Welcome to this article “25 POSITIVE French Idioms Explained (+ Pronunciation And Literal Translation)”! Here, we’ll explore some cheerful and uplifting French expressions. You’ll learn how to say them, what they mean, and their true meanings in a fun and easy way.
25 Positive French idioms
Here are the 25 idioms:
Être au septième ciel
- Pronunciation: et-ruh oh set-ee-em see-el
- Literal translation: To be in seventh heaven
- Meaning: To be extremely happy or blissful
Avoir le cœur sur la main
- Pronunciation: ah-vwar luh ker sir lah mahn
- Literal translation: To have the heart on the hand
- Meaning: To be very generous
Voir la vie en rose
- Pronunciation: vwahr lah vee on rose
- Literal translation: To see life in pink
- Meaning: To see life in a very positive and optimistic way
Être né sous une bonne étoile
- Pronunciation: et-ruh nay soo oon bon et-wahl
- Literal translation: To be born under a good star
- Meaning: To be born lucky
Avoir la pêche
- Pronunciation: ah-vwar lah pesh
- Literal translation: To have the peach
- Meaning: To feel great, full of energy
Avoir la banane
- Pronunciation: ah-vwar lah bah-nahn
- Literal translation: To have the banana
- Meaning: To have a big smile
Être frais comme un gardon
- Pronunciation: et-ruh fray kum uhn gar-don
- Literal translation: To be fresh like a roach (the fish)
- Meaning: To be very fresh and energetic
Être plein d’énergie
- Pronunciation: et-ruh plen day-nair-zhee
- Literal translation: To be full of energy
- Meaning: To be very energetic
Tomber pile poil
- Pronunciation: tom-bay peel pwahl
- Literal translation: To fall exactly hair
- Meaning: To arrive or happen at just the right moment
Avoir le vent en poupe
- Pronunciation: ah-vwar luh vahn on poop
- Literal translation: To have the wind in the stern
- Meaning: To have favorable conditions or success
Chanter comme une casserole
- Pronunciation: shahn-tay kum oon cass-er-ole
- Literal translation: To sing like a saucepan
- Meaning: To sing very badly
Avoir la main verte
- Pronunciation: ah-vwar lah man vairt
- Literal translation: To have the green hand
- Meaning: To be good at gardening
Être comme un poisson dans l’eau
- Pronunciation: et-ruh kum uhn pwah-son don low
- Literal translation: To be like a fish in the water
- Meaning: To be very comfortable in one’s environment
Avoir un cœur d’or
- Pronunciation: ah-vwar uhn ker door
- Literal translation: To have a heart of gold
- Meaning: To be very kind and generous
Être sur son 31
- Pronunciation: et-ruh sir son trahnt-uhn
- Literal translation: To be on one’s 31
- Meaning: To be dressed very elegantly
C’est la cerise sur le gâteau
- Pronunciation: say lah suh-rees sir luh ga-toe
- Literal translation: It’s the cherry on the cake
- Meaning: It’s a wonderful addition to something already good
Rouler sur l’or
- Pronunciation: roo-lay sir lore
- Literal translation: To roll on gold
- Meaning: To be very wealthy
Faire la grasse matinée
- Pronunciation: fair lah grass mah-teen-ay
- Literal translation: To do the fat morning
- Meaning: To sleep in late
Être dans son assiette
- Pronunciation: et-ruh don son ah-see-et
- Literal translation: To be in one’s plate
- Meaning: To feel well, in good health
Mettre du baume au cœur
- Pronunciation: met-truh dew bom oh ker
- Literal translation: To put balm on the heart
- Meaning: To lift someone’s spirits, make someone feel better
Avoir un faible pour
- Pronunciation: ah-vwar uhn fay-bluh poor
- Literal translation: To have a weakness for
- Meaning: To have a soft spot for something or someone
Faire contre mauvaise fortune bon cœur
- Pronunciation: fair kon-truh mo-vayz for-toon bon ker
- Literal translation: To make good heart against bad fortune
- Meaning: To keep one’s spirits up despite misfortunes
Se sentir pousser des ailes
- Pronunciation: suh son-teer poo-say day z-eye-l
- Literal translation: To feel oneself grow wings
- Meaning: To feel very energetic or capable, as if one could do anything
Avoir l’œil
- Pronunciation: ah-vwar luh-euhl
- Literal translation: To have the eye
- Meaning: To be attentive or vigilant
Tirer son chapeau
- Pronunciation: tee-ray son shah-poh
- Literal translation: To pull one’s hat
- Meaning: To tip one’s hat, a way of showing respect or admiration for something done well
We hope you enjoyed learning these 25 positive French idioms and that they add a little joy and color to your language skills. Happy speaking!