Idiomatic Phrases

Question 1

faire feu de tout bois

Answer 1

to pull out all the stops (set fire to all wood)

Question 2

Sortir de ses gonds

Answer 2

to lose one’s temper (come off one’s hinges)

Question 3

Briser la glace

Answer 3

to break the ice

Question 4

Mettre l’accent sur

Answer 4

to focus/emphasise on (put the accent on)

Question 5

sauver la face

Answer 5

to save face / protect one’s ego

Question 6

reprendre le souffle

Answer 6

to recatch / retake one’s breath

Question 7

faire passer __ en premier

Answer 7

to put something first

Question 8

repartir de zero

Answer 8

to go back to zero (wipe the slate clean)

Question 9

J’avais un trou dans la mémoire

Answer 9

I had a mind blank (a hole in my memory)

Question 10

Sauter aux yeux

Answer 10

to be readily apparent / obvious to (jump at the eyes)

Question 11

Coûter les yeux de la tête

Answer 11

to cost an arm and a leg (the eyes from one’s head)

Question 12

Boire comme un trou

Answer 12

to drink like a fish (the idea of not stopping, even when you should)

Question 13

Ne rien savoir faire de ses dix doigts.

Answer 13

to be completely useless (not know how to do anything with one’s ten fingers)

Question 14

Arriver comme un cheveu sur la soupe

Answer 14

To come like a hair in the soup - to come at the most awkward moment

Question 15

Mettre son grain de sel.

Answer 15

to give an unsolicited opinion

Question 16

Faire la grasse matinée

Answer 16

to lie in

Question 17

C’est dommage

Answer 17

what a shame babes :(

Question 18

Coup de foudre

Answer 18

a strike of lightning - love at first sight – immediate reaction and falling head over heels

Question 19

Appeler un chat un chat

Answer 19

to tell it like it is - call a cat a cat

Question 20

Je dis ça, je dis rien.

Answer 20

just saying

Question 21

Poser un lapin à quelqu’un

Answer 21

to stand somebody up

Question 22

Sauter du coq à l’âne

Answer 22

to change subjects quickly (jump from chicken to donkey)

Question 23

Être à l’ouest

Answer 23

to be totally crazy/out of it

Question 24

La moutarde me/lui monte au nez

Answer 24

I’m getting really furious (the mustard is getting to my nose)

Question 25

Ce n’est pas à un vieux singe qu’on apprend à faire des grimaces

Answer 25

you can’t teach an old monkey how to grimace

Question 26

Ça roule

Answer 26

got it/okay

Question 27

Être dans la lune

Answer 27

to daydream / zone out

Question 28

être tête en l’air

Answer 28

to be distracted

Question 29

Il fait un froid de canard

Answer 29

it’s really cold

Question 30

On n’a pas élevé les cochons ensemble

Answer 30

you need to show me more respect (you shouldn’t use the tu form with me)

Question 31

Revenons à nos moutons

Answer 31

let’s get back to the topic at hand

Question 32

Être une poule mouillé(e)

Answer 32

to be a coward

Question 33

la énième fois

Answer 33

the umpteenth time

Question 34

Tomber dans les pommes

Answer 34

to faint/lose consciousness

Question 35

Se vendre comme des petits pains

Answer 35

to be in high demand

Question 36

Ce n’est pas tes/vos oignons

Answer 36

it doesn’t concern you / none of your business

Question 37

Gagner des cacahuètes

Answer 37

to make peanuts

Question 38

Pas ma tasse de thé

Answer 38

it’s not my cup of tea