In today’s article, let’s delve into French idioms—a peek into daily life and culture. From ‘Le jeu en vaut la chandelle,’ valuing efforts, to ‘La cerise sur le gâteau,’ signifying bonuses…
1. Le jeu en vaut la chandelle/ Ça en vaut la peine/ Ça vaut le coup
This expression means “It’s worth it.” It suggests that the effort or risk is justified by the potential reward. Par exemple,
Passer des heures à étudier pour un examen difficile en vaut la peine quand on obtient de bons résultats.
(Spending hours studying for a difficult exam is worth it when you achieve good results.)
2. Jeter un œil/ Jeter un clin d’œ/ Regarder
“To throw an eye” simply means “to take a quick look” or “to glance at something.” It’s just a casual observation.
Par exemple,
Je vais jeter un œil au programme avant de décider si je veux y participer.
(I’ll take a look at the program before deciding if I want to participate.)
4. Avoir un poil dans la main/ Être paresseux
Literally, “to have a hair in one’s hand” means someone who is lazy or avoids work.
Par exemple,
Il ne fait jamais ses devoirs, il a vraiment un poil dans la main.
(He never does his homework; he’s really lazy.)
5. Ça crève les yeux/ C’est évident
“It pierces the eyes” is an expression used to emphasize that something is very obvious or evident.
Par exemple,
Son talent pour la musique crève les yeux, tout le monde le remarque.
(His talent for music is evident; everyone notices it.)
6. C’est pas la mer à boire/ Ce n’est pas impossible
“It’s not the sea to drink” implies that something is not impossible or overly difficult. It signifies that a task or situation is manageable or not as challenging as it may seem.
Par exemple,
Apprendre à cuisiner des plats simples n’est pas la mer à boire si on suit une recette.
(Learning to cook simple dishes isn’t impossible if you follow a recipe.)
7. Coûter un bras / Coûter un rein/ Coûter trop cher
“To cost an arm or a kidney” refers to something being very expensive or costing a substantial amount.
Par exemple,
Les réparations de la voiture ont coûté un bras, mais c’était nécessaire.
(The car repairs cost a fortune, but it was necessary.)
8. Tu me casses les pieds/ Tu m’énerves/ Tu m’agaces
“You’re breaking my feet” is used to convey annoyance or irritation towards someone.
Par exemple,
Arrête de me poser des questions, tu me casses les pieds !
(Stop asking me questions; you’re annoying me!)
9. Avoir le coeur sur la main/ Être généreux
“To have the heart on the hand” describes someone who is very generous and giving, especially in charitable or volunteer contexts.
Par exemple,
Mon voisin a toujours le cœur sur la main ; il aide tout le monde dans le quartier.
(My neighbor is always very generous; he helps everyone in the neighborhood.)
10. C’est du gâteau/ C’est facile
“It’s a piece of cake” or “It’s easy as pie” refers to a task or situation that is very easy to accomplish.
Par exemple,
Ne t’inquiète pas pour cet examen, c’est du gâteau pour toi.
(Don’t worry about this exam; it’s a piece of cake for you.)
French idioms offer valuable insights into French culture beyond language exams. Embracing these idioms helps understand French life better. Let them guide you to language proficiency and cultural understanding.
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