Difference between revisions of "Language/French/Vocabulary/Idiomatic-Expressions"

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<span style="font-size:25px; font-weight:bold;color: black">Useful Idiomatic Expressions in French</span>
<span style="font-size:25px; font-weight:bold;color: black">Useful French Idioms</span>


'''Expressions idiomatiques utiles en français'''
'''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! :)
In this lesson, you will learn a few interesting French idiomatic expressions. Those expressions are very useful in everyday conversations. Have fun! :)  


==Manger son pain noir==
=='''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 noir" literally means "to eat one's black bread, bad bread". It means that one is going through a rough patch.


==Manger son pain blanc==
=='''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.
The opposite of "manger son pain noir" is "manger son pain blanc" (to eat one's white bread). It means to have a good time.


==Ne pas être né d'hier==
=='''Ne pas être né/tombé de la dernière pluie / Ne pas être né d'hier''' ==


*Litterally: not to be born yesterday
*Literally: "To be not born with the last rain"; "To be not born yesterday"
*Meaning: Having experience, being smart, knowing the things of life
*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!
*''Example: Pourquoi me dis-tu cela ? je ne suis pas né d'hier / je ne suis pas tombé de la dernière pluie !''
*''Why are you telling me that? I was not born yesterday! I didn't come in the last shower!''


==Cela m'a ouvert les yeux==
=='''Cela m'a ouvert les yeux'''==


*Litteraly: It opened my eyes
*Literally: "It opened my eyes"
*Meaning: that was an eye-opener
*Meaning: It 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
*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==
=='''Jeter de l'huile sur le feu / Remuer le couteau dans la plaie'''==


*Litterally: throw oil on the fire
*Literally: "To throw oil on the fire", "to shake the knife in one's wound"
*Meaning: to add fuel to the fire.
*Meaning: To add fuel to the fire, to make things worse.
*Example: "son comportement ne fait que jeter de l'huile sur le feu" = He behaves only adding fuel to the fire.
*Example: ''Ce qu'il a répondu n'a fait que jeter de l'huile sur le feu / n'a fait que remuer le couteau dans la plaie.''
*''What he answered only added fuel to the fire.''


== Ce n'est pas à un vieux singe qu'on apprend à faire des grimaces ==
== '''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
*Literally: "You don't teach an old monkey how 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...)
*Meaning: You can't teach an old dog new tricks. Younger ones shouldn't try to tell more experienced people (and usually older people) how to do things.
*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.
*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 your time. Don't teach your granny to suck eggs.''

Revision as of 20:43, 23 March 2020

Expressions-idiomatiques-en-français.jpg

Useful French Idioms

Expressions idiomatiques utiles en français

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

Manger son pain noir

"Manger son pain noir" literally means "to eat one's black bread, bad bread". It means that one is going through a rough patch.

Manger son pain blanc

The opposite of "manger son pain noir" is "manger son pain blanc" (to eat one's white bread). It means to have a good time.

Ne pas être né/tombé de la dernière pluie / Ne pas être né d'hier

  • Literally: "To be not born with the last rain"; "To be not 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 / je ne suis pas tombé de la dernière pluie !
  • Why are you telling me that? I was not born yesterday! I didn't come in the last shower!

Cela m'a ouvert les yeux

  • Literally: "It opened my eyes"
  • Meaning: It 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 / Remuer le couteau dans la plaie

  • Literally: "To throw oil on the fire", "to shake the knife in one's wound"
  • Meaning: To add fuel to the fire, to make things worse.
  • Example: Ce qu'il a répondu n'a fait que jeter de l'huile sur le feu / n'a fait que remuer le couteau dans la plaie.
  • What he answered only added fuel to the fire.

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

  • Literally: "You don't teach an old monkey how to make funny faces"
  • Meaning: You can't teach an old dog new tricks. Younger ones shouldn't try to tell more experienced people (and usually older people) how to do things.
  • 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 your time. Don't teach your granny to suck eggs.