French Idioms: 12 Expressions That Don't Translate
French idioms can be quite tricky for learners because they often don't make sense when translated word-for-word. They reflect cultural nuances and humor that might not be obvious at first. Understanding these idioms can really help you sound more like a native speaker.
Idioms land when you say them
Reading an idiom does nothing. Say it out loud and get corrected. That is how real French sinks in.
12 French idioms worth knowing
Casser les pieds
Literally: To break the feet
Means: To annoy someone
Used when someone is being bothersome.
Avoir le cafard
Literally: To have the cockroach
Means: To feel down or depressed
Used when someone is feeling blue.
Être dans le pétrin
Literally: To be in the kneading trough
Means: To be in trouble
Used when someone is facing a difficult situation.
Mettre son grain de sel
Literally: To put one's grain of salt
Means: To give one's opinion when it's not needed
Used when someone is butting in.
Avoir un cœur d'artichaut
Literally: To have a heart of artichoke
Means: To fall in love easily
Used to describe someone who is romantically fickle.
Tirer les vers du nez
Literally: To pull the worms from the nose
Means: To extract information from someone
Used when trying to get someone to talk.
Raconter des salades
Literally: To tell salads
Means: To tell lies or tall tales
Used when someone is being dishonest.
Coup de foudre
Literally: Strike of lightning
Means: Love at first sight
Used when someone falls in love instantly.
Être sur son 31
Literally: To be on one's 31
Means: To be dressed to the nines
Used when someone is very well-dressed.
Avoir la tête dans les nuages
Literally: To have one's head in the clouds
Means: To be daydreaming
Used when someone is not paying attention.
Prendre la mouche
Literally: To take the fly
Means: To get offended
Used when someone reacts negatively to a comment.
Faire d'une pierre deux coups
Literally: To make two hits with one stone
Means: To kill two birds with one stone
Used when achieving two objectives with one action.
One honest tip
Try to use idioms naturally in conversation rather than forcing them into every sentence.Don't memorize. Use them.
Idioms you only read stay stuck on the page. They come alive when you drop one into a real conversation. SPAIKING lets you practice real French with a coach that listens and corrects you. Two free conversations to start.
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Frequently asked questions
Why should I learn French idioms?
Learning idioms can make your speech sound more fluent and help you understand French culture better.