French Idioms Archive
[Edible Idiom] Ça ne mange pas de pain[Edible Idiom] Avoir du pain sur la planche
[Edible Idiom] Avoir la pêche
[Edible Idiom] Boire du petit-lait
[Edible Idiom] Casser du sucre sur le dos de quelqu'un
[Edible Idiom] Ce n'est pas de la tarte
[Edible Idiom] Comme un tablier à une vache
[Edible Idiom] Couper la poire en deux
[Edible Idiom] Ecrire des tartines
[Edible Idiom] En faire tout un flan
[Edible Idiom] Etre tout sucre tout miel
[Edible Idiom] Faute de grives, on mange des merles
[Edible Idiom] La fin des haricots
[Edible Idiom] Le ver est dans le fruit
[Edible Idiom] Manger dans la main de quelqu'un
[Edible Idiom] Marcher sur des oeufs
[Edible Idiom] Mettre de l'eau dans son vin
[Edible Idiom] Mettre de l'huile sur le feu
[Edible Idiom] Mettre la main à la pâte
[Edible Idiom] Mettre son grain de sel
[Edible Idiom] Mi-figue mi-raisin
[Edible Idiom] Ne pas mélanger les torchons et les serviettes
[Edible Idiom] Ne pas savoir si c'est du lard ou du cochon
[Edible Idiom] Ne pas savoir à quelle sauce on va être mangé
[Edible Idiom] Ne pas être dans son assiette
[Edible Idiom] Ne pas être sorti de l'auberge
[Edible Idiom] Pédaler dans la semoule
[Edible Idiom] Raisonner comme une casserole
[Edible Idiom] Rouler quelqu'un dans la farine
[Edible Idiom] S'occuper de ses oignons
[Edible Idiom] Tomber comme un cheveu sur la soupe
[Edible Idiom] Tomber dans les pommes
[Edible Idiom] Un déjeuner de soleil
[Edible Idiom] Vouloir le beurre et l'argent du beurre
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 ...
"[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 ...
"[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...
"[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 anythi...
"[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...
"[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 ...
"[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 n...
"[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 ...
"[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...
"[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 ...
"[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. E...
"[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 th...
"[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...
"[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...
"[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 greate...
"[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...
"[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, allowi...
"[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 c...
"[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...
"[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 a...
"[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, mellow...
"[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 wh...
"[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 ...
"[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 on...
"[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" a...
"[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 ja...
"[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 lar...
"[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'...
"[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 ...
"[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 on...
"[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...
"[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...
"[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....
"[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, ...
"[Edible Idiom] Couper la poire en deux" continues »