otter12 Posted February 23, 2011 Report Share Posted February 23, 2011 occupe-toi de tes oignons - lit. look after your onions, really -mind your own business Reply Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
nametaken Posted February 23, 2011 Report Share Posted February 23, 2011 I don't study French at IB, but have two for you below:à belles dentswith gusto, with a strong appetite (literal meaning: with good teeth)passer au peigne finsearch thoroughly; go through something with a fine-toothed comb (literal meaning: to pass through a fine comb) Reply Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mahuta ♥ Posted February 23, 2011 Report Share Posted February 23, 2011 These are some we use a lot here:'Ma bete noir'Literal meaning: my black beastMeaning: something that is your enemy or makes you weak or something like that.For example, you most difficult subject if Physics HL. You would say:"La physique HL et ma bete noir" or "La physique est la bete noir de BI"'Casser la tete'Lit meaning: break my head.Meaning: talking and talking and tlaking until I cant take it anymore..or it could also used for too much noise.For example..'Elles m'ont casse la tete aves le bruit/ses cris' Reply Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
JB_27 Posted February 24, 2011 Report Share Posted February 24, 2011 I found quite a few but I don't have them with me at the moment I can only remember one right nowRire jaune - to fake laughI'll post the others later on when I can find my list, I know it's here somewhere Reply Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
kanki6315 Posted February 28, 2011 Report Share Posted February 28, 2011 ca m’est e gal = i don't mind Reply Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
eliin Posted March 3, 2011 Report Share Posted March 3, 2011 hello !here's one I like !être dans ses petits souliers - to not feel comfortable (lit: to be in little shoes)and there are quite a lot more here : http://www.thestudentroom.co.uk/wiki/Revision:French_Idioms Reply Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bishup Posted March 3, 2011 Report Share Posted March 3, 2011 ca m’est e gal = i don't mind Make sure not to spread incorrect information. First of all it is not an idiom and it is spelt. Ca/Cela m'est egal and it means that is equal to me. Meaning, I don't mind.Avoir la gueule de bois - To have the mouth(terminology often used for animals) of wood. To be hungover. Reply Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Amandurrs Posted March 4, 2011 Report Share Posted March 4, 2011 Mon œil which literally means "my eye" but is actually means "yeah right" or "no way". Reply Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
ShootingStars Posted March 9, 2011 Report Share Posted March 9, 2011 Ooh I shall contribute tomber dans les pommes - to faint avoir la geule du bois - to be hungoveril n'y a pas un chat - empty/noone aroundpasser une nuit blanche - get no sleep/sleepless night Reply Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
truthisevil Posted March 21, 2011 Report Share Posted March 21, 2011 Faire du lèche-vitrines = to go window-shopping (to go window-licking)Avoir le cœur sur la main = to be generous (to have one's heart in one's hand)Avoir le cafard = to be fed up (to have the cockroach)Conduire comme un pied = to drive horribly (to drive like a foot)And my favourite phrase in the world: parler français comme une vache espagnole = to speak French poorly (to speak French like a Spanish cow) Reply Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ezeh Posted April 10, 2011 Report Share Posted April 10, 2011 Etre rat - to be stingy (money-wise) Reply Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
ibforever Posted May 20, 2011 Report Share Posted May 20, 2011 etre dans la lune = to be in cuckooland raconter des salades = to tell lies Reply Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
iMuffinsx3 Posted May 21, 2011 Report Share Posted May 21, 2011 faire une carte france - wet dreamhttp://fr.wiktionary.org/wiki/carte_de_FranceUseful? No.Funny? Heck yeah. :DDMore useful ones:c'est n'a pas la mer a boire- it's not drinking the ocean(It's not an impossible task)Chercher le petit bête - Look for the little beast(To be nit-picky and meticulous) Reply Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
jess1ca Posted May 22, 2011 Report Share Posted May 22, 2011 This works for everything, almost. Very generic. Mettre en relief- to emphasize Reply Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
ChikkyD Posted June 5, 2011 Report Share Posted June 5, 2011 Quand on parle du loup (on en voit la queue) Lit. means "When speaking of the wolf, we see his tail" But really, it's used in the same way English speakers use "Speak of the devil" Reply Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Floflow Posted June 5, 2011 Report Share Posted June 5, 2011 (edited) I know many proverbs which are very different in the both languages, but I just have one in my mind right now: "L'habit ne fais pas le moine" Literaly: Clothes don't make the Monk Actually: Don't jugde a book by its cover ! (source: I'm a native French Speaker too ) Edited June 8, 2011 by Floflow Reply Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
heyit'salison Posted June 8, 2011 Report Share Posted June 8, 2011 ca me fait de belles jambes: a way of saying i don't care. literally means "it makes me have beautiful legs" c'est la fin des haricots: idiom for "it's the end of a world". literally means "it's the end of the beans" on ne melange pas les torchons et les serviettes: idiom for saying things don't mix, they should stay in their places. literally "we do not mix towels and serviettes" source: i'm a native french speaker Reply Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ferivan Posted June 15, 2011 Report Share Posted June 15, 2011 Idiom: Je n'y peux rien Literally: I can't it? Meaning: I can't help it. Source: A French girl explained to me once Reply Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chase01 Posted September 30, 2011 Report Share Posted September 30, 2011 (edited) Je m'en fousliteral: I my crazy?means: I dont give a damn. Edited October 10, 2011 by Summer Glau Corrected a spelling mistake. :) Reply Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
GetMeA7 Posted October 3, 2011 Report Share Posted October 3, 2011 Bleh...I just had a idiomatic expression test... so I will contribute to this list. Be warned... there are a lot. (Im srry if i repeated existing expressions)Tel qui rit vendredi dimanche pleurera Laughter is akin to tearsTous songes sont mensonges All dreams are liesTout lasse, tout casse, tout passe All good will come to an endQui se resemblent s’assemblent Birds of a feather flock togetherUne fois n’est pas coutume One swallow does not make a summer. (if that doesnt make sense: one time does not make a trend)Qui trop se dépêche reste en chemin Slow and sure wins the raceRegarder de haut en bas Look at scornfullyAppeler un chat un chat Call a spade a spade (Kinda like... don't go around the subject)Reculer pour mieux sauter Await a better opportunityIl faut cultiver son jardin Mind your own businessPlus on est des fous, plus on rit The more the merrierIl ne faut pas éveiller le chat qui dort Let the sleeping dog lie (don't fix what's not broken)Jeter de la poudre aux yeux To misleadParlez du loup et vous verrez sa queue Speak of the devil and he shall appearPrendre la lune avec les dents Reach for the starsCoûter les yeux de la tête To cost you an arm and a leg (Very expensive)Faire un temps de chien Bad weatherAvoir d’autres chats à fouetter To have bigger fish to fry (Better things to do)Il ne faut pas vendre la peau de l’ours avant de l’avoir tué Dont have your chicks before they hatchAvoir du pain sur la planche Have alot on one’s plateAvoir un chat dans la gorge To have a frog in the throat (sore throat)Avoir une faim de loup To be able to eat a horseNe pas être dans son assiette Feeling under the weatherUn coup de fil A phone callBaigner dans l’huile Everything is going well. In a good place.C’est la fin des naricots/C’est le bouquet! That’s the last drawAvoir la puce à l’oreille To worryMettre des bâtons dans les roues./Chercher la petite bête. Put a spoke in someone’s wheel (burst someone's bubble)Perdre la bouleGo nuts (go crazy)Ne pas mâcher ses mots Don’t beat around the bush (Don't mince your words)Les carottes sont cuites The game’s up (It's over)Y mettre le paquet To go all outNe pas pouvoir voir quelqu’un/e en peinture Can’t stand the sight of someoneC’est vachement chouette That’s really cute!Passer/Sauter du coq à l’âne To jump from one thing to another (change subjects).Je dois repartir à zéro Back to square one (restart at ground zero)Ce n’est pas la mer à boire. It’s not rocket scienceOk, that's all I can type for now, hope it wasn't a complete waste of time =/p.s. i have more if anyone wants them 4 Reply Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.