May 22, 2013
[Edible Idiom] Haut comme trois pommes
Illustration by MelinArt.
This is part of a series on French idiomatic expressions that relate to food. Browse the list of idioms featured so far.
This week's expression is, "Haut comme trois pommes."
Literally translated as, "high as three apples," it is used to point out that someone -- often a child -- is small or very short. I've seen it translated to "knee-high to a grasshopper," although I've never heard that cute English expression my...
"[Edible Idiom] Haut comme trois pommes" continues »
January 25, 2013
[Edible Idiom] Cheveux poivre et sel
Illustration by MelinArt.
This is part of a series on French idiomatic expressions that relate to food. Browse the list of idioms featured so far.
This week's expression is, "Cheveux poivre et sel."
Literally translated as, "pepper and salt hair," it is used to describe graying hair. It is also -- though less often -- used to describe someone's beard (barbe) or sideburns (favoris).
Example: "C'était un monsieur d'un certain âge, aux cheveux...
"[Edible Idiom] Cheveux poivre et sel" continues »
December 7, 2012
[Edible Idiom] Coeur d'artichaut
Illustration by MelinArt.
This is part of a series on French idiomatic expressions that relate to food. Browse the list of idioms featured so far.
This week's expression is, "Cœur d'artichaut."
Literally translated as, "artichoke heart," it is used to describe someone who falls in love easily and frequently, possibly with several people at the same time -- or at least in rapid succession. It can be used either as avoir un cœur d'...
"[Edible Idiom] Coeur d'artichaut" continues »
October 4, 2012
[Edible Idiom] Papa gâteau
Illustration by MelinArt.
This is part of a series on French idiomatic expressions that relate to food. Browse the list of idioms featured so far.
This week's expression is, "Papa gâteau."
Literally translated as, "cake daddy," it is used to qualify a doting father, one who's affectionate and good-natured, and possibly one who allows his children to wrap him around their little finger every once in a while.
Example: "Il n'a jamais été très ...
"[Edible Idiom] Papa gâteau" continues »
October 13, 2011
[Edible Idiom] Se vendre comme des petits pains
Photography by J. Annie Wang.
This is part of a series on French idiomatic expressions that relate to food. Browse the list of idioms featured so far.
This week's expression is, "Se vendre comme des petits pains."
Literally translated as, "selling like small breads," it means selling like hotcakes, i.e. selling quickly, effortlessly, and in large numbers. It is very commonly used.
Example: "Les exemplaires signés par l'artiste se sont vendus...
"[Edible Idiom] Se vendre comme des petits pains" continues »
August 4, 2011
[Edible Idiom] Mettre les bouchées doubles
Photography by Astrid Berglund.
This is part of a series on French idiomatic expressions that relate to food. Browse the list of idioms featured so far.
This week's expression is, "Mettre les bouchées doubles."
Literally (and awkwardly) translated as, "putting the double bites," it means doubling your efforts.
Example: "Il va falloir mettre les bouchées doubles si on veut boucler le projet avant la fin du mois." "We need to double our effort...
"[Edible Idiom] Mettre les bouchées doubles" continues »
June 29, 2011
[Edible Idiom] Changer de crémerie
Crémerie photographed in Marseille by Boris Drenec.
This is part of a series on French idiomatic expressions that relate to food. Browse the list of idioms featured so far.
This week's expression is, "Changer de crémerie."
Literally translated as, "changing creameries," it means taking your business elsewhere when you're unhappy with the current (and possibly long-standing) arrangement.
Example: "Certains généralistes se sentent obligés de d...
"[Edible Idiom] Changer de crémerie" continues »
December 16, 2010
[Edible Idioms] La course à l'échalote
Gorgeous braided shallots photographed by Denna Jones.
This is part of a series on French idiomatic expressions that relate to food. Browse the list of idioms featured so far.
This week's expression is, "La course à l'échalote."
Literally translated as, "the shallot race," it is used in situations of futile competition, when people strive to outdo one another for vain reasons, in a political context or otherwise. It is somewhat comparable to ...
"[Edible Idioms] La course à l'échalote" continues »
November 19, 2010
[Edible Idiom] Ne pas digérer quelque chose
Digestive biscuit photographed by Qiao-Da-Ye.
This is part of a series on French idiomatic expressions that relate to food. Browse the list of idioms featured so far.
This week's expression is, "Ne pas digérer quelque chose."
Literally translated as, "not digesting something," it means holding a grudge about something, being unhappy about a past situation, and not being able to let it go.
Example: "Il n'a toujours pas digéré ce qu'il considè...
"[Edible Idiom] Ne pas digérer quelque chose" continues »
October 21, 2010
[Edible Idiom] Faire son miel de quelque chose
This is part of a series on French idiomatic expressions that relate to food. Browse the list of idioms featured so far.
This week's expression is, "Faire son miel de quelque chose."
Literally translated as, "making one's honey out of something," it means profiting from a situation.
Example: "Elle enchaîne les déclarations provocantes, et évidemment, les journalistes en font leur miel." "She makes one provoking statement after another, and o...
"[Edible Idiom] Faire son miel de quelque chose" continues »
August 6, 2010
[Edible Idiom] Ne pas manger de ce pain-là
This is part of a series on French idiomatic expressions that relate to food. Browse the list of idioms featured so far.
This week's expression is, "Ne pas manger de ce pain-là."
Translated as, "not eating that kind of bread," it means refusing to act in a way that goes against your values, steering clear of a situation or behavior that you think is beneath you.
Example: "Il faudrait que je fasse des ronds de jambe à la directrice pour obten...
"[Edible Idiom] Ne pas manger de ce pain-là" continues »
June 17, 2010
[Edible Idiom] Tourner au vinaigre
Vinegar barrels photographed by Rebecca Bollwitt.
This is part of a series on French idiomatic expressions that relate to food. Browse the list of idioms featured so far.
This week's expression is, "Tourner au vinaigre."
Literally translated as, "turning to vinegar," it describes a situation or a conversation that's taking a bad turn and may get ugly. It can be likened to its English cousin "going (or turning) sour."
Example: "Il a vite chan...
"[Edible Idiom] Tourner au vinaigre" continues »
May 28, 2010
[Edible Idiom] Être serrés comme des sardines
This is part of a series on French idiomatic expressions that relate to food. Browse the list of idioms featured so far.
This week's expression is, "Être serrés comme des sardines."
Literally translated as, "being packed together like sardines," it is a colloquial expression that's used when people are squeezed into a very small space with absolutely no room to move. For some reason, I remember liking this expression a lot as a child.
...
"[Edible Idiom] Être serrés comme des sardines" continues »
March 26, 2010
[Edible Idiom] Plein comme un œuf
This is part of a series on French idiomatic expressions that relate to food. Browse the list of idioms featured so far.
This week's expression is, "Plein comme un œuf."
Literally translated as, "full as an egg," it is a colloquial simile applied to a thing or a place that's completely full; close English equivalents would be "filled to the brim" or "packed to the gills." Note that it can't be applied to a person*: "full" here is not to...
"[Edible Idiom] Plein comme un œuf" continues »
March 12, 2010
[Edible Idiom] Ne pas y aller avec le dos de la cuiller
This is part of a series on French idiomatic expressions that relate to food. Browse the list of idioms featured so far.
This week's idiom is, "Ne pas y aller avec le dos de la cuiller."
Literally translated as, "not going at it with the back of the spoon," it is a colloquial expression that means acting bluntly and deliberately, without restraint or moderation. It is often used in the context of interpersonal relationships, and especially wh...
"[Edible Idiom] Ne pas y aller avec le dos de la cuiller" continues »
February 19, 2010
[Edible Idiom] Le gratin
This is part of a series on French idiomatic expressions that relate to food. Browse the list of idioms featured so far.
This week's idiom is, "Le gratin."
As cooks may already know, gratin* is the generic French term for preparations (often involving vegetables and some sort of binding sauce) cooked in a baking dish in the oven until the surface browns and becomes crusty.
But it is also a colloquial expression that refers to a social elite,...
"[Edible Idiom] Le gratin" continues »
December 17, 2009
[Edible Idiom] Être comme un coq en pâte
This is part of a series on French idiomatic expressions that relate to food. Browse the list of idioms featured so far.
This week's idiom is, "Être comme un coq en pâte."
Literally translated as, "Being like a rooster in dough," it means feeling cosy and pampered, being in a state of absolute contentment, with one's every need catered to. I've seen it likened to the English idiom, "being in clover" or "like pigs in clover," but I under...
"[Edible Idiom] Être comme un coq en pâte" continues »
December 4, 2009
[Edible Idiom] Être dans le pâté
This is part of a series on French idiomatic expressions that relate to food. Browse the list of idioms featured so far.
This week's idiom is, "Être dans le pâté."
Literally translated as, "Being in the pâté," it means feeling drowsy and out of it, usually in the morning after too much partying and/or not enough sleeping. It is a slang expression, not vulgar but definitely not elegant, so I don't really suggest you use it -- slang is th...
"[Edible Idiom] Être dans le pâté" continues »
November 20, 2009
[Edible Idiom] Ne pas mâcher ses mots
Chewing giraffe provided by Wildlife 2008.
This is part of a series on French idiomatic expressions that relate to food. Browse the list of idioms featured so far.
This week's idiom is, "Ne pas mâcher ses mots."
Literally translated as, "Not chewing one's words," it means expressing one's opinion plainly and bluntly, with no concern for how it's going to be received. It is equivalent to the (similarly food-oriented) English expression, "Not m...
"[Edible Idiom] Ne pas mâcher ses mots" continues »
October 16, 2009
[Edible Idiom] Long comme un jour sans pain
This is part of a series on French idiomatic expressions that relate to food. Browse the list of idioms featured so far.
This week's idiom is, "Long comme un jour sans pain."
A literal translation would be, "as long as a day without bread," and it is used to express that something is very long -- in reference to physical length (a long road, a long list) or, more frequently, to the duration of an event (a long speech, a long wait) -- and drea...
"[Edible Idiom] Long comme un jour sans pain" continues »
August 6, 2009
[Edible Idiom] Ménager la chèvre et le chou
Photography by Bertrand.
This is part of a series on French idiomatic expressions that relate to food. Browse the list of idioms featured so far.
This week's idiom is, "Ménager la chèvre et le chou."
Translated as, "Accommodating* the goat and the cabbage," it means trying to please both sides in a situation where the two parties are in fact irreconcilable. It is equivalent to the English expression, "running with the hare and hunting with th...
"[Edible Idiom] Ménager la chèvre et le chou" continues »
July 24, 2009
[Edible Idiom] Retomber comme un soufflé
This is part of a series on French idiomatic expressions that relate to food. Browse the list of idioms featured so far.
This week's idiom is, "Retomber comme un soufflé."
Literally translated as, "Falling back like a soufflé," it is a colloquial expression that means running out of steam in a quick and sudden way: after an initial phase of enthusiasm, an idea, an initiative, or a phenomenon (but not a person) loses momentum, as the interest ...
"[Edible Idiom] Retomber comme un soufflé" continues »
July 10, 2009
[Edible Idiom] Avoir/Prendre de la bouteille
This is part of a series on French idiomatic expressions that relate to food and wine. Browse the list of idioms featured so far.
This week's idiom is, "Avoir/Prendre de la bouteille."
Literally translated as, "Having/Gaining some bottle," it is a colloquial expression that illustrates the fact that a thing or a person gains value, experience, or wisdom with age.
Example: "L'entretien s'est bien passé, mais ils ont préféré embaucher un comme...
"[Edible Idiom] Avoir/Prendre de la bouteille" continues »
June 26, 2009
[Edible Idiom] Ce n'est pas de la tarte
This is part of a series on French idiomatic expressions that relate to food. Browse the list of idioms featured so far.
This week's idiom is, "Ce n'est pas de la tarte."
Approximately translated as, "it's not pie*," it means that something is tricky, difficult to do or to handle. Because it is a colloquial expression that is mostly spoken, it is usually elided to, "C'est pas de la tarte."
Example: "J'essaye de lui faire faire une sieste, ma...
"[Edible Idiom] Ce n'est pas de la tarte" continues »
June 19, 2009
[Edible Idiom] Mettre son grain de sel
This is part of a series on French idiomatic expressions that relate to the culinary world. Browse the list of idioms featured so far.
This week's idiom is, "Mettre son grain de sel."
Literally translated as, "putting in one's grain of salt," it means interfering with a conversation or situation with an unsollicited comment or opinion. It is a colloquial expression that is somewhat similar to the American English idiom, "adding one's two cent...
"[Edible Idiom] Mettre son grain de sel" continues »
June 12, 2009
[Edible Idiom] Raisonner comme une casserole
This is part of a series on French idiomatic expressions that relate to the culinary world. Browse the list of idioms featured so far.
This week's idiom is, "Raisonner comme une casserole."
Literally translated as, "reasoning like a saucepan," it means demonstrating poor logic, formulating arguments that are evidently flawed. It is a colloquial expression that should only be used in informal conversation.
Example: "Ce n'est pas la peine d'es...
"[Edible Idiom] Raisonner comme une casserole" continues »
June 5, 2009
[Edible Idiom] Le ver est dans le fruit
This is part of a series on French idiomatic expressions that relate to food. Browse the list of idioms featured so far.
This week's idiom is, "Le ver est dans le fruit."
Literally translated as, "the worm is in the fruit," it means that the damage is done, that a situation is inherently faulty, and that it's impossible or too late to do anything about it. It can also be used humorously, to comment with mock fatalism on the way a situation is...
"[Edible Idiom] Le ver est dans le fruit" continues »
May 29, 2009
[Edible Idiom] Ne pas mélanger les torchons et les serviettes
This is part of a series on French idiomatic expressions that relate to food. Browse the list of idioms featured so far.
This week's idiom is, "Ne pas mélanger les torchons et les serviettes."
Literally translated as, "not mixing dishtowels with napkins," it means treating things or people differently according to their perceived value or class, but also, more generally, not mixing things of different kinds, with the implication that some of ...
"[Edible Idiom] Ne pas mélanger les torchons et les serviettes" continues »
May 15, 2009
[Edible Idiom] La fin des haricots
This is part of a series on French idiomatic expressions that relate to food. Browse the list of idioms featured so far.
This week's idiom is, "La fin des haricots."
Literally translated as, "the end of the beans," it means that the situation is disastrous, that it's all over, and that all hope is gone.
Sounds depressing? Wait! It is in fact a colloquial expression that is most often used humorously, with a measure of irony. It may refer to...
"[Edible Idiom] La fin des haricots" continues »
May 8, 2009
[Edible Idiom] Ça ne mange pas de pain
This is part of a series on French idiomatic expressions that relate to food. Browse the list of idioms featured so far.
This week's idiom is, "Ça ne mange pas de pain."
Literally translated as, "It doesn't eat bread," it is used to say that a thing or an action can't hurt: it may never amount to much or be of much use, but if it costs nothing and entails no risk, why not?
It is a colloquial expression that is usually delivered with a...
"[Edible Idiom] Ça ne mange pas de pain" continues »
April 24, 2009
[Edible Idiom] Mettre de l'huile sur le feu
This is part of a series on French idiomatic expressions that relate to food. Browse the list of idioms featured so far.
This week's idiom is, "Mettre de l'huile sur le feu."
Literally translated as, "putting oil on the fire," it means making a difficult situation even worse, exacerbating a conflict, often purposefully. It is equivalent to the English expression, "adding fuel to the flames."
Note that it can also appear as, "Jeter de l'huile...
"[Edible Idiom] Mettre de l'huile sur le feu" continues »
April 17, 2009
[Edible Idiom] Tomber dans les pommes
This is part of a series on French idiomatic expressions that relate to food. Browse the list of idioms featured so far.
This week's idiom is, "Tomber dans les pommes."
Literally translated as, "falling in the apples," it is a colloquial expression that means passing out, fainting, losing consciousness.
Example: "Le métro était tellement bondé que la fille à côté de moi est tombée dans les pommes." "The metro was so crowded that the girl nex...
"[Edible Idiom] Tomber dans les pommes" continues »
April 10, 2009
[Edible Idiom] En faire tout un flan
This is part of a series on French idiomatic expressions that relate to food. Browse the list of idioms featured so far.
This week's idiom is, "En faire (tout) un flan."
Literally translated as, "making a (whole) flan out of it," it is a colloquial expression that means making a big deal out of something insignificant, blowing something out of proportion.
It is comparable to the English expressions, "making a mountain out of a molehill," "ma...
"[Edible Idiom] En faire tout un flan" continues »
April 3, 2009
[Edible Idiom] Ne pas être dans son assiette
This is part of a series on French idiomatic expressions that relate to food. Browse the list of idioms featured so far.
This week's idiom is, "Ne pas être dans son assiette."
Literally translated as, "not being in one's plate," it is a colloquial expression that means feeling under the weather, being out of sorts, physically and/or morally.
Example: "Je ne sais pas ce que j'ai, je ne suis vraiment pas dans mon assiette." "I don't know what'...
"[Edible Idiom] Ne pas être dans son assiette" continues »
March 27, 2009
[Edible Idiom] Etre tout sucre tout miel
This is part of a series on French idiomatic expressions that relate to food. Browse the list of idioms featured so far.
This week's idiom is, "Être tout sucre tout miel."
Literally translated as, "being all sugar all honey," it means acting in an overtly affable, considerate, and polite way. It is chiefly used ironically, to point out that the person hides negative feelings behind that cloying front.
Example: "Quand ils ont des invité...
"[Edible Idiom] Etre tout sucre tout miel" continues »
March 20, 2009
[Edible Idiom] Avoir la pêche
This is part of a series on French idiomatic expressions that relate to food. Browse the list of idioms featured so far.
This week's idiom is, "Avoir la pêche."
Literally translated as, "having the peach," it means being in high spirits, having a lot of energy, feeling great physically and/or mentally -- in other words, feeling peachy! It is an informal expression that is only used in casual conversation, but is not vulgar.
Example: "Eh ben ...
"[Edible Idiom] Avoir la pêche" continues »
March 13, 2009
[Edible Idiom] Manger dans la main de quelqu'un
Photography by Jean-Pierre Dalbéra.
This is part of a series on French idiomatic expressions that relate to food. Browse the list of idioms featured so far.
This week's idiom is, "Manger dans la main de quelqu'un."
Literally translated as, "eating out of someone's hand," it means submitting to someone, yielding to someone's opinion or authority, acting in a docile or obsequious way with someone, in the hopes of gaining something in return. Al...
"[Edible Idiom] Manger dans la main de quelqu'un" continues »
March 6, 2009
[Edible Idiom] Marcher sur des oeufs
This is part of a series on French idiomatic expressions that relate to food. Browse the list of expressions featured so far.
This week's idiom is, "Marcher sur des œufs."
Literally translated as, "walking on eggs," it is equivalent to the English expression that appears more frequently as walking on eggshells*, i.e. acting with the greatest of caution in a tricky, sensitive situation, especially to avoid hurting or provoking someone.
E...
"[Edible Idiom] Marcher sur des oeufs" continues »
February 27, 2009
[Edible Idiom] Un déjeuner de soleil
This is part of a series on French idiomatic expressions that relate to food. Read the introductory Edible Idiom post, and browse the list of French idioms featured so far.
This week's idiom is, "Un déjeuner de soleil."
Literally translated as, "a sun's lunch," it is used to describe something that's lovely but short-lived.
When it appeared in the 19th century, the expression refered to those fabrics whose colors faded fast when exposed to s...
"[Edible Idiom] Un déjeuner de soleil" continues »
February 20, 2009
[Edible Idiom] Vouloir le beurre et l'argent du beurre
This is part of a series on French idiomatic expressions that relate to the culinary world. Read the introductory Edible Idiom post, and browse the list of French idioms featured so far.
As a foreword, I'd like to note that, in response to reader Ellen's suggestion, the Edible Idioms are now served with an audio file embedded in the post, allowing you to listen to the pronunciation of the idiom and the example sentence. If you wish to go back ...
"[Edible Idiom] Vouloir le beurre et l'argent du beurre" continues »
February 13, 2009
[Edible Idiom] Comme un tablier à une vache
Photography by Gimli.
This is part of a series on French idiomatic expressions that relate to the culinary world. Read the introductory Edible Idiom post, and browse the list of French idioms featured so far.
This week's idiom is, "Aller à quelqu'un comme un tablier à une vache."
Literally translated as, "suiting someone like an apron suits a cow," it is used to express that something, usually an outfit or a piece of clothing, is unbecoming, ...
"[Edible Idiom] Comme un tablier à une vache" continues »
February 6, 2009
[Edible Idiom] Ne pas être sorti de l'auberge
This is part of a series on French idiomatic expressions that relate to food. Read the introductory Edible Idiom post, and browse the list of French idioms featured so far.
This week's idiom is, "Ne pas être sorti de l'auberge."
Literally translated as, "not being out of the inn*," it means that one is tangled up in an unpleasant situation with still a ways to go, or a lot of work to do**, before one can expect to be freed from it.
It can be...
"[Edible Idiom] Ne pas être sorti de l'auberge" continues »
January 30, 2009
[Edible Idiom] Mi-figue mi-raisin
This is part of a series on French idiomatic expressions that relate to food. Read the introductory Edible Idiom post, and browse the list of French idioms featured so far.
This week's expression is "Mi-figue mi-raisin."
Literally translated as "half fig half grape," it is used as an adjective to mean that a thing, a statement, or a person is ambiguous, or mixed: half good and half bad, half pleasant and half unpleasant, half happy and half s...
"[Edible Idiom] Mi-figue mi-raisin" continues »
January 23, 2009
[Edible Idiom] Mettre de l'eau dans son vin
This is part of a series on French idiomatic expressions that relate to food and drink. Read the introductory Edible Idiom post, and browse the list of French idioms featured so far.
This week's idiom is, "Mettre de l'eau dans son vin."
Literally translated as, "putting water in one's wine," it means lessening one's demands or ambitions, mellowing, deciding to adopt a more moderate stand on an issue or in an argument.
It can be used in a pos...
"[Edible Idiom] Mettre de l'eau dans son vin" continues »
January 16, 2009
[Edible Idiom] S'occuper de ses oignons
This is part of a series on French idiomatic expressions that relate to food. Read the introductory Edible Idiom post, and browse the list of French idioms featured so far.
This week's idiom is, "S'occuper de ses oignons."
Literally translated as "taking care of one's onions," it means minding one's own business, and it is used in situations when someone is meddling in someone else's affairs*.
Example 1: "Je n'ai pas besoin de tes conseils, ...
"[Edible Idiom] S'occuper de ses oignons" continues »
January 9, 2009
[Edible Idiom] Mettre la main à la pâte
This is part of a series on French idiomatic expressions that relate to food. Read the introductory Edible Idiom post, and browse the list of French idioms featured so far.
This week's idiom is, "Mettre la main à la pâte."
Literally translated as, "putting one's hand to the dough," it means being willing to participate in an activity that will require some effort. The activity in question is often manual work that is best done by a team, and ...
"[Edible Idiom] Mettre la main à la pâte" continues »
December 18, 2008
[Edible Idiom] Ne pas savoir à quelle sauce on va être mangé
This is part of a series on French idiomatic expressions that relate to food. Read the introductory Edible Idiom post, and browse the list of French idioms featured so far.
This week's expression is, "Ne pas savoir à quelle sauce on va être mangé."
Literally translated as, "not knowing what sauce one is going to be eaten with," it means that one's prospects are uncertain, not very good, and entirely outside of one's control. (Any resemblance ...
"[Edible Idiom] Ne pas savoir à quelle sauce on va être mangé" continues »
December 12, 2008
[Edible Idiom] Faute de grives, on mange des merles
Photography by Mynette Laine; more winged stunners in her bird set.
This is part of a series on French idiomatic expressions that relate to food. Read the introductory Edible Idiom post, and browse the list of French idioms featured so far.
This week's entry is really an adage more than an idiom. It goes, "Faute de grives, on mange des merles" and can also appear as, "Faute de grives, on se contente de merles."
Literally translated as, "In wa...
"[Edible Idiom] Faute de grives, on mange des merles" continues »
December 5, 2008
[Edible Idiom] Ecrire des tartines
This is part of a series on French idiomatic expressions that relate to food. Read the introductory Edible Idiom post, and browse the list of French idioms featured so far.
This week's idiom is, "Ecrire des tartines."
Literally translated as, "writing tartines" (a tartine is a slice of bread topped with some sort of spread, such as butter or jam), it means writing reams, or being unnecessarily wordy.
Example: "J'étais surprise que sa lettre ...
"[Edible Idiom] Ecrire des tartines" continues »
November 28, 2008
[Edible Idiom] Ne pas savoir si c'est du lard ou du cochon
This is part of a series on French idiomatic expressions that relate to food. Read the introductory Edible Idiom post, and browse the list of French idioms featured so far.
This week's idiom is, "Ne pas savoir si c'est du lard ou du cochon" (or: "Se demander si c'est du lard ou du cochon").
Literally translated as, "not knowing whether it's lard* or pork**" (or: wondering whether it's lard or pork), it means not knowing what to think/believe....
"[Edible Idiom] Ne pas savoir si c'est du lard ou du cochon" continues »
November 21, 2008
[Edible Idiom] Avoir du pain sur la planche
This is part of a series on French idiomatic expressions that relate to food. Read the introductory Edible Idiom post, and browse the list of French idioms featured so far.
This week's expression is, "Avoir du pain sur la planche."
Literally translated as, "having bread on the board," it means having a lot of work to do, or having a lot on one's plate*, with the added notion that the tasks in question are somewhat tedious.
Example: "J'ai acc...
"[Edible Idiom] Avoir du pain sur la planche" continues »
November 13, 2008
[Edible Idiom] Tomber comme un cheveu sur la soupe
This is part of a series on French idiomatic expressions that relate to food. Read the introductory Edible Idiom post, and browse the list of French idioms featured so far.
This week's expression is, "Tomber comme un cheveu sur la soupe."
The literal translation is, "falling like a hair* on soup," and it means that something or someone appears at an inappropriate or incongruous moment, and is thus completely out of place. (The idiom can also ...
"[Edible Idiom] Tomber comme un cheveu sur la soupe" continues »
November 7, 2008
[Edible Idiom] Rouler quelqu'un dans la farine
This is part of a series on French idiomatic expressions that relate to food. Read the introductory Edible Idiom post, and browse the list of French idioms featured so far.
This week's expression is, "Rouler quelqu'un dans la farine."
Literally translated as, "rolling someone in flour," it means duping someone, playing a trick on him, or using one's wits and lies to take advantage of someone who's a little naive, or not quite as smart as one is...
"[Edible Idiom] Rouler quelqu'un dans la farine" continues »
October 31, 2008
[Edible Idiom] Pédaler dans la semoule
This is part of a series on French idiomatic expressions that relate to food. Read the introductory Edible Idiom post, and browse the list of the French idioms featured so far.
This week's expression is, "Pédaler dans la semoule."
The literal translation is "pedaling in semolina," and it means being entangled in a thorny situation, with the added notion that every effort made to get out of it is fruitless, or makes things worse. In short, being...
"[Edible Idiom] Pédaler dans la semoule" continues »
October 24, 2008
[Edible Idiom] Boire du petit-lait
This is part of a series on French idiomatic expressions that relate to food. Read the introductory Edible Idiom post, and browse the list of French idioms featured so far.
This week's expression is, "Boire du petit-lait" (sometimes appearing as "Boire son petit-lait").
The literal translation is, "drinking whey" (sometimes appearing as "drinking one's whey") and it means basking in praise or flattery, or taking obvious pleasure in a situation ...
"[Edible Idiom] Boire du petit-lait" continues »
October 17, 2008
[Edible Idiom] Casser du sucre sur le dos de quelqu'un
This is part of a series on French idiomatic expressions that relate to food; read the introductory Edible Idiom post, and browse the list of French idioms featured so far.
This week's expression is, "Casser du sucre sur le dos de quelqu'un."
It means, literally, "breaking sugar on someone's back," or engaging in malicious gossip about someone. In other words: backbiting, which, come to think of it, is slightly food-related too, in a cannibal...
"[Edible Idiom] Casser du sucre sur le dos de quelqu'un" continues »
October 10, 2008
[Edible Idiom] Couper la poire en deux
Two weeks ago, I had dinner at a French restaurant called La Table d'Eugène, on the other side of the Montmartre hill from me. As my friends and I were handed the menus, we all stopped to comment on their fetching design: on the front and back were dozens of French idiomatic expressions, all relating to food, each of them printed in a different, retro font.
Once we'd ordered our food and asked to keep one copy of the menu, I, as the only nativ...
"[Edible Idiom] Couper la poire en deux" continues »