means to get scammed. French speakers may also express this by saying “se faire rouler.” “La farine” used to have a similar meaning to telling “salades” (refer to number 5).
Example:
J’ai payé 3 euros mon croissant. Je crois que je me suis fait rouler dans la farine.”
I paid 3 euros for my croissant. I think I got ripped off.
10. L’habit ne fait pas le moine
This French idiom, which translates to “the dress doesn’t make the monk,” means to not judge a book by its cover or be fooled by outward appearances. Here, we can replace the monk with any profession with a uniform.
Example:
Je me suis fait rouler dans la farine par cet homme élégant. L’habit de fait pas le moine!
I got scammed by an elegant man. Don’t judge a book by its cover!
11. Faire un froid de canard
“A duck’s cold!” in English, this phrase probably comes from the fact that ducks were hunted during the winter season. Therefore, this phrase refers to the cold weather. Don’t forget to bring your jacket!
Example:
J’étais à New York cet hiver; il faisait un froid de canard.
I was in New York last winter; it was freezing cold.
12. Yeux de merlan frit
“Your fried whiting eyes” refers to the doe-eyed look that someone gives you when they want to eat your food. The English equivalent might be something like “puppy dog eyes.” Since whiting is quite a rare fish in the Mediterranean, it is sometimes replaced in the expression by “yeux de gobie” (“mudskipper eyes”).
Example:
Pas la peine de me regarder avec ces yeux de merlan frit; t’auras pas mon sandwich.
Don’t give me those puppy dog eyes; you’re not getting my sandwich.
13. Avoir un oursin dans le portefeuille
Have you met a person who acts like they are in pain every time they have to pay for something? In French, it seems that this excruciating pain comes from the fact that they have “a sea urchin in the wallet.” It makes the money difficult to reach and sometimes painful when you get it (due to the sea urchin’s sharp spines). In other words, the French use this phrase to describe somebody as stingy and a cheapskate.
Example:
Il ne m’a même pas acheté une rose. Il doit avoir des oursins dans le portefeuille.
He didn’t even buy me a rose. He must be a cheapskate.
14. Vendre la peau de l’ours avant de l’avoir tué
Usually used when people celebrate something too early, “to sell the skin of the bear before even killing it” has a similar meaning to the English idiom “counting your chickens before they hatch.”
Example:
Ils m’ont dit qu’ils m’embaucheraient — il faut qu’on fête ça!
Attends un peu; ne vend pas la peau de l’ours avant de l’avoir tué.”
They said they would hire me — let’s celebrate!
Wait a bit; don’t count your chickens before they hatch.
15. Ne pas faire d’omelette sans casser des oeufs
An omelet is a popular dish, but you can’t make one without breaking some eggs. Certain things just can’t be done without some collateral damage. This idiom is basically the same in French as it is in English. In other words: no pain, no gain.
Example:
A cause des rénovations il y aura beaucoup de bruit, mais on ne fait pas d’omelette sans casser des œufs.
The renovation will make a lot of noise, but you can’t make an omelet without breaking some eggs.
16. Donner sa langue au chat
Like in English, the French also have a common expression involving cats. “To give your tongue to the cat” is an idiom used when someone doesn’t have the answer for something and gives up trying to find the words.
Example:
Honnêtement, je n’ai aucune idée. Je donne ma langue au chat.
Honestly, I have no idea. The cat’s got my tongue.
17. Devoir une fière chandelle
“I owe you a proud candle” doesn’t sound like it refers to a big debt, but this French idiom is used when you owe someone a lot of money or a huge favor. The word “proud” takes the meaning of something big and important. The candle refers to the ones you light at church as a sign of gratefulness.
Example:
Il m’a sauvé la vie! Je lui doit une fière chandelle!
He saved my life! I owe him big time!
18. Avoir la chair de poule
This is another expression with birds. While watching a horror movie, or when it’s cold outside, you can get “la chaire de poule.” In other words, goosebumps.
Example:
Il fait un froid de canard — ça me donne la chair de poule.
It’s freezing cold — I have goosebumps.
19. Avoir d’autres chats à fouetter
“To have other cats to whip” seems to be an expression for heartless people, but it’s not. This phrase means to have more important things to do.
Example:
On va pas trop s’attarder là-dessus. J’ai d’autres chats à fouetter.
Let’s not spend too much time on this. I have bigger fish to fry.
20. Avoir un chat dans la gorge
“To have a cat in the throat” is similar to the English saying of having a frog in one’s throat. This idiom is used either when someone has a croaky or raspy voice, or when someone is struggling to speak due to fear.
Example:
Quand il est allé faire son discours, il avait un chat dans la gorge.
When he went to give his speech, he had a frog in his throat.
21. S’occuper de ses oignons
This translation can mean “to take care of one’s onion” or to “mind your own onions.” English speakers simply replace “onions” with “business.”
Example:
Elle n’a pas à connaître mon salaire; qu’elle s’occupe de ses oignons.
She shouldn’t know my salary; let her mind her own business.
22. Avoir les yeux plus gros que le ventre
“To have the eyes bigger than the belly” means to bite off more than you can chew: being too ambitious and greedy. The phrase can be used in many situations beyond just food.
Example:
Elle n’aurait pas dû jouer autant d’argent. Elle avait les yeux plus gros que le ventre.
She shouldn’t have gambled that much. She was too greedy.
23. Ne pas y aller de main morte
“Not to go somewhere with a dead hand” has nothing to do with anything dead, but more with something soft or weak. It means not to do something with a soft hand, or lightly. In many contexts, this idiom actually means that you give a 100% when doing something and you do not pull any punches.
Example:
T’as vu le combat? Poirier n’y est pas allé de main morte!
Have you seen the fight? Poirier didn’t go easy on him!
24. Se serrer la ceinture
“To tighten the belt” has little to do with the size of one’s belly. It’s quite the same meaning as the phrase in English. This idiom means that one has to pay attention to his expenses and avoid extra activities.
Example:
Je ne pense pas que je puisse venir au restaurant. Ce mois-ci je dois me serrer la ceinture.
I don’t think I can go to the restaurant. This month, I have to be extra careful with money.
25. Prendre ses jambes à son cou
Originally, before traveling, someone would tell you not to forget “to put your legs on your neck” because you’d carry your luggage and bags around your neck. The French sense of humor was not the same during the 17th century. Nowadays, the meaning has changed to when someone is leaving in a hurry or even running for his life.
Example:
Quand il a vu la police, il a pris ses jambes à son cou.
When he saw the police, he ran for his life.
26. La goutte d’eau qui fait déborder le vase
Last but not least, “the drop of water that overflows the vase” is the little tiny thing that tips you over the edge. It’s the accumulation of little drops (annoying things) that gets the vase (your emotional capacity) to overflow, similar to the last straw or the straw that broke the camel’s back.
Example:
Je passais déjà une mauvaise journée, mais ça c’était la goutte d’eau qui a fait déborder le vase.
I was already having a bad day, but this was the last straw.
27. Avoir le cafard
“Cafard” is the French word for “co*ckroach.” This expression might refer to the disgusted face we make when we see one of those universally reviled insects. However, it doesn’t mean to feel disgusted, but rather to feel depressed and thus have dark thoughts.
Example:
Thomas avait le cafard tout le week-end à cause de sa rupture.
Thomas felt blue the whole weekend because of his break-up.
28. Avoir le coeur sur la main
“To have the heart in the hand” is quite similar to wearing your heart on your sleeve. It is used to talk about someone who is not afraid to have their heart exposed; in other words, to be selflessly kind.
Example:
Fernando m’a aidé à déménager gratuitement. Il a vraiment le cœur sur la main.
Fernando helped me move to my new house. He really is incredibly kind.
29. Chercher midi à quatorze heures
“To search for noon at fourteen o’clock” would be hard to do, right? This French idiom means that someone is making something more difficult than it needs to be.
Example:
“Tu veux prendre le bus, l’avion, la voiture, ou l’hélicoptère pour aller chez Jeanine?
Ne cherches pas midi à quatorze heure — c’est juste en face.
Do you want to take the bus, the plane, the car, or the helicopter to go to Jeanine’s?
Don’t overcomplicate it — it’s just across the street.
30. Filer à l’anglaise
This expression is proof that the French and English like to tease one another. “To leave like an Englishman” is used to talk about someone who leaves a place without anybody noticing or sneaks out without saying goodbye. Interestingly, the English use the expression “to take a French leave” to talk about the exact same thing.
Example:
Je l’ai pas vu sortir, il a filé à l’anglaise.
I didn’t see him exit, he just snuck out.
Conclusion
These French expressions are a reflection of a language’s evolution of speech, sense of humor, and mindset. While idioms are used frequently, the native speakers of a language seldom know where they come from, since idioms are the result of a long process of linguistic development.
Consider this non-exhaustive list as a glimpse into French people’s obsession with food, relationships with animals and insects, and our sense of humor to give you ideas for your next French conversation. Even if other languages have some equivalent expressions, most of these idiomatic expressions are uniquely French.
In any case, this list hopefully satisfies your curiosity for the French language, and, if not, at least helps you to avoid embarrassing moments trying to understand French idioms.
`; }).join('')} `; // Find the target element on the page const targetElement = document.querySelector('.tutors-slider'); // Insert the template into the target element targetElement.innerHTML = template; }) .catch(error => console.log('error', error)); document.addEventListener('DOMContentLoaded', function (){ setTimeout(function(){ jQuery('.tutors-carousel').show(); jQuery('.tutors-slider').slick({ dots: false, infinite: false, //speed: 300, slidesToShow: 2, //centerMode: true, variableWidth: true, //appendArrows: jQuery('.tutors-carousel__arrows'), responsive: [ { breakpoint: 767, settings: "unslick" } ] }); }, 1900); });
