Language/French/Vocabulary/Idiomatic-Expressions

Useful Idiomatic Expressions in French

Expressions idiomatiques utiles en français

In this lesson, you will learn some interesting French idiomatic expressions. Those expressions are very useful in everyday conversations. Have fun! :)

Manger son pain noir

"Manger son pain noir" litterally means "to eat his black bread". It means that one is facing some difficulties before/after knowing better days.

Manger son pain blanc

The opposite of "manger son pain noir" is "manger son pain blanc" (eat his white bread). It means experiencing happy days after/before facing unhappy days.

Ne pas être né d'hier

• Litterally: not to be born yesterday
• Meaning: Having experience, being smart, knowing the things of life
• Example: Pourquoi me dis-tu cela ? je ne suis pas né d'hier ! Why do you tell me that? I was not born yesterday!

Cela m'a ouvert les yeux

• Litteraly: It opened my eyes
• Meaning: that was an eye-opener
• Example: "Ce que m'a dit ma femme m'a vraiment ouvert les yeux" = What my wife said was a real eye-opener

Jeter de l'huile sur le feu

• Litterally: throw oil on the fire
• Meaning: to add fuel to the fire.
• Example: "son comportement ne fait que jeter de l'huile sur le feu" = He behaves only adding fuel to the fire.

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

• Litterally: it's not to an old monkey that you learn to make funny faces
• Meaning: i've known what you're doing now for long / i did it before you / i won't be fooled (cause i'm experienced) ("funny faces" usually stand for some tricks...)
• Example: "J'ai été jeune avant toi. Ce n'est pas à un vieux singe qu'on apprend à faire des grimaces." = I was young before you. You don't teach granny to suck eggs.