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French Idioms and Expressions
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French Idioms and Expressions
French Idioms and Expressions
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1
Question
Bavard comme une pie
Answer
Literally, “talkative like a magpie”; figuratively, someone who talks nonstop. Pronunciation: bah-VAR kom ewn pee
2
Question
Avoir la pêche
Answer
Literally, “to have the peach”; figuratively, to feel energetic and happy. Pronunciation: ah-VWAR lah PESH
3
Question
Doux comme un agneau
Answer
Literally, “gentle like a lamb”; figuratively, someone very kind, calm, and sweet. Pronunciation: doo kom uhn ah-NYOH
4
Question
Frais comme une rose
Answer
Literally, “fresh like a rose”; figuratively, feeling well-rested, healthy, and full of life. Pronunciation: freh kom ewn ROHZ
5
Question
Malin comme un singe
Answer
Literally, “clever like a monkey”; figuratively, someone very smart, quick-witted, or sneaky. Pronunciation: mah-LAN kom uhn SANJ
6
Question
Avoir le cœur sur la main
Answer
Literally, “to have the heart on the hand”; figuratively, to be extremely generous and helpful. Pronunciation: ah-VWAR luh kur sewr lah MAN
7
Question
Fort comme un lion
Answer
Literally, “strong like a lion”; figuratively, to be very strong or very brave. Pronunciation: for kom uhn lee-OHN
8
Question
Avoir une mémoire d'éléphant
Answer
Literally, “to have an elephant's memory”; figuratively, to have an excellent memory and never forget things. Pronunciation: ah-VWAR ewn meh-MWAHR day-lay-FAHN
9
Question
Fier comme un paon
Answer
Literally, “proud like a peacock”; figuratively, to show off or be very proud of oneself. Pronunciation: fyehr kom uhn PAHN
10
Question
Avoir la main verte
Answer
Literally, “to have a green hand”; figuratively, to be excellent at gardening and growing plants. Pronunciation: ah-VWAR lah MAN VEHRT
11
Question
Muet comme une carpe
Answer
Literally, “mute like a carp”; figuratively, to be completely silent or refuse to speak. Pronunciation: mew-AY kom ewn KARP
12
Question
Avoir la tête dans les nuages
Answer
Literally, “to have one's head in the clouds”; figuratively, to be daydreaming, distracted, or inattentive. Pronunciation: ah-VWAR lah TET dahn lay new-AHJ
13
Question
Donner sa langue au chat
Answer
Literally, “to give one's tongue to the cat”; figuratively, to give up trying to guess an answer or solve a riddle. Pronunciation: doh-NAY sah LANG oh SHAH
14
Question
Casser les pieds à quelqu'un
Answer
Literally, “to break someone's feet”; figuratively, to deeply annoy or bother someone. Pronunciation: kah-SAY lay PYAY ah kel-KUHN
15
Question
Tomber dans les pommes
Answer
Literally, “to fall into the apples”; figuratively, to faint or lose consciousness. Pronunciation: tohn-BAY dahn lay POM
16
Question
Avoir les yeux plus gros que le ventre
Answer
Literally, “to have eyes bigger than the belly”; figuratively, to take more food than one can eat. Pronunciation: ah-VWAR lay ZYEW plew GROH kuh luh VAHNTR
17
Question
Quand les poules auront des dents
Answer
Literally, “when chickens have teeth”; figuratively, something that will absolutely never happen. Pronunciation: kahn lay POOL oh-ROH day DAHN
18
Question
Occupe-toi de tes oignons
Answer
Literally, “mind your own onions”; figuratively, “mind your own business.” Pronunciation: oh-KOOP-twah duh tay zoh-NYOHN
19
Question
Mettre son grain de sel
Answer
Literally, “to put in one's grain of salt”; figuratively, to give an uninvited or unwanted opinion. Pronunciation: MEH-truh son GRAN duh SEL
20
Question
Pour une bouchée de pain
Answer
Literally, “for a mouthful of bread”; figuratively, for a very cheap price or almost free. Pronunciation: poor EWN boo-SHAY duh PAN