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New French Phrases
Once you’ve learned the difference between neuf and nouveau, cement your knowledge with some idioms and set expressions featuring these two adjectives.
Expressions with neuf
| à l’état neuf | as good as new | ||
| un apport de sang neuf | (figurative) | an injection of fresh blood | |
| Au gui l’an neuf ! | Happy New Year! (while under mistletoe) | ||
| avoir besoin de sang neuf | to need fresh faces (in a group) | ||
| brillant comme un sou neuf | bright as a new pin | ||
| comme neuf | as good as new | ||
| être habillé de neuf | to be wearing new clothes | ||
| être meublé de neuf | to have all new furniture | ||
| être neuf dans (le métier, l’entreprise…) | to be new to (the trade, company…) | ||
| être vêtu de neuf | to be wearing new clothes | ||
| faire du neuf | to introduce new ideas, to make new things | ||
| faire peau neuve | to adopt a new image, turn over a new leaf | ||
| flambant neuf | brand spanking new | ||
| Il y a du neuf. | There’s been a new development. | ||
| On ne peut pas faire du neuf avec du vieux. | You can’t make new things out of old. | ||
| la preuve par neuf | irrefutable proof | ||
| propre comme un sou neuf | sparkling clean | ||
| quelque chose de neuf | something new | ||
| Quoi de neuf ? | (informal) | What’s new? | |
| refaire à neuf | to do up like new | ||
| regarder avec un œil neuf | to look at with a fresh eye | ||
| reluisant comme un sou neuf | bright as a new pin | ||
| remettre à neuf | to make as good as new | ||
| la remise à neuf | restoration | ||
| repeindre à neuf | to redecorate | ||
| Rien de neuf ? | Nothing new? | ||
| rien de neuf sous le soleil | (there’s) nothing new under the sun | ||
| tout neuf | brand new | ||
| le Pont-Neuf | Today it’s the oldest bridge in Paris, but when it was built, it was a brand-new bridge in a brand-new location | |
| être solide comme le Pont-Neuf | to be in perfect health | |
| se porter comme le Pont-Neuf | to be in perfect health |
Expressions with nouveau
| à nouveau | anew, afresh, again | ||
| l’art nouveau | Art Nouveau, Modern Style | ||
| Ce n’est pas nouveau. | It’s nothing new. | ||
| de nouveau | again | ||
| Il n’y a rien de nouveau. | There’s nothing new. | ||
| la mode nouvelle | the latest fashion | ||
| le Nouvel An | New Year’s Day, the New Year | ||
| la nouvelle cuisine | nouvelle cuisine (fresh food, minimal cooking, new presentation) | ||
| un nouvel essai | a new / fresh attempt | ||
| les nouveaux mariés | newlyweds | ||
| le Nouveau Monde | New World | ||
| les nouveaux parents | today’s parents | ||
| une nouvelle preuve | further proof | ||
| les nouveau riche | nouveau riche, new money | ||
| le Nouveau Testament | New Testament | ||
| la Nouvelle Vague | New Wave | ||
| un nouveau venu une nouvelle venue | newcomer | ||
| des pommes de terre nouvelles | new potatoes | ||
| présenter sous un jour nouveau | to present in a new light | ||
| Tout nouveau tout beau. | (proverb) | A new broom sweeps clean; Just wait til the novelty wears off. | |
| un vin nouveau | new (young) wine | ||
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