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Dec 1, 2020 · Pisser dans un violon. Literally: Peeing in a violin. This French idiomatic expression means that the action or speech is useless and has no efficiency since peeing in a violin won’t produce anything. The expression appeared for the first time written in the 19th century and gained popularity until nowadays. Example.
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- Il pleut des cordes. It's raining a lot.
- Occupe-toi de tes oignons. Mind your own business.
- Je m'en bats les couilles. I don't give a f*ck.
- Tu me tues. You make me laugh a lot.
- What Is An Idiom?
- French Idioms with Water
- French Food Idioms
- How to Expand Your Knowledge of French Idioms
- Learn French Idioms with Rosetta Stone
An idiom, or idiomatic expression, is a set phrase or expression that can’t be understood literally, or word-for-word. Not only is the English language full of them, but all languages use idioms as a shorthand way to express a more complex idea—even French. Idioms sometimes translate fairly closely between languages, but it’s far more common that t...
Many expressions come from the sea—it seems that those who lived their lives on the ocean were particularly influential to modern-day language. Note that not all ocean-related idioms are what they seem though!
The literal translations of French food idioms often have little or nothing to do with the foods they highlight.
Idioms are like today’s memes. They are little bits of cultural knowledge passed down from speaker to speaker until they evolve and are used in a way that conveys meaning without using the literal definition. Not all idioms are to be found in formal learning situations, though. To learn how to use idioms correctly, engage with native speakers. Expl...
Imagine looking someone dead in the eye, the air heavy with emotion, and saying les carottes sont cuites (the carrots are cooked) with a straight face. That’s the beauty of idioms! A saying can be downright silly in its literal sense, but its figurative meaning can send chills down your spine. With the list above, you can confidently encounter the ...
Sep 15, 2023 · Using Famous French Expressions in Everyday Language: Adding Flair to Conversations: Avoiding Overuse: “Vouloir, c’est pouvoir” – Where there’s a will, there’s a way: “Avoir le cafard” – To have the cockroach: “Métro, boulot, dodo” – Subway, work, sleep: “Avoir un coup de foudre” – To have a thunderbolt:
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- “Avoir la moutarde qui monte au nez.” English translation: This literally means “to have mustard going up your nose” which means to lose your temper or to be angry.
- “Avoir le cafard.” English translation: This literally means “have the cockroach” which means to feel sad, be depressed.
- “Ne pas mettre tous ses œufs dans le même panier.” English translation: This idiom literally means “don’t put all your eggs in one basket” which means you should not concentrate all your efforts and resources in one area as you could lose everything.
- “Avoir la pêche/banane/patate.” English translation: This literally means “to have the peach/banana/potato/shape”. This could mean to feel great, to feel happy, to be in high spirits.
garder la tête froide. to keep one's cool. ("to keep the head cool") se creuser la tête / les méninges. to think really hard / to try to remember something. ("to dig into your head / brain") se casser la tête. to go to a lot of trouble; to worry about sb/sth. ("to break your head")
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Apr 10, 2023 · Idioms are an essential part of any language, and French is no exception. They add color, humor, and depth to the language, but they can also be quite challenging for language learners. In this article, we will explore 50 common French idiomatic expressions along with their translations and examples to help you expand your French vocabulary and understanding of the language.
