A Body of French Phrases
![]() | |
Share / Tweet / Pin Me! |
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 les chevilles qui enflent | to have a swelled/swollen head | |
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’œil | glance, glimpse | |
couper les cheveux en quatre | to split hairs | |
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 la tête | to sulk | |
se fourrer le doigt dans l’œil | to be kidding oneself | |
la gueule de bois | hangover | |
mettre les pieds dans le plat | to be blunt, discuss something inappropriate | |
mettre sa langue dans sa poche | to hold one’s tongue | |
Mon œil ! | Yeah, right! | |
Mon petit doigt m’a dit | A little birdie told me | |
Quand les poules auront des dents | When pigs fly | |
sauter aux yeux | to be obvious, evident | |
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-à-vis | face to face |

You must log in to post a comment.