One great way to make yourself, or your language students, sound like a French native is to learn ‘expressions idiomatiques’ (known in English as idioms or sayings). These are everyday sayings used to express emotions and thoughts. They’re also a type of informal language that have a different meaning to the meaning of the words in the expression.
For example…
The expression ‘it’s raining cats and dogs’ doesn’t mean that it’s literally raining cats and dogs. It actually means heavy rain.
Learning and becoming familiar with idioms and using them in conversation will make you sound like a more natural French speaker! So we’ve found some of our favourite French idioms and sayings about food for you to use – ça ne mange pas de pain, right?
French saying
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Literal translation
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English saying
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French saying
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Literal translation
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English saying
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French sayingS’occuper de tes oignons |
Literal translationMind your onions |
English sayingMind your own business |
French sayingChanter comme une casserole |
Literal translationSing like a saucepan |
English sayingSomeone who can’t sing |
French sayingAvoir la pêche |
Literal translationTo have the peach |
English sayingTo be in high spirits |
French sayingÇa ne mange pas de pain |
Literal translationIt doesn’t eat bread |
English sayingIt can’t hurt |
French sayingC’est du gâteau |
Literal translationIt’s cake |
English sayingEasy as pie |
French sayingC’est la fin des haricots |
Literal translationIt’s the end of the beans |
English sayingGame over |
French sayingEn avoir ras le bol |
Literal translationTo have a bowl full of it |
English sayingTo have had enough |
French sayingOh purée |
Literal translationOh mashed potatoes |
English sayingOh my gosh |
French sayingIl me court sur le haricot |
Literal translationHe’s running on my bean |
English sayingHe’s getting on my nerves |