Idioms Flashcards
C’est simple comme bonjour !
Literally: It’s simple as hello!
Equivalent expression: Easy peasy
On n’est pas sorti de l’auberge !
Literally: We’ve not left the hostel!
Equivalent expression: We’re not out of the woods yet
Être dans la galère
Literally: To be in the galley
Meaning: To get yourself into a mess
Il (ne) faut pas pousser mémé dans les orties !
Literally: One shouldn’t push grandma in the nettles!
Meaning: One shouldn’t exaggerate
Mettre les points sur les i
Literally: To put the dots on the I
Meaning: To make things clear
Pisser dans un violon
Literally: To piss in a violin
Meaning: To waste your efforts
Ça ne casse pas trois pattes à un canard.
Literally: It doesn’t break three legs to a duck
Meaning: It’s nothing special
Chacun voit midi à sa porte.
Literally: Everyone sees noon at his door.
Meaning: To judge a situation based on your own subjective criteria
Au petit bonheur la chance.
Literally: To little happiness luck
Meaning: With a bit of luck
Ce n’est pas la mer à boire.
Literal translation: “It’s not as if you have to drink the sea.”
Actual meaning: “It’s not that difficult” or “it’s not a big deal”
You can use it when someone complains about doing something.
La nuit porte conseil.
Literal translation: “The night brings advice.”
Actual meaning: This is the equivalent of “sleep on it”. Or, in other words, take your time before making a decision.
Comme on fait son lit, on se couche.
Literal translation: “You’ve made your bed, now lie on it.”
Actual meaning: The same as the biblical version “you reap what you sow”, this French saying warns that you suffer the consequences of your actions or that you must accept the unpleasant results of something you’ve done.
Vouloir, c’est pouvoir.
Literal translation: “To want to is to be able to.”
Actual meaning: “Where there’s a will, there’s a way.” You can use this saying to encourage someone who doubts themselves.
Impossible n’est pas français.
Literal translation: “Impossible isn’t French.”
Actual meaning: “nothing is impossible”
Il ne faut rien laisser au hasard.
Literal translation: “Nothing should be left to chance.”
Actual meaning: “Leave nothing to chance” or, in other words, plan ahead.
L’habit ne fait pas le moine.
Literal translation: “The outfit doesn’t make the monk.”
Actual meaning: “Don’t judge a book by its cover”
Mieux vaut tard que jamais.
Literal translation: “Late is worth more than never.”
Actual meaning: “Better late than never.
Aux innocents les mains pleines.
Literal translation: “Full hands for the innocents.”
Actual meaning: “Beginner’s luck” or “fortune favors fools”
Mieux vaut être seul que mal accompagné.
Literal translation: “Better alone than in a bad company.”
Actual meaning: It’s better to be alone than to be accompanied badly or by someone who isn’t a good company.
Après la pluie, le beau temps.
Literal translation: “After the rain, good weather.”
Actual meaning: This is a way of encouraging someone to “hang in there”. Even if things are bad now, everything will eventually get better.
Les murs ont des oreilles.
Literal translation: “The walls have ears.”
Actual meaning: Pay attention to what you say because there’s a chance you could be overheard.
Tout est bien qui finit bien.
Literal translation: “All’s well that ends well.”
Actual meaning: Relief after a period in which one experiences hardship and struggle
Mangez bien, riez souvent, aimez beaucoup.
Literal translation: “Eat well, laugh often, love a lot.”
Actual meaning: “Live life to the fullest”
S’occuper de ses oignons.
Literal translation: “To take care of your own onions.”
Actual meaning: This is a funny way of saying “mind your own business”.
Raconter des salades.
Literal translation: “To tell salads.”
Actual meaning: “To tell lies”
“tu racontes des salades!”
Courir sur le haricot.
Literal translation: “To run on the bean.”
Actual meaning: “To get on someone’s nerves”
