Idioms are at the heart of a language. They are often difficult to translate literally or make little sense to foreigners in such form. But taken with an open mind, they are an essential key to unlocking some of the mysterious aspects of the ‘soul’ of a language. French is full of colorful, vivid, and often funny idioms. Here is a collection of memorable expressions that are still very much in use today:
avoir le coup de foudrel
love at first sight (lit. to have the lightning strike/hit).
For people: “Avec Emilie, c’était le coup de foudre” (with Emilie, it was love at first sight);but also used for things:”J’ai eu un vrai coup de foudre pour ces bottes” (I had a real crush for these boots)
cul sec
bottoms up (lit. ass dry)
“Allez, (buvez/bois ça) cul-sec !” (Come on, (drink this) bottoms up!)
dormir à la belle étoile
to sleep under the stars (lit. at the beautiful star)
“Pendant cette randonnée, nous allons dormir toutes les nuits à la belle étoile.” (During this hike, we’re going to sleep under the stars every night under the stars)
faire du lèche-vitrines
window-shopping (lit. to do some window licking)
“À Paris, impossible de ne pas aller faire du lèche-vitrine avec tous ces magasins.” (In Paris, impossible not to go window-shopping with all these stores)
Il fait un temps de chien
the weather is terrible (lit., it makes a dog’s weather)
“Hors de question de sortir: il fait un temps de chien aujourd’hui !” (Out of the question to go out: the weather is terrible)
la moutarde lui monte au nez
he/she is getting angry (lit. the mustard is going up his/her nose)
“Quand il l’a insulté, la moutarde a commencé à lui monter au nez.” (When he insulted him, he started to get angry)
les doigts dans le nez
easily; (with) no problem (lit. the fingers in the nose)
“Facile. (Moi) je peux faire ça les doigts dans le nez !” (Easy. I can do this no problem)
mettre quelqu’un au parfum
to give someone the lowdown (lit. put someone to the perfume)
“J’ai dû la mettre au parfum au sujet de cette histoire pour qu’elle se rende compte de la situation.” (I had to give her the lowdown regarding this affair, so that she could realize the situation)
ne pas être/ se sentir dans son assiette
to not feel good; feel nauseous (lit. not being/feel in one’s plate)
“Je ne vais pas y aller. Je ne suis pas dans mon assiette ce soir.” (I won’t go. I don’t feel good tonight)
passer au peigne fin
to search thoroughly (lit. to pass at/with the fine comb)
“Ils ont passé toute la région au peigne fin pour retrouver le criminel.” (They search the whole region thoroughly to find the criminal)
pour l’amour du ciel
for heaven’s sake (lit. for sky/heaven’s love)
“Pour l’amour du ciel, arrête de faire ça !” (For heaven’s sake, stop doing that!)
pour une bouchée de pain
for (next to) nothing (lit. for a mouthful of bread)
“Ils ont acheté cette propriété pour une bouchée de pain.” (They bought this property for next to nothing)
prendre un bain de foule
to mingle with a crowd, go on a walk about (lit. take a crowd’s bath)
“Bon, j’ai besoin de voir du monde; je vais prendre un bain de foule dans les rues de Paris.” (OK, I need to see people; I’m going to mingle with the crowd in the streets of Paris)
raconter une histoire à dormir debout
to tell a tall tale (lit. to tale a story to (/that makes one) sleep standing)
“Il nous a raconté une histoire à dormir debout. Je n’en crois pas un mot.” (He told us a tall tale. I don’t believe a single word of it)
s’en donner à coeur joie
to have a great/the grandest time (doing it) (lit. to give oneself of it at heart joy)
Quand elle a eu l’autorisation de jouer, elle s’en ai donné à coeur joie.” (When she was given the authorization to play, she had the grandest time doing it)
se bercer d’illusions
to be deluded (lit. to lull oneself with illusions)
J’ai dû la mettre au parfum parce qu’elle se berçait d’illusions à son sujet” (I had to give her the lowdown because she was deluding herself about him/her)
se casser la tête/se creuser la cervelle
rack one’s brains (lit. to break/dig one’s head/brains)
“Je me suis cassé la tête pour que ça marche.” (I racked my brains so that it could work (out))
se la couler douce
to take it easy; have it easy (lit. to flow oneself of it soft)
“Bon, alors à partir de maintenant, je vais me la couler douce. Je le mérite !) (OK, so from now on, I’m going to take it easy. I deserve it!)
se mettre/fourrer le doigt dans l’oeil
to be completely mistaken; kid oneself (lit. to put/shove oneself the finger in the eye)
“S’il croit que je vais venir, il se fourre le doigt dans l’oeil, mais alors, complètement !” (If he believes I’m going to come, he’s kidding himself, completely)
se tourner les pouces
to do nothing; to twiddle your thumbs (lit. to turn/twirl one’s thumbs)
“Regarde-le: il se tourne les pouces et attend que ça arrive.” (Look at him: he does nothing and waits for it to happen)
tiré par les cheveux
far-fetched (lit. pulled by the hair)
“Son explication est tirée par les cheveux; elle ne me satisfait pas du tout.” (His explanation is far-fetched; it doesn’t satisfy me at all)
tirer les vers du nez à quelqu’un
to pull information out of someone (lit. to pull the worms from someone’s nose)
“Il l’a attrappé et tenté de lui sortir les vers du nez à propos de l’accident.” (He caught him and attempted to pull information out of him regarding the accident)
tomber dans les pommes
to faint (lit. to fall in the apples)
“Quand il a entendu ça, il est tombé dans les pommes.” (When he heard this, he fainted)
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