Learn French Idioms
Learn common idioms and expressions in French
Let’s learn some French idioms that you can use to impress your French friends. Some of them are still very popular in the France, some less. Of course, as in any other language, there are tons of expressions, and it would be impossible to list them all here.
Expressions françaises sur le temps – French Idioms about weather
Pleuvoir des cordes :
Literal translation : to be raining ropes
English equivalent : to be raining cats and dogs
Example :
Il pleut des cordes, et nous n’avons pas de parapluie.
It’s raining cats and dogs, and we don’t have an umbrella.
Pleuvoir comme vache qui pisse
Literal translation : to be raining like a cow peeing
English equivalent : to be raining cats and dogs
Example :
Il pleut comme vache qui pisse depuis 2 heures.
It’s raining cats and dogs for 2 hours.
Un temps de chien
Literal translation : a dog weather
English equivalent : bad weather, bloody awful weather
Example :
Lundi, il a fait un temps de chien.
Monday, the weather was bad.
Un temps pourri
Literal translation : a rotten weather
English equivalent : bad weather, bloody awful weather
Example :
Il a fait un temps pourri toute la semaine.
The weather was bad all week.
Un froid de canard
Literal translation : a cold of duck
English equivalent : freezing cold, cold as hell
Example :
Il fait un froid de canard ce matin.
It’s freezing cold this morning.
Un soleil de plomb
Literal translation : a sun of lead
English equivalent : scorching sun, blazing sun
Example :
Je suis à la plage, il y a un soleil de plomb.
I am at the beach, there is a blazing sun.
Une chaleur à crever
Literal translation : a heat to die
English equivalent : hot as hell
Example :
Il fait une chaleur à crever dehors.
It’s hot as hell outside.
Expressions françaises pour exprimer un sentiment – French Idioms about how you feel
Ne pas être dans son assiette
Literal translation : not to be in one’s plate
English equivalent : not feeling well
Example :
Je ne suis pas dans mon assiette ces derniers temps.
I’m not feeling well lately.
Avoir la gueule de bois
Literal translation : to have the wooden face
English equivalent : to have a hangover
Example :
J’ai trop bu hier soir, j’ai la gueule de bois ce matin.
I drank too much last night, I have a hangover this morning.
Avoir la tête dans le cul
Literal translation : to have the head in the ass
English equivalent : be half asleep, not fully awake, still feeling sleepy
Example :
J’ai mal dormi, j’ai la tête dans le cul.
I didn’t sleep well, I am still feeling sleepy.
Avoir la flemme
Literal translation : to have laziness
English equivalent : to be lazy, can’t be bothered
Example :
J’ai trop la flemme d’apprendre le français.
I’m too lazy to learn French.
Avoir le cafard
Literal translation : to have the cockroach
English equivalent : to feel depressed, to feel blue, to feel down
Example :
J’ai le cafard depuis que ma copine m’a quitté.
I’m feeling down since my girlfriend left me.
Avoir la patate
Literal translation : to have the potato
English equivalent : to feel great, to feel happy, to be in top form
Example :
J’ai trop la patate depuis que j’ai arrêté de fumer.
I’m feeling so great since I quit smoking.
Se sentir bien dans sa peau
Literal translation : to feel good in your skin
English equivalent : to be comfortable in your own skin, to feel good about yourself
Example :
Je me sens bien dans ma peau depuis que j’ai perdu du poids.
I feel good about myself since I lost weight.
Prendre la tête
Literal translation : to take the head
English equivalent : to bother someone, to give yourself a headache, to drive crazy
Example :
Ma copine me prend la tête ces derniers temps.
My girlfriend is driving me crazy lately.
En avoir ras-le-bol
Literal translation : to have a bowl full of it
English equivalent : sick of, to be fed up, to be pissed
Example :
J’en ai ras-le-bol de mon voisin, il fait trop de bruit.
I’m sick of my neighbor, he makes too much noise.
Être rouge comme une tomate
Literal translation : to be red like a tomato
English equivalent : to be as red as a beetroot
Example :
Je me suis endormi au soleil, je suis rouge comme une tomate.
I fell asleep in the sun, I’m red like a beetroot.
Être rouge comme une écrevisse
Literal translation : to be red like a crayfish
English equivalent : to be as red as a beetroot
Example :
Elle est devenue rouge comme une écrevisse en me voyant.
She turned red like a beetroot when she saw me.
Être canon
Literal translation : to be cannon
English equivalent : to be hot, very pretty
Example :
J’ai vu une fille dans le métro, elle était trop canon.
I saw a girl on the subway, she was so hot.
Expressions françaises sur la nourriture et les boissons – French idioms about food and drinks
Avoir les yeux plus gros que le ventre
Literal translation : to have the eyes bigger than the belly
English equivalent : to bite off more than you can chew
Example :
Je ne finirai pas mon steak, j’ai eu les yeux plus gros que le ventre.
I will not finish my steak, I bite off more than I can chew.
Se remplir la panse
Literal translation : to feel the rumen
English equivalent : to pig out
Example :
J’ai trop mangé, je me suis rempli la panse au buffet de l’hôtel.
I ate too much, I pigged out at the hotel buffet.
Avoir la dalle
Literal translation : to have the slab
English equivalent : to be starving, to be hungry
Example :
J’ai trop la dalle ce soir.
I’m so hungry tonight.
Boire comme un trou
Literal translation : to drink like a hole
English equivalent : to drink like a fish, to drink heavily
Example :
Martin devrait se calmer, il boit comme un trou.
Martin should calm down, he drinks like a fish.
Boire un coup
Literal translation : to drink a shock
English equivalent : to have a drink
Example :
Tu veux boire un coup à la maison ce soir ?
Do you want to have a drink at home tonight?
Expressions françaises pour parler d’argent – French idioms to talk about money
Jeter l’argent par les fenêtres
Literal translation : to throw the money through the windows
English equivalent : to waste money, to carelessly spend money, to splurge
Example :
Si tu veux économiser, il faut arrêter de jeter l’argent par les fenêtres.
If you want to save, stop to waste your money.
Rouler sur l’or
Literal translation : to roll on gold
English equivalent : to be rolling in money, to be rich
Example :
Mon voisin est dentiste, il roule sur l’or.
My neighbor is a dentist, he is rich.
Coûter un bras
Literal translation : to cost an arm
English equivalent : to cost an arm and a leg / to cost a fortune
Example :
Ma nouvelle voiture m’a coûté un bras.
My new car cost me a fortune.
S’en mettre plein les poches
Literal translation : to put a lot in one’s pockets
English equivalent : to line your pockets
Example :
Les politiciens s’en mettent plein les poches.
Politicians are lining their pockets with money.
Rendre la monnaie de sa pièce
Literal translation : to payback
English equivalent : get revenge, taste of own medicine
Example :
Il a volé mon téléphone, je vais lui rendre la monnaie de sa pièce.
He stole my phone, I’m going to get my revenge.
Expressions françaises pour parler d’une action – French idioms to talk about actions
En faire tout un fromage
Literal translation : make a whole cheese
English equivalent : to create a storm in a tea cup, to make a mountain out of a molehill
Example :
Elle en a fait tout un fromage pour rien.
She created a storm in a tea cup for nothing.
Tourner au vinaigre
Literal translation : to turn to vinegar
English equivalent : to get out of control, to get nasty, to turn / go sour
Example :
La relation avec sa femme a tourné au vinaigre.
The relationship with his wife has turned sour.
Faire la grasse matinée
Literal translation : to do the fat morning
English equivalent : to sleep in / late, to have a lie-in
Example :
Demain c’est dimanche, je vais faire la grasse matinée.
Tomorrow is Sunday, I’m going to sleep late.
Raconter des salades
Literal translation : to tell salads
English equivalent : to talk bullshit, to spin a yarn, to tell Texan tales, to tell a tall tale
Example :
Martin ne raconte que des salades.
Martin only talks bullshit.
Faire l’andouille
Literal translation : to make the sausage
English equivalent : to act silly
Example :
S’il te plaît Sophie, arrête de faire l’andouille.
Please, Sophie, stop acting silly.
You can also learn the French idioms with our video :
We hope this lesson was helpful for you, if you have any questions, please leave a comment.
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