French Idioms

Simply put, French idioms are expressions or sayings that do not make sense when translated word for word -- or do not translate well, but have meaning to a native speaker. They often carry certain cultural nuances that are relevant for native speakers. For the non-native speaker, French idioms and their meanings simply have to be memorized.

Here is an alphabetical list of common French idioms, along with their meanings and any relevant historical context.

Translation: Literally translates as to call a cat, a cat.
Meaning: To call a spade a spade. To speak your mind or to speak the truth. Another way to interpret this French idiom is to call it like it is.
History: Although the history of this French idiom is not verified it is thought to have come out of the superstitious middle ages when cats were associated with witches. To call a cat, a cat was a way of saying that sometimes things are exactly as they seem and nothing supernatural.
In context: Vous pouvez compter sur ce qu’il dit; il appelle toujours un chat un chat.--You can trust what he says, he always tells it like it is.

Translation: Literally translates as the first day of the Greek calendar.
Meaning: Aux calendes grecques essentially means that it will never happen. This is equivalent to the English expression, when pigs fly.
History: Les calendes collectively refers to the first day of the month in the Ancient Roman calendar. Since Ancient Greek had no calendar system, aux calendes grecques refers to an unknown date in the future.
In context: Ce qui se passera aux calendes grecques. That will happen when pigs fly. Nous allon renvoyer aux calendes grecques la reunion.--We will postpone the meeting indefinitely.
Notes: The French idiom aux calendes grecques most often is heard with the verb renvoyer to mean that it will be postponed indefinitely.

Translation: Literally translates as to have the beetle.
Meaning: Avoir le cafard has the connotation that you are so bored you are depressed or lack all manner of morale.
History: This expression is thought to come from French speaking Algeria. It is said that the French foreign legion, while in confinement, suffered such extreme boredom that they took to shooting beetles.
In context: Je ne peux pas terminer, j’ai tellement le cafard! I am so bored, I can’t possibly finish.

Translation: Literally means to have the hunger of a wolf.
Meaning: Avoir un faim du loup means to be extremely hungry.
History: No particular known history.
In context: Je peux manger tout cela ici, j’ai un faim du loup! I am so hungry I can eat everything here!

Translate: Literally to stuff the brain.
Meaning: This expression has the connotation that the person doing the filling doesn’t really know what they are talking about. Although it can mean to indoctrinate, it generally does not refer to an organization doing the indoctrination or brainwashing but rather an ill informed individual.
History: No particular history known.
In context: Elle bourre la crâne avec des idées stupides.

Translate: Literally means a bolt or flash of lightening.
Meaning: Love at first sight.
History: No particular history known.
In context: Lorsque je l'ai rencontré c'était le coup de foudre.--When I first saw him it was love at first sight.

Translate: Literally means to be (or not be) in one’s own plate
Meaning: Dans son assiette means to feel at home or very comfortable. Ne pas être dans son assiette means that one is feeling under the weather or not quite oneself.
History: No particular known history.
In context: Je suis dans mon assiette chez toi! I feel at home in your house.
Je suis désolé mais je ne suis pas dans mon assiette aujourd’hui. I’m sorry, I’m just not feeling myself today.

Translate: Literally to become a goat.
Meaning: This French idiom means to become extremely angry or enraged.
History: Presumably this expression came from the idea that goats are notoriously bad tempered animals.
In context: Je vais devenir chêvre si cela se produit. I’ll be so mad if that happens!

Translate: Literally means between a dog and a wolf.
Meaning: This expression describes dusk or twilight.
History: While the history on this isn’t entirely clear, it is presumed to be such because at dusk you can’t tell the difference between a dog and a wolf.
In context: Je vais vous répondre entre chien et loup. I'll get back to you (with an answer) at dusk.
Notes: This expression is somewhat antiquated for some more modern areas, but may be used in the countryside.

Translation: The drop of water that makes the vase overflow.
Meaning: This is equivalent to the English expression, the straw that broke the camel’s back.
History: No particular known history.
In context: La goutte d’eau qui fait déborder le vase était au moment de son départ.

Translation: To literally rain ropes.
Meaning: Comparable to the English expression, to rain cats and dogs.
History: No particular known history.
In context: Je ne peux pas conduire, il pleut des cordes! I can’t drive, it’s raining cats and dogs!

It is worth mentioning that if you really want to speak French fluently, studying slang and idioms is a worthwhile endeavor. Speakers of any language constantly use idiomatic expressions in the way that they speak. It is using these colloquialisms and every day expressions that will make you seem like a native speaker..

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