Language/French/Vocabulary/Idiomatic-Expressions

Useful French Idioms

Expressions idiomatiques utiles en français

être à la bourre (to be late)

signifie " être en retard" Example: Now wil lbe late or I am going go to be rush to go work

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

Se tirer la bourre (jostle for first place)

se faire concurrence, disputer âprement la victoire (to fight hard for victory)

• Example : At 200 meters from the finish, the two riders were fighting for a victory in spectacular sprint

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.

Ventre affamé n’a pas d’oreilles

• Literally : Hungry belly has no ears
• USA: Words are wasted on a staring man
• Meaning:The hungry don't listen. Someone who's hungry is ready for anything
• History :The expression dates from the 2nd century before J-C (Caton)

Related Lessons

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• To Know
• Difference between Ancre and Encre
• Animals
• Time
• French Cheeses List
• Foreign loanwords
• Common spelling errors
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