A Body of French Phrases
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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 enflent | to 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 gorge | to have a frog in one’s throat | |
| avoir un cheveu sur la langue | to have a lisp | |
| avoir un poil dans la main | to be extremely lazy | |
| avoir une dent contre quelqu’un | to hold a grudge against someone | |
| bien dans sa peau | content / comfortable with oneself | |
| bouche bée | open-mouthed, gaping | |
| bourrer le crâne | to brainwash | |
| casser les pieds | to annoy / bore someone | |
| C’est le pied ! | It’s great! | |
| chercher des poux dans la tête | to search for any reason to argue | |
| un coup d’Å“il | glance, glimpse | |
| couper les cheveux en quatre | to split hairs | |
| Croisons les doigts ! | Fingers crossed! Let’s hope so! | |
| les dents de bonheur | gap between front teeth | |
| les dents de la chance | gap between front teeth | |
| donner sa langue au chat | to give up, stop guessing | |
| dormir sur ses deux oreilles | to sleep like a baby | |
| faire grise mine | to make a long face, be chilly to someone | |
| faire la tête | to sulk | |
| faire qqch les doigts dans le nez | to do something very easily | |
| se fourrer le doigt dans l’Å“il | to be kidding oneself | |
| la gueule de bois | hangover | |
| La moutarde me / lui monte au nez | I’m losing my / He’s losing his temper | |
| mettre les pieds dans le plat | to be blunt, discuss something inappropriate | |
| mettre sa langue dans sa poche | to hold one’s tongue | |
| Mon Å“il ! | Yeah, right! | |
| Mon petit doigt m’a dit | A 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 dents | When pigs fly | |
| sauter aux yeux | to be obvious, evident | |
| tiré par les cheveux | far-fetched | |
| tirer plus vite que son ombre | to be quick off the mark, to move at lightning speed | |
| tourner sept fois sa langue dans sa bouche | to 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-Ã -vis | face to face |
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