Idioms

Question 1

C’est simple comme bonjour !

Answer 1

Literally: It’s simple as hello!

Equivalent expression: Easy peasy

Question 2

On n’est pas sorti de l’auberge !

Answer 2

Literally: We’ve not left the hostel!

Equivalent expression: We’re not out of the woods yet

Question 3

Être dans la galère

Answer 3

Literally: To be in the galley

Meaning: To get yourself into a mess

Question 4

Il (ne) faut pas pousser mémé dans les orties !

Answer 4

Literally: One shouldn’t push grandma in the nettles!

Meaning: One shouldn’t exaggerate

Question 5

Mettre les points sur les i

Answer 5

Literally: To put the dots on the I

Meaning: To make things clear

Question 6

Pisser dans un violon

Answer 6

Literally: To piss in a violin

Meaning: To waste your efforts

Question 7

Ça ne casse pas trois pattes à un canard.

Answer 7

Literally: It doesn’t break three legs to a duck

Meaning: It’s nothing special

Question 8

Chacun voit midi à sa porte.

Answer 8

Literally: Everyone sees noon at his door.

Meaning: To judge a situation based on your own subjective criteria

Question 9

Au petit bonheur la chance.

Answer 9

Literally: To little happiness luck

Meaning: With a bit of luck

Question 10

Ce n’est pas la mer à boire.

Answer 10

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.

Question 11

La nuit porte conseil.

Answer 11

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.

Question 12

Comme on fait son lit, on se couche.

Answer 12

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.

Question 13

Vouloir, c’est pouvoir.

Answer 13

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.

Question 14

Impossible n’est pas français.

Answer 14

Literal translation: “Impossible isn’t French.”

Actual meaning: “nothing is impossible”

Question 15

Il ne faut rien laisser au hasard.

Answer 15

Literal translation: “Nothing should be left to chance.”

Actual meaning: “Leave nothing to chance” or, in other words, plan ahead.

Question 16

L’habit ne fait pas le moine.

Answer 16

Literal translation: “The outfit doesn’t make the monk.”

Actual meaning: “Don’t judge a book by its cover”

Question 17

Mieux vaut tard que jamais.

Answer 17

Literal translation: “Late is worth more than never.”

Actual meaning: “Better late than never.

Question 18

Aux innocents les mains pleines.

Answer 18

Literal translation: “Full hands for the innocents.”

Actual meaning: “Beginner’s luck” or “fortune favors fools”

Question 19

Mieux vaut être seul que mal accompagné.

Answer 19

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.

Question 20

Après la pluie, le beau temps.

Answer 20

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.

Question 21

Les murs ont des oreilles.

Answer 21

Literal translation: “The walls have ears.”

Actual meaning: Pay attention to what you say because there’s a chance you could be overheard.

Question 22

Tout est bien qui finit bien.

Answer 22

Literal translation: “All’s well that ends well.”

Actual meaning: Relief after a period in which one experiences hardship and struggle

Question 23

Mangez bien, riez souvent, aimez beaucoup.

Answer 23

Literal translation: “Eat well, laugh often, love a lot.”

Actual meaning: “Live life to the fullest”

Question 24

S’occuper de ses oignons.

Answer 24

Literal translation: “To take care of your own onions.”

Actual meaning: This is a funny way of saying “mind your own business”.

Question 25

Raconter des salades.

Answer 25

Literal translation: “To tell salads.”

Actual meaning: “To tell lies”

“tu racontes des salades!”

Question 26

Courir sur le haricot.

Answer 26

Literal translation: “To run on the bean.”

Actual meaning: “To get on someone’s nerves”