Essential French Idioms for Professionals<\/span><\/h2>\n\n- Jeter l\u2019argent par les fen\u00eatres<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
<\/p>\n
\n- Une bouch\u00e9e de pain<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
<\/p>\n
\n- Co\u00fbter les yeux de la t\u00eate\/un bras<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
<\/p>\n
\n- S\u2019en mettre plein les poches<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
<\/p>\n
\n- Tomber dans le panneau<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
<\/p>\n
\n- Faire le pont<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
<\/p>\n
\n- En prendre de la graine<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
<\/p>\n
Take your career to the next level with our French courses! Qualified native teachers and tailored classes in your city or online.<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n <\/p>\n
<\/a>1.\u00a0Jeter l\u2019argent par les fen\u00eatres<\/h2>\nLiteral meaning: to throw the money through the windows<\/p>\n
Actual meaning: This is one of the French idioms that originated in Medieval times when people used to give money to beggars by throwing it through the window. Although French people don\u2019t do this anymore, the expression has been kept in the language and it now means that something is a waste of money.<\/p>\n
Example: Je ne <\/i><\/em>pense<\/i><\/em>\u00a0pas <\/i><\/em>que<\/i><\/em>\u00a0<\/i><\/em>ce<\/i><\/em>\u00a0<\/i><\/em>soit<\/i><\/em>\u00a0le bon moment pour lancer <\/i><\/em>ce<\/i><\/em>\u00a0<\/i><\/em>produit<\/i><\/em>. <\/i><\/em>C’est<\/i><\/em>\u00a0<\/i><\/em>comme<\/i><\/em>\u00a0<\/i><\/em>jeter<\/i><\/em>\u00a0<\/i><\/em>notre<\/i><\/em>\u00a0argent par la <\/i><\/em>fen\u00eatre<\/i><\/em>.<\/i><\/em>\u00a0<\/i><\/em>(I don\u2019t think this is the right time to launch this product. I\u2019m sure it will be a waste of money.)<\/p>\n<\/a>2. Une bouch\u00e9e de pain<\/h2>\nLiteral meaning: for a mouthful of bread.<\/p>\n
Actual meaning: French bread is surely delicious, but it\u2019s also quite cheap. Comparing something to a piece of bread means that it didn\u2019t cost a lot of money.<\/p>\n
Example: Je pense que nous devrions acheter ce nouveau logiciel. <\/i><\/em>Regarde<\/i><\/em>, <\/i><\/em>nous pourrions l\u00b4avoir pour une bouch\u00e9e de pain<\/i><\/em>.<\/i><\/em>\u00a0(I think we should buy this new software. Look, it\u2019s cheap as chips.)<\/p>\n<\/a>3.\u00a0Co\u00fbter les yeux de la t\u00eate\/un bras<\/h2>\nLiteral meaning: to cost the eyes of one\u2019s head, to cost an arm.<\/p>\n
Actual meaning: No matter what language we speak, our eyes and arms are very dear to us. Saying that something costs your eyes or arms means that it costs a fortune.<\/p>\n
Example:\u00a0Nous <\/i><\/em>n’avons<\/i><\/em>\u00a0pas <\/i><\/em>assez<\/i><\/em>\u00a0<\/i><\/em>d’argent<\/i><\/em>\u00a0<\/i><\/em>pour<\/i><\/em>\u00a0<\/i><\/em>une<\/i><\/em>\u00a0<\/i><\/em>campagne<\/i><\/em>\u00a0marketing en <\/i><\/em>ce<\/i><\/em>\u00a0moment. <\/i><\/em>Cela<\/i><\/em>\u00a0nous <\/i><\/em>co\u00fbterait<\/i><\/em>\u00a0les <\/i><\/em>yeux<\/i><\/em>\u00a0de la t\u00eate.<\/i><\/em>\u00a0(We don\u2019t have enough money for a marketing campaign right now. That would cost us an arm and a leg.)<\/p>\n![\"Woman](\"https:\/\/www.languagetrainers.co.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/pensive-woman-paying-bills-home-min-700x467.jpg\")
Cards photo created by gpointstudio – www.freepik.com<\/a><\/p><\/div>\n<\/a>4.\u00a0S\u2019en mettre plein les poches<\/h2>\nLiteral meaning: to put a lot in your pockets<\/p>\n
Actual meaning: When you learn French (and French idioms!) you also get to learn about French culture. In France, having a lot of money is seen rather negatively because many people think that in order to get rich you need to exploit others. This idiom is used to criticise someone who makes more money than they need.<\/p>\n
Example: Les patrons<\/i><\/em>\u00a0se<\/i><\/em>\u00a0<\/i><\/em>mettent<\/i><\/em>\u00a0<\/i><\/em>plein<\/i><\/em>\u00a0<\/i><\/em>dans<\/i><\/em>\u00a0<\/i><\/em>leurs<\/i><\/em>\u00a0<\/i><\/em>poches<\/i><\/em>\u00a0<\/i><\/em>gr\u00e2ce<\/i><\/em>\u00a0\u00e0 <\/i><\/em>notre<\/i><\/em>\u00a0travail <\/i><\/em>acharn\u00e9<\/i><\/em>\u00a0<\/i><\/em>alors<\/i><\/em>\u00a0<\/i><\/em>que<\/i><\/em>\u00a0nous <\/i><\/em>pouvons<\/i><\/em>\u00a0\u00e0 <\/i><\/em>peine<\/i><\/em>\u00a0<\/i><\/em>joindre<\/i><\/em>\u00a0les <\/i><\/em>deux<\/i><\/em>\u00a0bouts. <\/i><\/em>Qu’allons<\/i><\/em>-nous faire \u00e0 <\/i><\/em>ce<\/i><\/em>\u00a0<\/i><\/em>sujet<\/i><\/em>?<\/i><\/em>\u00a0(The big suits are lining their pockets thanks to our hard work while we can barely make ends meet. What are we gonna do about it?)<\/p>\n<\/a>5.\u00a0Tomber dans le panneau<\/h2>\nLiteral meaning: to fall into the sign.<\/p>\n
Actual meaning: Like most French idioms, this one also has an interesting origin. In the 15th century, the word panneau<\/i><\/em> referred to the net hunters used to catch wild animals. In modern French, un<\/i><\/em>\u00a0<\/i><\/em>panneau<\/i><\/em>\u00a0means \u201ca sign\u201d, but this expression means that you fell into a trap and that you only realised when it was too late.<\/p>\nExample: Allons-nous vraiment accepter la proposition du concurrent? On a l’impression de tomber dans le panneau ici!\u00a0(Are we really going to accept the competitor\u2019s proposal?\u00a0It feels like we\u2019re falling into a trap here!)<\/p>\n
<\/a>6.Faire le pont<\/h2>\nLiteral meaning: to make the bridge.<\/p>\n
Actual meaning: If you don\u2019t have to work next Friday, you might as well not work on Saturday either and enjoy a 3-day weekend, right? That\u2019s what faire le <\/i><\/em>pont<\/i><\/em>\u00a0means: to have a long weekend all to yourself (although, on second thoughts, you might want to use some of it to learn French!)<\/p>\nExample: Ce jeudi est f\u00e9ri\u00e9, Je vais prendre un jour de cong\u00e9 et je fais le pont.<\/em> (This Thursday is a holiday, I am going to take one day off\u00a0and make the bridge.)<\/p>\n![\"Successful](\"https:\/\/www.languagetrainers.co.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/smiling-female-business-leader-with-arms-crossed-min-250x167.jpg\")
Business photo created by katemangostar – www.freepik.com<\/a><\/p><\/div>\n<\/a>7. En prendre de la graine<\/h2>\nLiteral meaning: to take the seed from it.<\/p>\n
Actual meaning: Seeds are what allow flowers to bloom, so if you take the seed from a person, it means that you steal their secret for success and follow their steps. (French idioms are rather poetic, aren\u2019t they?)<\/p>\n
Example:\u00a0L’\u00e9quipe<\/i><\/em>\u00a0de Sabine <\/i><\/em>a<\/i><\/em>\u00a0<\/i><\/em>obtenu<\/i><\/em>\u00a0<\/i><\/em>d’excellents<\/i><\/em>\u00a0<\/i><\/em>r\u00e9sultats<\/i><\/em>
<\/p>\n
- \n
- Une bouch\u00e9e de pain<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
<\/p>\n
- \n
- Co\u00fbter les yeux de la t\u00eate\/un bras<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
<\/p>\n
- \n
- S\u2019en mettre plein les poches<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
<\/p>\n
- \n
- Tomber dans le panneau<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
<\/p>\n
- \n
- Faire le pont<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
<\/p>\n
- \n
- En prendre de la graine<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
<\/p>\n
Take your career to the next level with our French courses! Qualified native teachers and tailored classes in your city or online.<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
<\/a>1.\u00a0Jeter l\u2019argent par les fen\u00eatres<\/h2>\n
Literal meaning: to throw the money through the windows<\/p>\n
Actual meaning: This is one of the French idioms that originated in Medieval times when people used to give money to beggars by throwing it through the window. Although French people don\u2019t do this anymore, the expression has been kept in the language and it now means that something is a waste of money.<\/p>\n
Example: Je ne <\/i><\/em>pense<\/i><\/em>\u00a0pas <\/i><\/em>que<\/i><\/em>\u00a0<\/i><\/em>ce<\/i><\/em>\u00a0<\/i><\/em>soit<\/i><\/em>\u00a0le bon moment pour lancer <\/i><\/em>ce<\/i><\/em>\u00a0<\/i><\/em>produit<\/i><\/em>. <\/i><\/em>C’est<\/i><\/em>\u00a0<\/i><\/em>comme<\/i><\/em>\u00a0<\/i><\/em>jeter<\/i><\/em>\u00a0<\/i><\/em>notre<\/i><\/em>\u00a0argent par la <\/i><\/em>fen\u00eatre<\/i><\/em>.<\/i><\/em>\u00a0<\/i><\/em>(I don\u2019t think this is the right time to launch this product. I\u2019m sure it will be a waste of money.)<\/p>\n
<\/a>2. Une bouch\u00e9e de pain<\/h2>\n
Literal meaning: for a mouthful of bread.<\/p>\n
Actual meaning: French bread is surely delicious, but it\u2019s also quite cheap. Comparing something to a piece of bread means that it didn\u2019t cost a lot of money.<\/p>\n
Example: Je pense que nous devrions acheter ce nouveau logiciel. <\/i><\/em>Regarde<\/i><\/em>, <\/i><\/em>nous pourrions l\u00b4avoir pour une bouch\u00e9e de pain<\/i><\/em>.<\/i><\/em>\u00a0(I think we should buy this new software. Look, it\u2019s cheap as chips.)<\/p>\n
<\/a>3.\u00a0Co\u00fbter les yeux de la t\u00eate\/un bras<\/h2>\n
Literal meaning: to cost the eyes of one\u2019s head, to cost an arm.<\/p>\n
Actual meaning: No matter what language we speak, our eyes and arms are very dear to us. Saying that something costs your eyes or arms means that it costs a fortune.<\/p>\n
Example:\u00a0Nous <\/i><\/em>n’avons<\/i><\/em>\u00a0pas <\/i><\/em>assez<\/i><\/em>\u00a0<\/i><\/em>d’argent<\/i><\/em>\u00a0<\/i><\/em>pour<\/i><\/em>\u00a0<\/i><\/em>une<\/i><\/em>\u00a0<\/i><\/em>campagne<\/i><\/em>\u00a0marketing en <\/i><\/em>ce<\/i><\/em>\u00a0moment. <\/i><\/em>Cela<\/i><\/em>\u00a0nous <\/i><\/em>co\u00fbterait<\/i><\/em>\u00a0les <\/i><\/em>yeux<\/i><\/em>\u00a0de la t\u00eate.<\/i><\/em>\u00a0(We don\u2019t have enough money for a marketing campaign right now. That would cost us an arm and a leg.)<\/p>\n
Cards photo created by gpointstudio – www.freepik.com<\/a><\/p><\/div>\n
<\/a>4.\u00a0S\u2019en mettre plein les poches<\/h2>\n
Literal meaning: to put a lot in your pockets<\/p>\n
Actual meaning: When you learn French (and French idioms!) you also get to learn about French culture. In France, having a lot of money is seen rather negatively because many people think that in order to get rich you need to exploit others. This idiom is used to criticise someone who makes more money than they need.<\/p>\n
Example: Les patrons<\/i><\/em>\u00a0se<\/i><\/em>\u00a0<\/i><\/em>mettent<\/i><\/em>\u00a0<\/i><\/em>plein<\/i><\/em>\u00a0<\/i><\/em>dans<\/i><\/em>\u00a0<\/i><\/em>leurs<\/i><\/em>\u00a0<\/i><\/em>poches<\/i><\/em>\u00a0<\/i><\/em>gr\u00e2ce<\/i><\/em>\u00a0\u00e0 <\/i><\/em>notre<\/i><\/em>\u00a0travail <\/i><\/em>acharn\u00e9<\/i><\/em>\u00a0<\/i><\/em>alors<\/i><\/em>\u00a0<\/i><\/em>que<\/i><\/em>\u00a0nous <\/i><\/em>pouvons<\/i><\/em>\u00a0\u00e0 <\/i><\/em>peine<\/i><\/em>\u00a0<\/i><\/em>joindre<\/i><\/em>\u00a0les <\/i><\/em>deux<\/i><\/em>\u00a0bouts. <\/i><\/em>Qu’allons<\/i><\/em>-nous faire \u00e0 <\/i><\/em>ce<\/i><\/em>\u00a0<\/i><\/em>sujet<\/i><\/em>?<\/i><\/em>\u00a0(The big suits are lining their pockets thanks to our hard work while we can barely make ends meet. What are we gonna do about it?)<\/p>\n
<\/a>5.\u00a0Tomber dans le panneau<\/h2>\n
Literal meaning: to fall into the sign.<\/p>\n
Actual meaning: Like most French idioms, this one also has an interesting origin. In the 15th century, the word panneau<\/i><\/em> referred to the net hunters used to catch wild animals. In modern French, un<\/i><\/em>\u00a0<\/i><\/em>panneau<\/i><\/em>\u00a0means \u201ca sign\u201d, but this expression means that you fell into a trap and that you only realised when it was too late.<\/p>\n
Example: Allons-nous vraiment accepter la proposition du concurrent? On a l’impression de tomber dans le panneau ici!\u00a0(Are we really going to accept the competitor\u2019s proposal?\u00a0It feels like we\u2019re falling into a trap here!)<\/p>\n
<\/a>6.Faire le pont<\/h2>\n
Literal meaning: to make the bridge.<\/p>\n
Actual meaning: If you don\u2019t have to work next Friday, you might as well not work on Saturday either and enjoy a 3-day weekend, right? That\u2019s what faire le <\/i><\/em>pont<\/i><\/em>\u00a0means: to have a long weekend all to yourself (although, on second thoughts, you might want to use some of it to learn French!)<\/p>\n
Example: Ce jeudi est f\u00e9ri\u00e9, Je vais prendre un jour de cong\u00e9 et je fais le pont.<\/em> (This Thursday is a holiday, I am going to take one day off\u00a0and make the bridge.)<\/p>\n
Business photo created by katemangostar – www.freepik.com<\/a><\/p><\/div>\n
<\/a>7. En prendre de la graine<\/h2>\n
Literal meaning: to take the seed from it.<\/p>\n
Actual meaning: Seeds are what allow flowers to bloom, so if you take the seed from a person, it means that you steal their secret for success and follow their steps. (French idioms are rather poetic, aren\u2019t they?)<\/p>\n
Example:\u00a0L’\u00e9quipe<\/i><\/em>\u00a0de Sabine <\/i><\/em>a<\/i><\/em>\u00a0<\/i><\/em>obtenu<\/i><\/em>\u00a0<\/i><\/em>d’excellents<\/i><\/em>\u00a0<\/i><\/em>r\u00e9sultats<\/i><\/em>
- En prendre de la graine<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
- Faire le pont<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
- Tomber dans le panneau<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
- S\u2019en mettre plein les poches<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
- Co\u00fbter les yeux de la t\u00eate\/un bras<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n