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Idioms form part of our language, and without even realising, we often use them in our everyday lives. Consequently, I find that in schools, tutorials, at university etc. we often are not taught idioms when learning a foreign language. They may not be vital for speaking the language, but when in France, you will need to understand them as there are many which are often used. This guide to understanding French idioms will aim to help you gain a better understanding of the French language, and if you are able to use an idiom or two when speaking French, or even simply being able to  understand them, French-speakers will be highly impressed.

 

Below are the French idioms, in alphabetical order, the English translation, and the literal translation.

 

avoir le cœur sur la main - to be generous - to have the heart in the hand

 

avoir une faim de loup - to be really hungry / famished - to have a wolf's hunger

 

bête comme un âne – to be very stupid - dumb as an ass

 

ça me dit quelque chose – it rings a bell – that tells me something

 

ce ne sont pas vos oignons - it is none of your business - those are not your onions

 

comme ci, comme ça - neither good nor bad, so-so - like this, like that

 

comme un poisson dans l'eau - at ease, like a duck to water – like a fish in water

 

en un clin d’œil – in a flash – in the wink of an eye

 

être bouche bée – to be flabbergasted – to be mouth open

 

faire la grasse matinée - to have a lie-in - to do a fat morning

 

faire la tête – to sulk – to do the head

 

malin comme un singe - very clever - smart like a monkey

 

manger comme quatre - to eat a lot - to eat like four

 

(être) mort de rire (mdr) - laughing out loud (lol) - (to be) dead from laughter

 

mon petit lapin/loup – my darling – my little rabbit/wolf

 

poser un lapin à quelqu'un – to stand someone up - to pose someone a rabbit

 

quand les poules auront des dents – when pigs can fly – when hens will have teeth

 

qui vivra, verra - time will tell - who lives will see

 

se plier en quatre - to bend over backwards/to do your best - to fold oneself in four

 

suivre comme un mouton – to follow obediently - to follow like a sheep

 

têtu comme une mule - stubborn as a mule - stubborn like a mule

 

tomber dans les pommes - to faint - to fall in the apples

 

 

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