Expressions with Parts of the Body

A Body of French Phrases

Parts of the body - French expressions
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Parts of the body are found in many idiomatic expressions, including to annoy, to give up, and to be extremely lazy. Learn these and dozens of other French expressions from head to toe. Click any link for a detailed lesson with a sound file and examples of how to use the expression.

arriver comme un cheveu sur la soupe  to be completely irrelevant
avoir la main verte to have a green thumb
avoir le bras long to have a long arm
avoir le compas dans l’Å“il to have an accurate eye, precisely estimate
avoir le nez / la tête dans le guidon to keep one’s nose to the grindstone
avoir la tête dans les nuages to have one’s head in the clouds
avoir les chevilles qui enflentto have a swelled/swollen head
avoir les oreilles qui sifflent to have ringing ears
avoir les yeux plus gros que le ventre to have eyes bigger than one’s stomach
avoir un chat dans la gorgeto have a frog in one’s throat
avoir un cheveu sur la langueto have a lisp
avoir un poil dans la mainto be extremely lazy
avoir une dent contre quelqu’unto hold a grudge against someone
bien dans sa peaucontent / comfortable with oneself
bouche béeopen-mouthed, gaping
bourrer le crâneto brainwash
casser les piedsto annoy / bore someone
C’est le pied !It’s great!
chercher des poux dans la têteto search for any reason to argue
un coup d’Å“ilglance, glimpse
couper les cheveux en quatreto split hairs
Croisons les doigts ! Fingers crossed! Let’s hope so!
les dents de bonheurgap between front teeth
les dents de la chancegap between front teeth
donner sa langue au chatto give up, stop guessing
dormir sur ses deux oreillesto sleep like a baby
faire grise mine to make a long face, be chilly to someone
faire la têteto sulk
faire qqch les doigts dans le nez to do something very easily
se fourrer le doigt dans l’Å“ilto be kidding oneself
la gueule de boishangover
La moutarde me / lui monte au nez I’m losing my / He’s losing his temper
mettre les pieds dans le platto be blunt, discuss something inappropriate
mettre sa langue dans sa pocheto hold one’s tongue
Mon Å“il !Yeah, right!
Mon petit doigt m’a ditA little birdie told me
ne pas avoir sa langue dans sa poche to never be at a loss for words
Quand les poules auront des dentsWhen pigs fly
sauter aux yeuxto be obvious, evident
tiré par les cheveux far-fetched
tirer plus vite que son ombreto be quick off the mark, to move at lightning speed
tourner sept fois sa langue dans sa boucheto think long and hard before speaking
vendre la peau de l’ours (avant de l’avoir tué)to count one’s chickens (before they’re hatched)
vis-à-visface to face

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French body idioms

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