Idiomatic French

Question 1

the gap is narrowing

Answer 1

l’écart se resserre

Question 2

currently, at the moment, at the present time

Answer 2

couramment, en ce moment, à l’heure actuelle

Question 3

so far! (up until now, up until then)

until … ( + subordinate clause)

Answer 3

jusqu’à présent!, jusqu’à là!,

jusqu’à ce que … (requires the subjuntive)

Question 4

jamming on the breaks

Answer 4

debout sur la pédale de frein

Question 5

to have a burning passion/enthusiasm for

Answer 5

avoir le feu sacré pour

Question 6

in this case / in this instance / as it happens

Answer 6

en l’occurrence

Question 7

to be in (big) trouble

Answer 7

être dans de beaux draps

Question 8

to call it quits

Answer 8

en rester la

Question 9

 You were set on buying a shirt.

Answer 9

Tu étais parti pour acheter un chemise.

Question 10

exactly (colloquial),

smack dab

Answer 10

pile poil

Question 11

du moment que

Answer 11

as long as

Question 12

Ça va faire du bruit.

Answer 12

It’s going to cause a stir. ( … make a noise)

Question 13

I have nothing to say about it.

I have nothing to say about that.

Answer 13

Je n’ai rein à en dire.

Je n’ai rien à dire là-dessus.

Question 14

by then (by that time)

by 2050

Answer 14

d’ici là, (lit., from now to then)

d’ici 2050

Question 15

(to) go through that

Answer 15

passer par ça

Question 16

(to) go with the flow

Answer 16

suivre le courant
suivre le mouvement

Question 17

over the course of

Answer 17

au cours de

Question 18

It doesn’t fit. It doesn’t make sense. (Informal)

Answer 18

Ça ne colle pas.

Question 19

I am at your disposal for all questions

Answer 19

Je reste à votre disposition pour toute question.

Question 20

It’s a start! / That’s something!

Answer 20

C’est déjà ça !

Question 21

For real! / For good! / For keeps!

We’re done for good!

Answer 21

Pour de bon !

Nous en avons fini pour de bon !

Question 22

an accident at the bridge

Answer 22

un accident au niveau du pont,
un accident sur le pont

Question 23

overall

Answer 23

dans l’ensemble

Question 24

projected, in the planning stage

have as a project

Answer 24

en projet

avoir pour projet

Question 25

easy to live with

Answer 25

facile à vivre

Question 26

basically, fundamentally, inside

Answer 26

dans le fond

Question 27

just now (a little earlier, right away, a little later)

Answer 27

tout à l’heure

Question 28

Time to focus up these phrases. How much can you remember about them?

tant
tant que
autant (que)
en tant que

pourtant
pourtant que

Answer 28

1. tant
   
   • Meaning: “so much”, “as much”
   • Example: “J’ai tant de travail à faire.” (I have so much work to do.)
2. tant que
   
   • Meaning: “as long as”, “while”
   • Example: “Je travaillerai tant que je serai en bonne santé.” (I will work as long as I am in good health.)
3. autant (que)
   
   • Meaning: “as much (as)”, “as many (as)”
   • Example: “J’aime autant le chocolat (que la glace).” (I like chocolate as much (as ice cream).)
4. en tant que
   
   • Meaning: “in the capacity of”, “as”
   • Example: “En tant que directeur, je dois prendre cette décision.” (As the director, I must make this decision.)
5. pourtant
   
   • Meaning: “however”, “nevertheless”, “yet”
   • Example: “Il pleut pourtant il fait beau.” (It’s raining, yet it’s nice outside.)
6. pourtant que
   
   • This is not standard French, and is best avoided. It is sometimes used instead of “bien que” or “quoique” meaning “although”, “even though”.

Key differences:
- tant, autant que, and en tant que are used to express quantity or capacity.
- tant que and pourtant are used to express conditions or contrasts.
- pourtant que is not a correct French expression.

The main distinctions are:
- tant and autant que refer to amounts or quantities.
- tant que and pourtant introduce clauses or conditions.
- en tant que specifies a role or capacity.

Question 29

how many hours of driving?

Answer 29

combien d’heures de route ?

Question 30

You look well.

Answer 30

Vous avez bonne mine.

Vous avez l’air en forme

Question 31

When might you use
« s’y prendre » ?

Answer 31

1. “S’y prendre” is a versatile expression used to discuss how someone “goes about” doing something: “Comment s’y prendre pour apprendre un nouveau langage?” - “How do I go about learning a new language?”
2. It can be used to indicate someone’s level of skill: “Il s’y est pris en expert” means “He went about it in an expert way.”
3. “S’y prendre” can express whether someone’s approach or method was appropriate or effective: “Il s’y est mal pris” means “He went about it the wrong way.”
4. Common phrases using “s’y prendre” include:
   - “Comment t’y es-tu pris?” - “How did you go about it?”
   - “Il s’y est pris trop tard” - “He got to it too late.”
   - “Il sait bien s’y prendre en amour” - “He has a way with love.”
5. The expression is similar in meaning to “faire” in the sense of “to do” or “to handle” something, but with more emphasis on the process or approach.
6. There are casual variations, such as “s’y prendre comme un manche” or “s’y prendre comme un pied”, which speak of clumsiness or ineptitude.

Overall, “s’y prendre” is a nuanced French expression that allows speakers to discuss the manner in which a task or situation is approached and handled.

Question 32

Just in case.

In case it rains.

Answer 32

Au case où.

Au case où il pleurait (always conditional mood).

Question 33

in a pinch/if need be

Answer 33

à la rigueur

Question 34

to get there/succeed (in it)

to reach/succeed (in it)

to manage/succeed (in it)

to follow in order/succeed (it)

Answer 34

(y’)arriver

(y) parvenir

(y) réussir

(y) succéder

Question 35

being willing to go to the extent
of (a negative consequence),

even if it means (looking foolish),

at the risk of (going into debt)

Answer 35

quitte à ( + an infinitive phrase),

quitte à (apparaitre un imbecile),

quitte à (m’endetter)

Question 36

I don’t let myself get pushed around.

I didn’t let myself get pushed around.

Answer 36

Je ne me laisse pas faire.

Je ne me suis pas laissé faire.

Question 37

As if it isn’t enough that …

Answer 37

Deja que …

Question 38

You’ll get a promotion.

Answer 38

Tu auras une promotion.

Question 39

… for a long time

Answer 39

… depuis longtemps

Question 40

hang up (abruptly/rudely) on him,

Hang up (abruptly/rudely) on the boss

Answer 40

lui raccrocher (au nez),

raccrocher au patron/(au nez du patron)

Question 41

You’ll change your mind.

Answer 41

Vous changerez d’avis.

Question 42

after going home

Answer 42

après être rentré(e)(s)

Question 43

I was scolded. (Passive)

I was scolded. (Impersonal)

I got scolded. (Reflexive causative)

Answer 43

J’ai été grondé.

On m’a grondé.

Je me suis fait gronder.

Question 44

breaking and entering

arrested for breaking and entering

Answer 44

entrée par effraction

arrêté(e)(s) pour être entré(e)(s) par effraction

Question 45

I don’t care, it’s up to you.

Just see to it.

Answer 45

Je m’en fiche, c’est vous qui voyez.

À toi de voir.

Question 46

That works for me but not for Paul.

Answer 46

Cela me convient, mais ne convient pas à Paul.
Cela va pour moi, mais n’ira pas pour Paul.
Cela ne me dérange pas, mais dérange Paul.
Cela fonctionne pour moi, mais n’est pas efficace pour Paul.

Question 47

assuming … that you saw them

Answer 47

en assumant/
en supposant/
en admettant … que tu les aies vus

Question 48

take a look at it

Answer 48

y jeter un coup d’œil

Question 49

I kept … (doing something).

Answer 49

Je ne faisais que … (faire quelque chose).

Question 50

to be aware (of), to be up-to-date (on),

to get up to date, to update, to brief,

to keep (yourself, someone, something) up to date

Answer 50

être au courant (de … ), être à jour (sur …)

(se) mettre au courant (de …), à jour (sur …)

(se) tenir au courant (de …), à jour (sur …)

Question 51

I felt at home there
just from going in.

Answer 51

Je m’y suis senti chez moi
rien qu’en entrant.

Question 52

immedately, at once, straightaway

Answer 52

de ce pas

Question 53

This is only gossip.

Answer 53

Ce ne sont que des ragots.

Question 54

How do you turn a noun into an adjective using the preposition de?

Answer 54

The fixed phrase “C’est de … [noun]” can mean “It’s [adjective]”. For example, “C’est d’une grande naïveté” means “It’s very naive.” Similarly, “C’est de la folie” means “It’s crazy” and “C’est d’un autre monde” means “It’s out of this world.” “C’est d’une rare audace” means “It’s an act of uncommon daring.” “C’est de ma faute” means “It’s my fault”.

Question 55

It doesn’t matter.

It doesn’t matter whether he comes.

Answer 55

Peu importe.

Peu importe qu’il vienne.

Question 56

You quickly recovered from it!

Answer 56

Tu t’en es vite remise!

Question 57

to be knowledgeable about … (e.g. cooking),
to be competent, to know one’s stuff.

Answer 57

s’y connaître en …
s’y connaître.

Oui, il s’y connait en cuisine.
Oui, il s’y connait.
(Note: ils s’y EN connait is WRONG, en must follow the verb and needs an object.)

Question 58

to get shot down

Answer 58

se prendre un râteau

Question 59

We’ll see about that. We’ll check that out.

Answer 59

On verra ça.

Question 60

We’ll see about that. We’ll check that out.

Answer 60

On verra ça.