French idioms

To leave someone waiting at a meeting you never turn up to — literally «to put down a rabbit».

English: to stand someone up

Il m’a posé un lapin deux fois de suite.He’s stood me up twice in a row.

Agreement to a plan: fine, it’s a deal — literally «that walks».

English: that works for me

Demain à huit heures? Ça marche.Tomorrow at eight? That works for me.

Also said of machines: ça ne marche plus means «it has stopped working».

It does not matter; no harm done.

English: never mind

Tu es en retard? Ça ne fait rien.You’re late? Never mind.

Nonsense — literally «no matter what».

English: rubbish, nonsense

Ce qu’il raconte, c’est n’importe quoi.What he’s saying is complete rubbish.

The same pattern covers the rest: n’importe qui «anybody at all», n’importe où «anywhere», n’importe quand «any time».

To find it hard to do something.

English: to struggle to

J’ai du mal à me lever le matin.I struggle to get up in the morning.

To stop working, of a car or a machine — literally «to fall into breakdown».

English: to break down

La voiture est tombée en panne sur l’autoroute.The car broke down on the motorway.

To wait your turn in a line — literally «to make the tail».

English: to queue

On a fait la queue une demi-heure.We queued for half an hour.

The English word came from the French one: queue still means «tail» as well.

To do something in vain — literally «to have fine».

English: however much, no matter how hard

J’ai beau chercher, je ne trouve rien.However hard I look, I can’t find anything.

It is always followed by an infinitive, never by a clause.

Simply, without any fuss or ceremony.

English: nothing fancy

On mange à la bonne franquette, ne vous habillez pas.It’s nothing fancy, so don’t dress up.

To blunder into a touchy subject and cause embarrassment — literally «to put your feet in the dish».

English: to put your foot in it

Il a mis les pieds dans le plat dès la première minute.He put his foot in it in the very first minute.

To be hoarse — literally «to have a cat in the throat».

English: to have a frog in your throat

Excusez-moi, j’ai un chat dans la gorge.Excuse me, I’ve got a frog in my throat.

English puts a frog there and French a cat — the same complaint, a different animal.

It is not as hard as all that — literally «it is not the sea to drink».

English: it’s not the end of the world

Deux heures de train, ce n’est pas la mer à boire.Two hours on the train — it’s not the end of the world.

Let us get back to the subject — literally «let us return to our sheep».

English: back to the matter in hand

Bon, revenons à nos moutons.Right, back to the matter in hand.

Usually traced to a medieval farce, La Farce de Maître Pathelin, in which a judge keeps dragging a trial back to some stolen sheep.

To stay in bed late on purpose — literally «to make the fat morning».

English: to have a lie-in

Le dimanche, je fais la grasse matinée.On Sundays I have a lie-in.

To fall in love at first sight — literally «to have the lightning strike».

English: love at first sight

Ils ont eu le coup de foudre au premier regard.For both of them it was love at first sight.

To go out for a drink.

English: to go for a drink

On va boire un coup après le travail?Shall we go for a drink after work?

Something is finished, or the moment has come.

English: there we go, that’s it

Ça y est, j’ai fini.There we go, I’m done.

So, as a result — in speech almost a filler word.

English: so

Il pleuvait, du coup on est restés à la maison.It was raining, so we stayed in.

In writing, donc or par conséquent is the safer choice.

What you say to someone about to face something tiring.

English: hang in there

Trois heures de réunion? Bon courage!A three-hour meeting? Hang in there!

English says «good luck» for both; French keeps them apart. Bonne chance is for luck, bon courage for effort.

It is very easy — literally «it is cake».

English: a piece of cake

L’examen? C’était du gâteau.The exam? A piece of cake.

Very easy — literally «as simple as hello».

English: dead easy

Ne t’inquiète pas, c’est simple comme bonjour.Don’t worry, it’s dead easy.

I am not keen on that — or: that means nothing to me.

English: it doesn’t appeal

Aller au cinéma ce soir ? Ça ne me dit rien.The cinema tonight? It doesn’t really appeal.

In another context it means «I’ve never heard of it» — the same sentence, two meanings, and the situation decides.

To go out for a short walk or drive.

English: to go for a stroll

On fait un tour avant le dîner ?Shall we go for a stroll before dinner?

Roughly, more or less.

English: about, roughly

Il y avait à peu près trente personnes.There were about thirty people there.

Gradually, keeping pace as something goes along.

English: as you go along

Je range au fur et à mesure.I tidy up as I go along.

One you cannot take apart: fur survives in this phrase and nowhere else.

To want something, to be in the mood for it.

English: to fancy, to feel like

J’ai envie d’un café.I fancy a coffee.

It makes no difference to me.

English: I don’t mind

Thé ou café ? Ça m’est égal.Tea or coffee? I don’t mind.

To finish developing something, or to get it clear.

English: to work out, to perfect

Nous avons mis au point une nouvelle méthode.We’ve worked out a new method.

To take stock halfway through — literally «to make the point», from navigation, where it means fixing a ship’s position.

English: to take stock

Faisons le point avant de continuer.Let’s take stock before we go any further.

To know about something — literally «to be in the current».

English: to be in the loop

Tu es au courant pour la réunion?Do you know about the meeting?

To keep someone informed as things develop.

English: to keep someone posted

Je vous tiens au courant.I’ll keep you posted.

To have influence — literally «to have a long arm».

English: to have friends in high places

Il a le bras long dans cette administration.He’s got a lot of pull in that department.

To pitch in yourself — literally «to put your hand to the dough».

English: to muck in

Le chef aussi met la main à la pâte.The boss mucks in too.

To tackle a problem head-on.

English: to take the bull by the horns

Il a pris le taureau par les cornes et a appelé le client.He took the bull by the horns and rang the client.

One of the idioms French and English share word for word.

To have a great deal to do — literally «to have your arms full of it».

English: to have your hands full

En ce moment j’en ai plein les bras.I’ve got my hands full at the moment.

To put something off until later.

English: to put off

On remet la décision à plus tard.We’re putting the decision off until later.

To find out the truth of a matter — literally «to draw into the clear».

English: to get to the bottom of

Il faut tirer cette affaire au clair.We need to get to the bottom of this business.

To be entitled to a say — literally «to have a voice in the chapter», the assembly of a religious order.

English: to have a say

Sur ce point, nous avons voix au chapitre.On this point, we have a say.

To work twice as fast to catch up — literally «to take double mouthfuls».

English: to step up the pace

Il faudra mettre les bouchées doubles avant vendredi.We’ll have to step up the pace before Friday.

To be the one whose view settles the matter.

English: to have the last word

C’est elle qui a eu le dernier mot.She was the one who had the last word.

To show over time that you are up to the job — literally «to make your proofs».

English: to prove yourself, to prove its worth

La méthode a fait ses preuves.The method has proved its worth.

As an example.

English: by way of example

À titre d’exemple, prenons le mois de mars.By way of example, let’s take the month of March.

To have far more work than you can handle — literally «to be overflowed».

English: to be snowed under

Je suis débordé cette semaine.I’m snowed under this week.

To arrange whatever needs to be done.

English: to take the necessary steps

Je fais le nécessaire dès demain.I’ll take the necessary steps first thing tomorrow.

To act on a request or respond to it.

English: to follow up

Nous donnerons suite à votre demande.We will follow up on your request.

To take charge of a situation yourself.

English: to take matters into your own hands

Il a pris les choses en main tout seul.He took matters into his own hands, without anyone’s help.

To have a lot of work ahead — literally «to have bread on the board».

English: to have your work cut out

Avec ce dossier, on a du pain sur la planche.With this file, we’ve got our work cut out.

To say openly what needs saying, so that nothing is left unclear.

English: to clear the air

Il faut mettre les choses au clair.We need to clear the air.

To try as hard as you can.

English: to do your best

J’ai fait de mon mieux.I did my best.

To have had enough — literally «to have the bowl full to the brim».

English: to be fed up to the back teeth

J’en ai ras le bol de ces retards.I’m fed up to the back teeth with these delays.

To feel low — literally «to have the cockroach».

English: to feel down, to have the blues

Il a le cafard depuis lundi.He’s been feeling down since Monday.

To feel well and like yourself — literally «to be in your plate».

English: to feel yourself

Je ne suis pas dans mon assiette aujourd’hui.I’m not feeling myself today.

Nearly always in the negative. Assiette first meant a seat or a position, not a plate.

To have your mind on something else.

English: to be miles away

Tu as la tête ailleurs ce matin.You’re miles away this morning.

To lose control of yourself, to panic.

English: to lose your head

Ne perds pas la tête pour si peu.Don’t lose your head over a little thing like that.

To be very kind and generous.

English: to have a heart of gold

Elle a un cœur d’or.She has a heart of gold.

To be tense and irritable.

English: to be on edge

Depuis l’annonce, tout le monde est à cran.Since the announcement, everyone has been on edge.

Not to be easily fooled — literally «not to be born of the last rain».

English: not to be born yesterday

Je ne suis pas né de la dernière pluie.I wasn’t born yesterday.

To give up trying to guess — literally «to give your tongue to the cat».

English: to give up

Je donne ma langue au chat, dis-moi la réponse.I give up — tell me the answer.

To feel ill after drinking — literally «to have the wooden mouth».

English: to be hungover

Ce matin, il a la gueule de bois.He’s hungover this morning.

To show you are offended by saying little — literally «to make the head».

English: to sulk

Elle fait la tête depuis hier soir.She’s been sulking since last night.

To take on more than you can manage — literally «to have eyes bigger than your belly».

English: to bite off more than you can chew

Tu as eu les yeux plus gros que le ventre.You’ve bitten off more than you can chew.

English has the same picture in «your eyes are bigger than your stomach», but mostly at the table; the French is just as often said of plans and promises.

To feel a sudden surge of confidence — literally «to feel wings growing».

English: to feel ten feet tall

Après cette nouvelle, il s’est senti pousser des ailes.After that news he felt ten feet tall.

Completely exhausted — literally «dead of tiredness».

English: dead on your feet

Je suis mort de fatigue.I’m dead on my feet.

Rested and ready to start — literally «fresh and fit».

English: bright-eyed and bushy-tailed

Il est arrivé frais et dispos à huit heures.He turned up at eight, bright-eyed and bushy-tailed.

To be at ease with yourself — literally «to be well in your skin».

English: to be comfortable in your own skin

Depuis qu’elle a changé de travail, elle est bien dans sa peau.Since she changed jobs, she’s comfortable in her own skin.

To be easy to get on with.

English: to be good-natured

Il a bon caractère, il ne se fâche jamais.He’s good-natured — he never gets cross.

To stay angry with someone over something they did.

English: to hold it against someone

Il m’en veut depuis lundi.He’s been cross with me since Monday.

Nothing to do with wanting: en vouloir à is a fixed pattern that means bearing a grudge.

To be in a good frame of mind.

English: to be in good spirits

Il a le moral malgré tout.He’s in good spirits despite everything.

The opposite is ne pas avoir le moral or avoir le cafard.

To worry at something more than it deserves.

English: to tie yourself in knots

Ne te prends pas la tête pour ça.Don’t tie yourself in knots over it.

Only at the very end, when it is almost too late.

English: at the last minute

Il a annulé à la dernière minute.He cancelled at the last minute.

In a moment, or a moment ago — depending on whether you look forwards or back.

English: in a bit, earlier on

Je te rappelle tout à l’heure.I’ll call you back in a bit.

With a past tense the same phrase means «earlier on»: je l’ai vu tout à l’heure.

Very soon, on a day not yet known.

English: any day now

La réponse peut arriver d’un jour à l’autre.The answer could come any day now.

Over a long period of time.

English: in the long run

À la longue, ça devient fatigant.In the long run it gets tiring.

In an instant — literally «in a wink of the eye».

English: in the blink of an eye

C’était fini en un clin d’œil.It was over in the blink of an eye.

To put off indefinitely — literally «to the Greek calends», which never existed: the calends were Roman.

English: to kick into the long grass

Le projet a été remis aux calendes grecques.The project has been kicked into the long grass.

Now and again, without a fixed rhythm.

English: from time to time

De temps en temps, on se voit.We see each other from time to time.

Whenever you like, or whenever it may happen.

English: at any time

Vous pouvez appeler à tout moment.You can call at any time.

In the first moment, before there was time to think.

English: at the time, at first

Sur le coup, je n’ai rien compris.At the time I didn’t understand a thing.

Shortly before something — literally «on the eve of».

English: on the verge of

Nous sommes à la veille d’un changement.We’re on the verge of a change.

At the time that was arranged.

English: on time

Le train est arrivé à l’heure.The train arrived on time.

After the time that was arranged.

English: late

Je suis en retard de dix minutes.I’m ten minutes late.

Keeping to a planned timetable.

English: on schedule

Nous sommes dans les temps.We’re on schedule.

At some point, whether soon or not.

English: sooner or later

Tôt ou tard il faudra le dire.Sooner or later it will have to be said.

In the week after this one.

English: next week

On en reparle la semaine prochaine.We’ll talk about it again next week.

To be extremely expensive — literally «to cost the eyes out of your head».

English: to cost an arm and a leg

Cette voiture coûte les yeux de la tête.That car costs an arm and a leg.

To manage on the money you have — literally «to join the two ends».

English: to make ends meet

À la fin du mois, on a du mal à joindre les deux bouts.By the end of the month we struggle to make ends meet.

To waste money — literally «to throw money out of the windows».

English: to throw money down the drain

Acheter ça, c’est jeter l’argent par les fenêtres.Buying that is throwing money down the drain.

To have no money at the moment — literally «to be mown».

English: to be skint

Je suis fauché jusqu’à vendredi.I’m skint until Friday.

It is worth the effort or the cost.

English: it’s worth it

Le détour est long, mais ça vaut le coup.It’s a long detour, but it’s worth it.

For very little money — literally «for a mouthful of bread».

English: for a song

Ils ont acheté la maison pour une bouchée de pain.They bought the house for a song.

To keep money back for later — literally «to put to the side».

English: to put by

Elle met de côté chaque mois.She puts a little by every month.

A small piece of help that makes a difference — literally «a push of the thumb».

English: a leg-up

Il lui a donné un coup de pouce au début.He gave him a leg-up at the start.

To get good value for what you paid.

English: to get your money’s worth

Avec ce menu, on en a pour son argent.With this set menu you get your money’s worth.

To be very rich — literally «to roll on gold».

English: to be rolling in it

Ils ne roulent pas sur l’or.They’re not exactly rolling in it.

For a great deal of money — literally «at the price of gold».

English: for a small fortune

Il a vendu l’appartement à prix d’or.He sold the flat for a small fortune.

To save money, usually for something in particular.

English: to save up

Nous faisons des économies pour les vacances.We’re saving up for the holidays.

To pay in notes and coins rather than by card.

English: to pay cash

Je préfère payer en liquide.I’d rather pay cash.

For half the usual price.

English: half price

J’ai eu la veste à moitié prix.I got the jacket half price.

To have no money at all.

English: not to have a penny

À la fin du mois je n’ai plus un sou.By the end of the month I haven’t a penny left.

Le sou is an old coin long out of circulation; it lives on in phrases like this one.