A dozen french idioms to improve your language skills

PUT YOUR VERB TABLES TO ONE SIDE AND ENRICH YOUR FRENCH WITH SOME IDIOMATIC EXPRESSIONS French is full of interesting idioms, which, once you know and understand, can take your language

skills to the next level. An idiom is a non-literal phrase or expression whose meaning you would not be able to easily deduce purely by reading the individual words. We use them often in

English, a classic example being “break a leg” which is used to say “good luck” instead of the nastier, literal meaning. Here are some French idioms to get you started. 1._ S’OCCUPER DE SES

OIGNONS_ Literal translation: Look after your onions. Idiomatic meaning: Mind your own business! 2. _AVOIR LES CHEVILLES QUI ENFLENT_ Literal translation: To have swollen ankles. Idiomatic

meaning: To be big-headed. 3. _AVOIR LE MELON_ Literal translation: To have the melon. Idiomatic meaning: To be big-headed. READ ALSO: FIVE FRENCH WORDS THAT WE USE IN ENGLISH…AND VICE VERSA

4. _NE PAS CASSER TROIS PATTES À UN CANARD_ Literal translation: To not break three legs on a duck. Idiomatic meaning: It is nothing special (Like the English expression “it is nothing to

write home about). 5. _TIRE À BALLE REÉLLE_ Literal translation: To shoot real ammunition. Idiomatic meaning: The English equivalent to “shots fired” - when someone says something critical

to you. 6. _POINTER LE BOUT DE SON NEZ_ Literal translation: To point to the end of his/her nose. Idiomatic meaning: To show up. 7. _CA COUTE UN BRAS_ Literal translation: It costs an arm.

Idiomatic meaning: It is really expensive (like the English expression “it costs an arm and a leg”). 8. _AVOIR LA GUEULE DE BOIS_ Literal translation: To have a mouth of wood. Idiomatic

meaning: To have a hangover. READ ALSO: MEASURE YOUR FRENCH FLUENCY AGAINST THESE FIVE LANGUAGE MILESTONES 9. _COUPER LES CHEVEUX EN QUATRE_ Literal translation: To cut the hairs into four.

Idiomatic meaning: To be pedantic or meticulous (like the English expression “splitting hairs”). 10. _FAIRE LA GRASSE MATINÉE_ Literal translation: To make a fat morning. Idiomatic meaning:

To have a lie-in. 11. _AVOIR UN CHAT DANS LA GORGE_ Literal translation: To have a cat in your throat. Idiomatic meaning: To have a sore throat or croaky voice (like the English expression

“to have a frog in your throat”). 12. _UNE BOUCHÉE DE PAIN_ Literal translation: A mouthful of bread. Idiomatic meaning: For low-cost/cheap. RELATED ARTICLES FAUX-AMIS: AVOIDING LANGUAGE

TRAPS IN FRENCH TRY THESE EIGHT DAILY LIFE HACKS TO IMPROVE YOUR FRENCH