In this article, we explore 25 short French idioms, providing their pronunciation, literal translations, and meanings in English. Whether you’re learning French or just curious about the language, these expressions offer a fun peek into French culture and language nuances.
25 Short French idioms
Here are the 25 idioms:
Coûter les yeux de la tête
- Pronunciation: coo-tay lay zyuh duh la tet
- Literal translation: to cost the eyes in the head
- Meaning: to be very expensive
Faire la grasse matinée
- Pronunciation: fair la grass mat-in-ay
- Literal translation: to have a fat morning
- Meaning: to sleep in, have a lie-in
Poser un lapin
- Pronunciation: po-zay un la-pan
- Literal translation: to place a rabbit
- Meaning: to stand someone up
Mettre la main à la pâte
- Pronunciation: met-truh la meh(n) a la pat
- Literal translation: to put the hand in the dough
- Meaning: to pitch in, help out
Tourner autour du pot
- Pronunciation: too-ray no-toor dew po
- Literal translation: to turn around the pot
- Meaning: to beat around the bush
Casser les pieds
- Pronunciation: cass-ay lay pyay
- Literal translation: to break the feet
- Meaning: to annoy someone greatly
Jeter l’éponge
- Pronunciation: zhet-tay lay-ponj
- Literal translation: to throw the sponge
- Meaning: to give up, throw in the towel
L’appel du vide
- Pronunciation: lap-pel dew veed
- Literal translation: the call of the void
- Meaning: the instinctive urge to jump from high places
Faire gaffe
- Pronunciation: fair gaff
- Literal translation: to make a blunder
- Meaning: to be careful, watch out
Tenir le coup
- Pronunciation: ten-eer luh coo
- Literal translation: to hold the blow
- Meaning: to keep going, hang in there
Passer une nuit blanche
- Pronunciation: pass-ay oon nwee blonsh
- Literal translation: to spend a white night
- Meaning: to have a sleepless night
Tirer son chapeau
- Pronunciation: tee-ray so(n) shah-po
- Literal translation: to pull one’s hat
- Meaning: to take one’s hat off to someone, to commend
Mettre les pieds dans le plat
- Pronunciation: met-truh lay pyay don luh pla
- Literal translation: to put the feet in the dish
- Meaning: to put one’s foot in it, speak bluntly
Avoir le cafard
- Pronunciation: ah-vwar luh ca-far
- Literal translation: to have the cockroach
- Meaning: to feel down or depressed
Couper la poire en deux
- Pronunciation: coo-pay la pwahr ah(n) duh
- Literal translation: to cut the pear in two
- Meaning: to split the difference, meet halfway
Battre le fer tant qu’il est chaud
- Pronunciation: ba-truh luh fair tan keel ay show
- Literal translation: to strike the iron while it is hot
- Meaning: to act decisively at the right moment
Mettre de l’eau dans son vin
- Pronunciation: met-truh duh low don so(n) van
- Literal translation: to put water in one’s wine
- Meaning: to temper one’s position, compromise
C’est du gâteau
- Pronunciation: say dew ga-toe
- Literal translation: it’s of the cake
- Meaning: it’s a piece of cake, very easy
Avoir l’estomac dans les talons
- Pronunciation: ah-vwar less-to-mak don lay ta-lon
- Literal translation: to have the stomach in the heels
- Meaning: to be very hungry
Monter sur ses grands chevaux
- Pronunciation: mon-tay sir say gra(n) shuh-voh
- Literal translation: to climb on one’s high horses
- Meaning: to get worked up, to react strongly
Prendre la tête
- Pronunciation: prawn-druh la tet
- Literal translation: to take the head
- Meaning: to annoy or hassle someone
Avoir un coup de foudre
- Pronunciation: ah-vwar uhn coo duh foodr
- Literal translation: to have a stroke of lightning
- Meaning: to fall in love at first sight
Faire un froid de canard
- Pronunciation: fair uhn frwah duh ka-nar
- Literal translation: to make a duck’s cold
- Meaning: to be very cold weather
Manger sur le pouce
- Pronunciation: mon-zhay sir luh poos
- Literal translation: to eat on the thumb
- Meaning: to eat on the go
Pleuvoir des cordes
- Pronunciation: pluh-vwar day cord
- Literal translation: to rain ropes
- Meaning: to rain heavily, pour
We hope this list of 25 short French idioms enriches your understanding of the French language and culture. Each idiom offers a unique glimpse into everyday expressions used by native speakers, blending literal meanings with cultural insights. Happy learning!