Socks on stage, taking a bow in front of the curtains. I have always been a sucker for whimsy. I love French architecture and adore the building blocks of language…
manger ses mots (mahn-zhay-say-moh)
: to speak inarticulately, to mumble
Aha! and you thought manger ses mots (to eat one's words) meant to admit you were wrong. Relax! You're thinking of the English idiom. The French one has a very different meaning. Both, however, paint a colorful scene in the mind's eye. More expressions imagées in today's column, below.
A Day in a French Life… by Kristin Espinasse
The day I quit believing the lie that I was a bad student I fell in love with the French language. I could now relax and absorb all the lessons floating around me–and all the words, too. Idioms were a new and delightful discovery! Expressions such as revenons à nos moutons and faire du lèche-vitrines took hold of my soul, bubbling up through me in delight and possibility.
Certain colloquialisms were so full of quirky imagery. They took me beyond the classroom–to see and perceive the world around me in a new and light-hearted way. That the French referred to window shopping as "licking windows" (or "window licking"–either way is funny!) taught me they had a wonderful sense of humor and a refreshing down-to-earthness behind their mysterious exteriors. The self-depreciating, humane, and humble side of the French is especially apparent in their turns of phrase.
"Elle a des oursins dans la poche," a French friend whispers, and I'm no longer intimidated by the bombshell at the party; instead I'm amused by the new saying I've just learned ("to have sea urchins in one's pocket" = to be a cheapskate). That woman may be a knock-out… but it turns out she's a cheapskate! Tee-hee! The two images are funny (and heartening) when joined together.
Though I still put the French high up on a pedestal, I can now pose my ladder beside it and climb up to reach their outstretched hands, joining them in this language tango. "Etre aux petits oignons?" they say, spinning me round and round. "Don't be fooled. We're not perfect! We're just as goofy and clumsy as the rest of the world. We don't take ourselves as seriously as you might think!"
As I fell in love with the French language, getting cozy with the lingo, a funny thing happened: I developed a new appreciation for l'anglais. Suddenly, all the English idioms that once flew off the tip of my tongue–now projected themselves across the technicolor screen of my mind. How colorful English was, too! I'd never quite seen it this way before!
Having developed a theory that the French have a word for everything, and that their expressions are the liveliest, I've come to discover that some idioms are much more interesting in English than in French. Here are just a few examples, you can add your own in the comments box which follows:
Between you and me and the gatepost – There's something adorable about this English expression–yet it translates to hum-drum boring in French: soit dit entre nous = just between us. (You mean that's it? Don't they have a more charming match for this one? At the very least, can't we have a word-for-word equivalent: C'est entre toi et moi et le montant de porte?)
Kiss and Fly (Name of airport drop off zone)
I was taking family to the airport when I noticed the sign above the temporary parking curb. "Kiss and Fly"–how delightful! …And what a let down to discover the French translation (noted just beneath the sign): Dépose Minute.
To Get One's Knickers in a Twist (To get flustered, agitated)
Personally I don't use this expression (I find the "Keep your hair on!" expression just as funny). Sorry if the "knickers" idiom offends anyone–but you've got to admit that it is one of the more colorful expressions we have in English! Let's see if the French translation does it justice (checking my dictionary now…)
…and the equivalent is (dot-dot-dot) s'emporter. Ba dump bump! To fly off in a rage doesn't quite cut it. Although "to get into a tizzy" is kind of funny! How about we use that one?
* * *
Your turn to share your favorite English expressions–the more colorful the better. Are some expressions funnier in English–or, if we search deeply enough, can we find a just-as-humorous French equivalent?
French Vocabulary
revenons à nos moutons = let's get back to the topic
faire du lèche-vitrines = to go window shopping
être aux petits oignons = to be perfect
l'anglais = english
Chapeau! or hats off to you for working on your French a little each day. Please share today's post with a friend who might enjoy the same.
Photo from 2008. With Mr Farjon, "The Plant Whisperer".
With an approach that is as charming as it is practical, Espinasse shares her story through the everyday French words and phrases that never seem to make it to American classrooms. Book blurb by Simon and Schuster
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My Belgian Grandmother (French speaking) used to say in French (I’m not sure of the spelling) “Somebody’s cooking” when it was hot, but she meant the Devil was cooking. If anybody would care to translate, I would love to have it in the correct French!
My Belgian Grandmother (French speaking) used to say in French (I’m not sure of the spelling) “Somebody’s cooking” when it was hot, but she meant the Devil was cooking. If anybody would care to translate, I would love to have it in the correct French!
Just thought of another fav: “If you can’t run with the Big Dogs, you’d better stay on the porch” has led to Tshirts that say “Big Dog”!
Just thought of another fav: “If you can’t run with the Big Dogs, you’d better stay on the porch” has led to Tshirts that say “Big Dog”!
Kristin – it’s been a while since I’ve added “mon grain de sel” but one of my favorite French idioms is for cooking without measuring which is “mesurer au pif” (with your nose, i.e, by how it smells, which in turn is an oxymoron, since measuring is an exact science and proceeding by intuition is the exact opposite!)
Kristin – it’s been a while since I’ve added “mon grain de sel” but one of my favorite French idioms is for cooking without measuring which is “mesurer au pif” (with your nose, i.e, by how it smells, which in turn is an oxymoron, since measuring is an exact science and proceeding by intuition is the exact opposite!)
“Don’t get your tits in a tangle” is a fave of mine… I doubt whether anyone will get theirs in said state by reading “knickers” here…… Thanks, Kristi for another thought-provoking post!
“Don’t get your tits in a tangle” is a fave of mine… I doubt whether anyone will get theirs in said state by reading “knickers” here…… Thanks, Kristi for another thought-provoking post!
For Caroline in Ca: she talks her head off in French would translate “elle est bavarde comme une pie” (she talks as much as a mockingbird).
One of my favorite English idioms is “the elevator doesn’t go to the top floor” for someone who is not all there in his mind.
For Caroline in Ca: she talks her head off in French would translate “elle est bavarde comme une pie” (she talks as much as a mockingbird).
One of my favorite English idioms is “the elevator doesn’t go to the top floor” for someone who is not all there in his mind.
An old paper back (Livre de poche) about “les expressions populaires et leur origine” is LA PUCE a L’OREILLE, de Claude Dunneton. (for fluent French speakers).
On se regale!
Odile CA
An old paper back (Livre de poche) about “les expressions populaires et leur origine” is LA PUCE a L’OREILLE, de Claude Dunneton. (for fluent French speakers).
On se regale!
Odile CA
raining cats and dogs
snowing to beat the band
crying up a storm
raining cats and dogs
snowing to beat the band
crying up a storm
Many years ago I had a Swiss/German couple(the brother of a good friend) stay with me for 3 months to improve on their English while taking a class at the local college. Without thinking many times I used idioms and would get a blank look and have to explain. The one that comes to mind is “Stop on a dime.”
I certainly find it much more fun learning French when idioms and phrases.
I meant to comment on your rock climbing adventure to the little beach. It was a delightful read by a woman who appears to be rediscovering the fun side of herself and that relentless adventurous husband of hers.
Many years ago I had a Swiss/German couple(the brother of a good friend) stay with me for 3 months to improve on their English while taking a class at the local college. Without thinking many times I used idioms and would get a blank look and have to explain. The one that comes to mind is “Stop on a dime.”
I certainly find it much more fun learning French when idioms and phrases.
I meant to comment on your rock climbing adventure to the little beach. It was a delightful read by a woman who appears to be rediscovering the fun side of herself and that relentless adventurous husband of hers.
To the idioms that imply someone isn’t “all there in the head”, I would add:
“He’s not playing with a full deck”
“She’s half a bubble off plumb” (my wood-worker husband’s favorite!)
To the idioms that imply someone isn’t “all there in the head”, I would add:
“He’s not playing with a full deck”
“She’s half a bubble off plumb” (my wood-worker husband’s favorite!)
Thank you, Joie, for your comment about the rock climbing 🙂 — and thanks everyone for these delightful expressions. I really appreciate our English idioms (so many of these crack me up–and they really help keep us all down to earth. How can we take ourselves so seriously after reading some of these 🙂
Thank you, Joie, for your comment about the rock climbing 🙂 — and thanks everyone for these delightful expressions. I really appreciate our English idioms (so many of these crack me up–and they really help keep us all down to earth. How can we take ourselves so seriously after reading some of these 🙂
In relation to many things: “more _________ than Carter has little liver pills”.
Please pardon me for the following … but my dear Father and his Southern Colorado buddies said it so often, it is ingrained in my consciousness with a loving smile:
“Colder than a witches tit in a brass bra”
In relation to many things: “more _________ than Carter has little liver pills”.
Please pardon me for the following … but my dear Father and his Southern Colorado buddies said it so often, it is ingrained in my consciousness with a loving smile:
“Colder than a witches tit in a brass bra”
It’s amazing the number of expressions we have for “not all there.” I person I know is not so polite about it. He says “dumb as a box of rocks” and “dumb as a bag of hammers.” Personally, I like “loopier than a pot holder.” For “raining cats and dogs” I have heard “Il pleut comme la vache qui pisse!” Not to mention (but here I go)that we get “pissed off” while les francais get “enmerde”. I’m crazy about both languages. A friend of mine said that only in English do “fat chance” and “slim chance” mean the same thing.
Bon weekend a tous! Joan L.
It’s amazing the number of expressions we have for “not all there.” I person I know is not so polite about it. He says “dumb as a box of rocks” and “dumb as a bag of hammers.” Personally, I like “loopier than a pot holder.” For “raining cats and dogs” I have heard “Il pleut comme la vache qui pisse!” Not to mention (but here I go)that we get “pissed off” while les francais get “enmerde”. I’m crazy about both languages. A friend of mine said that only in English do “fat chance” and “slim chance” mean the same thing.
Bon weekend a tous! Joan L.
I got very strange looks in a French household once when I asked the cook if I could “give her a hand” in the kitchen. Years later, I found out that “donne la main” in French means to strike someone!
My fav French expression for frustration is “Il ne manquait que de ca!” – roughly translated as “That’s the last straw” – literally “That was the only thing missing!”
A few English expressions that come to mind that I secretly enjoy (but don’t use myself in polite company):
Referring to a wornout barfly type: “Looked like she was rode hard and put away wet”
“I didn’t just fall off the turnip truck”
“Lights are on but no one’s home”
and “Bat-s–t crazy”
A variation on “knickers in a knot” is “undies in a bundle.”
Fun post and comments!
I got very strange looks in a French household once when I asked the cook if I could “give her a hand” in the kitchen. Years later, I found out that “donne la main” in French means to strike someone!
My fav French expression for frustration is “Il ne manquait que de ca!” – roughly translated as “That’s the last straw” – literally “That was the only thing missing!”
A few English expressions that come to mind that I secretly enjoy (but don’t use myself in polite company):
Referring to a wornout barfly type: “Looked like she was rode hard and put away wet”
“I didn’t just fall off the turnip truck”
“Lights are on but no one’s home”
and “Bat-s–t crazy”
A variation on “knickers in a knot” is “undies in a bundle.”
Fun post and comments!
Laughed all the way to the end of the comments. Thanks everyone! Words are so fun. Some that I have heard that I think are funny –
“busier than a one armed paper hanger” “bats in the belfry”
“don’t fix it if it ain’t broke”
As I think of others will send them on. Interesting idea for a book. As I think of them will send them on. Have a great weekend.
Laughed all the way to the end of the comments. Thanks everyone! Words are so fun. Some that I have heard that I think are funny –
“busier than a one armed paper hanger” “bats in the belfry”
“don’t fix it if it ain’t broke”
As I think of others will send them on. Interesting idea for a book. As I think of them will send them on. Have a great weekend.
Hi, Kristin, I also had a French teacher who taught idiomatique
expressions. I absolutely loved her class and sadly, she has
passed on now. Some she taught us are:
se vendre comme des petits pains = to sell like hotcakes
faire d’une pierre deux coups = to kill 2 birds with one stone
dans tous les coins et recoins= in every nook and cranny
decouvrir le pot aux roses=to get to the bottom of it
occupez-vous de ce qui vous regarde!=mind your own business!
avoir du toupet=you have some nerve
c’est le bouquet=that’s the last straw
les cheveux en bataille=a bad hair day
Joanne, Carmel-by-the-Sea, CA, USA
Hi, Kristin, I also had a French teacher who taught idiomatique
expressions. I absolutely loved her class and sadly, she has
passed on now. Some she taught us are:
se vendre comme des petits pains = to sell like hotcakes
faire d’une pierre deux coups = to kill 2 birds with one stone
dans tous les coins et recoins= in every nook and cranny
decouvrir le pot aux roses=to get to the bottom of it
occupez-vous de ce qui vous regarde!=mind your own business!
avoir du toupet=you have some nerve
c’est le bouquet=that’s the last straw
les cheveux en bataille=a bad hair day
Joanne, Carmel-by-the-Sea, CA, USA
Oh, Kristi, this was fun! Love all these light-hearted, hilarious and sometimes crazy expressions.
Oh, Kristi, this was fun! Love all these light-hearted, hilarious and sometimes crazy expressions.
How about “je parle francais comme une vache espanole. ”
How about “je parle francais comme une vache espanole. ”
My husband, who is from Montréal, says that in Québec they have something similar to “Between you and me and the gatepost.” The Québecois say, “Entre toi pi moi pi l’poêle à bois,” meaning “Between you and me and the wood stove.”
My husband, who is from Montréal, says that in Québec they have something similar to “Between you and me and the gatepost.” The Québecois say, “Entre toi pi moi pi l’poêle à bois,” meaning “Between you and me and the wood stove.”
I just realized that “l’poêle” is Québec slang. In proper French it would be, “Entre toi et moi et le poêle à bois.” While I’m at it, I may as well throw out full-on Québec slang… “Entre toé pi moé pi l’poêle à bois.” Fun stuff for sure!
I just realized that “l’poêle” is Québec slang. In proper French it would be, “Entre toi et moi et le poêle à bois.” While I’m at it, I may as well throw out full-on Québec slang… “Entre toé pi moé pi l’poêle à bois.” Fun stuff for sure!
What a great post and wonderful comments. This is one of the best things about your blog – the idioms we don’t learn in textbooks. I can think of “a sight for sore eyes” and “a shot in the arm.” Here in Miami, where we learn Spanish too, when a situation is “un arroz con mango” [rice with mango], it means total chaos.
What a great post and wonderful comments. This is one of the best things about your blog – the idioms we don’t learn in textbooks. I can think of “a sight for sore eyes” and “a shot in the arm.” Here in Miami, where we learn Spanish too, when a situation is “un arroz con mango” [rice with mango], it means total chaos.
I’ve always liked “It’s raining cats and dogs.” My high school french teacher said a regional equivalent in French (which he assured us does not sound as vulgar in French as it does in English) is “Il pleut comme une vache qui pisse.” In English I also like “He’s not the sharpest tool in the shed” (he’s not intelligent), it “doesn’t cut the mustard” (it’s not good enough) and “to be on one’s very last nerve” (to exasperate or annoy someone to excess).
I’ve always liked “It’s raining cats and dogs.” My high school french teacher said a regional equivalent in French (which he assured us does not sound as vulgar in French as it does in English) is “Il pleut comme une vache qui pisse.” In English I also like “He’s not the sharpest tool in the shed” (he’s not intelligent), it “doesn’t cut the mustard” (it’s not good enough) and “to be on one’s very last nerve” (to exasperate or annoy someone to excess).
I work with a translation group, and the French contingent did a word for word of ‘he led her down the primrose path’. They did think the appearance of a garden, all of a sudden, was odd, but it went right over their heads. Of course, the French counter-idiom would be ‘il l’a menée en bateau’.
I work with a translation group, and the French contingent did a word for word of ‘he led her down the primrose path’. They did think the appearance of a garden, all of a sudden, was odd, but it went right over their heads. Of course, the French counter-idiom would be ‘il l’a menée en bateau’.
A few common ones in my life, some are irish-canadian, some of unknown origin:
Butter wouldn’t melt in her mouth — she’s not all she seems
Not the sharpest knife in the drawer – slow witted
A man after me own heart – a decent fellow
Scarce as hen’s teeth – very rare
I need to go see a man about a dog – need to use the loo
pull the wool over your eyes – fool or deceive
pull my leg – tease and deceive
give sass – be impudent
give lip — (same)
give a bill of goods – lie, deceive
give me the pip – annoy me a lot
drive me up the wall — (same)
crazy as a loon – daft, insane
dull as a month of Sundays — boring
sawing logs – snoring loudly
Take the stuffing out – be very tiring
promise the moon – make extravagant offers
swear a blue streak — use a lot of profanity
She’s a knockout – very beautiful
Honest as the day is long — trustworthy
A horse of a different colour — a different topic
His goose is cooked — he has failed
She chewed me out — scolded me
Get in a flap — be upset
etc etc etc!!
A few common ones in my life, some are irish-canadian, some of unknown origin:
Butter wouldn’t melt in her mouth — she’s not all she seems
Not the sharpest knife in the drawer – slow witted
A man after me own heart – a decent fellow
Scarce as hen’s teeth – very rare
I need to go see a man about a dog – need to use the loo
pull the wool over your eyes – fool or deceive
pull my leg – tease and deceive
give sass – be impudent
give lip — (same)
give a bill of goods – lie, deceive
give me the pip – annoy me a lot
drive me up the wall — (same)
crazy as a loon – daft, insane
dull as a month of Sundays — boring
sawing logs – snoring loudly
Take the stuffing out – be very tiring
promise the moon – make extravagant offers
swear a blue streak — use a lot of profanity
She’s a knockout – very beautiful
Honest as the day is long — trustworthy
A horse of a different colour — a different topic
His goose is cooked — he has failed
She chewed me out — scolded me
Get in a flap — be upset
etc etc etc!!
Just want to say how much pleasure I find each time I check in here. You have a beautiful, informative site that feels like coming home, even though I am not French.
Best of luck with blessings always.
Barbara B.
Just want to say how much pleasure I find each time I check in here. You have a beautiful, informative site that feels like coming home, even though I am not French.
Best of luck with blessings always.
Barbara B.
What fun! Thanks for writing about idioms and inviting everyone to add “their two cents worth”. Bon week-end to all.
What fun! Thanks for writing about idioms and inviting everyone to add “their two cents worth”. Bon week-end to all.