Questions tagged [expressions-idiomatiques]
Phrases ou expressions dont les mots portent une signification différente du sens littéral.
478
questions
0
votes
1answer
26 views
Dit-on plutôt « Je suis en heure de pause» ou « Je suis sur mon heure de pause »?
J’entends « pause » au sens de « pause-dîner.
Dit-on mieux:
Je suis en heure de pause, tu peux donc m’appeler.
Je suis sur mon heure de pause, tu peux donc m’appeler.
Je suis en pause, tu peux donc m’...
1
vote
1answer
41 views
Quelle serait une bonne façon de formuler une demande sur un chat en ligne?
Je cherche une meilleure énonciation que: Bonjour, j’aimerais avoir des éclaircissements sur la charte des grandeurs utilisée pour l’achat d’un bicycle. Quelle serait une manière courtoise et ...
1
vote
1answer
43 views
La tournure “Ça sent le sapin” : est-elle courante ?
L'expression "Ça sent le sapin" est-elle toujours courante ?
6
votes
2answers
2k views
Run in your family
I am trying to ask the question "Are there any diseases that run in your family?". How is this best said in French, by a doctor to a patient?
Here is my best shot - "Est-qu'il y a des ...
0
votes
2answers
60 views
What is the French idiomatic equivalent of “burning issues”?
In English, burning issues means matters of very urgent concern, most important. When I tried to find the French equivalent of that, Linguee gave me a few hits like
questions brûlantes (which seems ...
1
vote
1answer
136 views
“Brun/brune”, “brunet/brunette” in common use: is it just about the hair?
My native language is Romanian, one with a lot of French neologisms that resulted in many (more or less) false friends. Thus, I was very surprised in France to hear people saying about a girl with ...
1
vote
2answers
102 views
Quelle serait une autre façon d’écrire: « Il est passé de culturiste à obèse. »?
Je cherche une façon plus jolie de donner corps à cette idée.
Merci.
5
votes
2answers
80 views
L'hiver est venu imprévu
En russe on utilise l'expression "l'hiver est venu imprévu" ("зима пришла нежданно") en parlant d'un événement complètement prévisible auquel personne ne s'est préparé (l'hiver et ...
1
vote
2answers
73 views
Conveying “Pardon my French”
"Pardon my French" or "Excuse my French" is a common English language phrase ostensibly disguising profanity as words from the French language. The phrase is uttered in an attempt ...
0
votes
1answer
40 views
“Faire boomerang / Avoir un effet boomerang”, en parlant d'une action hostile qui se retourne contre son auteur : est-ce courant ?
Peut-on utiliser couramment la locution
"Faire boomerang / avoir un effet boomerang" en parlant d'une action hostile, se retourner contre son auteur.
?
Comme par exemple :
La reforme des ...
2
votes
1answer
67 views
French expression for a man gaining weight during pregnancy
I was told some time ago that French have an expression for a man gaining weight while his wife/girlfriend is expecting a child (either out of solidarity or simply by being too stressed). But I ...
4
votes
1answer
185 views
How can we say “talking past each other”?
I couldn't find an equivalent to the English expression "talking past each other".
What are the expressions (idiomatic or not) that can be used especially in formal situations.
Talking past ...
0
votes
1answer
53 views
Comment traduire « to throw a monkey wrench into » avec l'animé et l'inanimé ?
L'expression idiomatique « to throw a monkey wrench into » a déjà été abordée sous l'angle de l'étymologie. Voici deux exemples d'emploi :
The boss threw a monkey wrench into our plans when he said ...
5
votes
1answer
96 views
Le Président Macron a annoncé la tenue d'un “Beauvau de la sécurité”. What does it mean?
The RFI radio commentator explained that Beauvau is a place in Paris where the Ministry of the Interior is located. But I am not clear why it has been mentioned like this.
It seems to mean some ...
3
votes
3answers
131 views
Usage de “talon d'Achille”
Bien évidement je connais le sens de cette expression figée.
Peut-on l'employer couramment pour parler de la faiblesse majeure de quelqu'un comme par exemple ci-dessous ?
La mécanique est le talon d'...
2
votes
1answer
94 views
Origin of “Bourreau de travail”
According to http://www.linternaute.fr/expression/langue-francaise/20292/bourreau-de-travail/
Origine inconnue pour cette expression.
The question is evident. What could be some possible assertions ...
0
votes
1answer
67 views
Expressing ''shoulda, coulda, woulda"
https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/woulda,_coulda,_shoulda
An expression of dismissiveness or disappointment concerning a statement, question, explanation, course of action, or occurrence involving ...
1
vote
2answers
88 views
« Comme ça » : Tic ou tact ?
On utilise « comme ça » pour faire référence à une manière de faire, et dans cet usage le pronom « ça » a un antécédent, c'est à dire un antécédent nominal ou bien un antécédent qui se construit à ...
2
votes
1answer
75 views
What is meant by “tir de barriere”
I have some troubles understanding the following expression, from this video:
Beaucoup d’entre nous ici déjà on fait l’expérience du tir de barrière assassin (...)
Has it something to do with the ...
3
votes
1answer
192 views
Conveying 'food for thought"
Yes, your ideas have certainly given me food for thought (i.e. they are worth thinking about)!
Oui, tes idées m'ont bien donné matière à réflexion !
Can one use idiomatically 'matière à réflexion' ...
2
votes
1answer
41 views
Dans quelque temps
If you say
Dans quelque temps je vais prendre un avion pour Paris
does that mean that the plane will take off soon/in a short while or does it rather mean that the upcoming event will take place ...
5
votes
3answers
2k views
Do it while you can or “Strike while the iron is hot” in French
How to correctly communicate or express these timely sayings in French? "Do something while the conditions are right" or "Seize the opportunity when it presents itself"
Is this ...
2
votes
1answer
70 views
Faire un/des effort/s
I'm wondering if the expressions "faire un effort" and "faire des efforts" are interchangeable? Would it for example be possible to say both:
Il essaye vraiment de faire un effort ...
3
votes
4answers
116 views
« Rejeter le moucheron et avaler le chameau », est-ce courant ?
Peut-on utiliser couramment l'expression
Rejeter le moucheron et avaler le chameau.
pour quelqu'un qui évite de petites fautes mais s’en permet de grandes ?
5
votes
3answers
3k views
Is there a way to say “thanks to” in French but in a sarcastic manner?
I know there is «grâce à», but that is only used for positive things. There's also «à cause de», but that doesn't give me the same effect I want. For example, how would I say this in French:
Thanks ...
1
vote
2answers
98 views
Rhyme in French à la sit and shit in 'They're all sitting because they're shitting their breeches'
The other day I was talking with friends some about a live performance of Led Zeppelin from 1969.
A friend mentioned how inactive was the audience in front of a revolutionary performance. I said:
...
4
votes
1answer
62 views
Conveying '…and then some' as in 'biggest thing ever, and then some'
From The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: https://sites.google.com/site/h2g2theguide/Index/i/538246
["Defining" infinity:] Bigger than the biggest thing ever and then some.
Plus grand que ...
3
votes
2answers
49 views
Faire des couloirs de
Qu'est-ce que ça veut dire que de faire des couloirs de quelque chose? Dans l'article que je viens de lire, on dit:
Cette mère s’est fait connaitre à force de faire des couloirs de l’ONIAM et de ...
3
votes
4answers
233 views
Connotation of “faire son mieux”
Could the locution "faire son mieux" convey a negative connotation depending on the context? If so, I would like to see a couple of sentences showing that it is used in that way.
10
votes
2answers
762 views
Spring forward, fall back
Aujourd'hui au Canada on a mis à jour les horloges. Afin de se rappeler lequel est le bon sens, on a recours à une expression fréquente : « Spring forward, fall back. » En printemps on va en avant ...
1
vote
1answer
29 views
Conveying 'on steroids'
What is IPython? This sounds like software produced by Apple®, but it is in fact a Python interpreter on steroids.
Qu'est-ce que IPython ? Cela ressemble à un logiciel produit par Apple®, mais il s'...
2
votes
1answer
222 views
Conveying 'no bullshit'
How would be conveyed in French 'no bullshit' in a title of a document/book as for example:
https://minireference.com/
No bullshit guide to learn Mathematics
I am thinking about
Apprendre les maths ...
7
votes
2answers
694 views
What's the word equivalent to, “Announcement! Announcement!” or “Attention! Attention!”
In the French speaking parts of Switzerland, when an announcement comes on the speaker says something like:
cir-key-ont, cir-key-on (in my best phonetical spelling possible)
Seems like there is a ...
3
votes
2answers
71 views
Enchanté de vous/te rencontrer
I was wondering how French people tend to respond to the phrase enchanté de vous/te rencontrer. I'm guessing the most common way of answering would be de même/moi aussi (depending on the formality of ...
5
votes
3answers
253 views
What would be the closest idiom matching “Dear Me”
I'm looking for the French idiom equivalent to "Dear Me". It bothers me to no end that I can't find one that is accurate enough even though I'm French...
What I found but not actually ...
2
votes
4answers
82 views
Conveying “in a nutshell”
How can one convey the idiom 'in a nutshell' (i.e. very briefly, giving only the main points) as
"What went wrong?"
"In a nutshell, everything."
We can say 'en un mot' but I am ...
0
votes
0answers
54 views
Conveying “learn/know enough (sth) to be dangerous”
This is something that it has puzzled me for some time. I'm feeling that a word-by-word translation would not work in French. How can one convey colloquially in French:
Learn (or know) Enough to Be ...
2
votes
2answers
56 views
Emploi de “connaître bibliquement”
De nos jours, peut-on employer
connaître qqn bibliquement
pour dire
faire l'amour avec qqn
?
2
votes
2answers
51 views
Quel article après le construction « [suj.] + (ne?) + [v.b.] + que » ?
J'ai entendu cette construction plusieurs fois dans le discours quotidien, mais je n'arrive pas à trouver la règle exacte. Par exemple, je crois que je peux dire :
Je veux que du saumon pour le dîner ...
3
votes
3answers
202 views
Shake that ass = secouez ce cul?
How would you say shake that ass as in shaking your ass to the music in french? Would secouez ce cul be adequate?
1
vote
3answers
74 views
Conveying “Give me a fish and I’ll eat for a day. Teach me to fish and I’ll eat for a lifetime.”
Is there a French equivalent of
"Give me a fish and I’ll eat for a day. Teach me to fish and I’ll eat for a lifetime."
?
I've seen one-to-one renderings but I'm wondering if it exists a ...
3
votes
3answers
101 views
Ce que c’est que
I’ve been seeing this construction in several oldish texts, for example in Nerval’s Faust:
Je te donnerai le conseil court et bon d’en faire autant, afin de pouvoir, affranchi de tes chaînes, goûter ...
4
votes
2answers
1k views
C'est chaud = It's crazy ?
I have heard the following dialogue in the TV series Unité 42:
J'arrive pas y croire. Bob...
C'est chaud.
Context: A team of murder investigators are talking about Bob, his fellow investigator who ...
1
vote
4answers
69 views
Is there a French equivalent of “on a Kick”?
One of the lesser used English definitions of kick is
5c: pursuit of an absorbing or obsessive new interest —usually used with on1
Is there a French equivalent? My French is super rusty, and I did ...
1
vote
1answer
82 views
Comment puis-je commencer un courrier?
Je suis à la recherche de quelques phrases utiles que je pourrais utiliser pour commencer un échange électronique avec quelqu’un sachant que je le connais déjà. Par exemple :
Bonjour,
Je reprends ...
0
votes
3answers
132 views
What is a French equivalent for the office slang phrase “knife and fork it (the problem)”?
Please, help me to find an appropriate equivalent!
Edit: To "knife and fork" a problem, in the English language, means to "give it a try," perhaps without expecting good results, ...
2
votes
1answer
75 views
Autre signification de “Fossoyeur” dans le nom du youtubeur “Le Fossoyeur de Films”?
Le Fossoyeur de Films est le nom d'un youtubeur Français qui parles de filmes. Je vois bien le sens littéraire de "Fossoyeur", mais comment le comprendre on contexte? Est-ce tout simplement ...
2
votes
1answer
83 views
Conveying “let's agree to disagree”
What are some common ways to convey in French: "Let's agree to disagree"?
Is
Disons qu'on est pas d'accord
idiomatic?
0
votes
2answers
34 views
Conveying “on board” (involved in a project or organization or working for a company)
The idiom "on board" may be used to imply involvement in a project or organization, or working for a company. E.g.
Welcome to the team. It’s great/nice/good to have you on board.
What are ...
0
votes
2answers
51 views
Conveying “to be in someone's good books”
The idiom "to be in someone's good books" means (informally) to be in a state in which one is liked or are treated nicely by someone. For example:
He's trying to get back in his boss's good ...
