Rolling with French Phrases
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The French verb rouler literally means “to roll” and is used in many idiomatic expressions, including we made good time, it’s hilarious, and how’s life? Learn these and dozens of other French expressions featuring rouler.
Rouler translations
- to roll
- to roll out
- to roll up
- to drive
- to go along (e.g., in a train, car)
- to wind up (yarn)
- to wheel (along)
(informal)
- to con
- to knock about
Rouler proverb
| Pierre qui roule n’amasse pas mousse. | A rolling stone gathers no moss. |
Rouler expressions
| rouler à 110 km à l’heure | to go 110 km per hour | ||
| rouler à droite | to drive on the right | ||
| rouler à gauche | to drive on the left | ||
| rouler à vive allure | to race along | ||
| rouler au pas | to go at a snail’s pace, to crawl along | ||
| rouler une cigarette | to roll a cigarette | ||
| rouler dans la farine | (informal) | to swindle, dupe | |
| rouler les hanches | to wiggle one’s hips | ||
| rouler des mécaniques | (familiar) | to swagger | |
| rouler la pâte | to roll out crust, dough | ||
| rouler un patin à quelqu’un | (familiar) | to French kiss someone | |
| rouler une pelle à qqun | (familiar) | to French kiss someone | |
| rouler pour quelqu’un | (informal) | to work for someone | |
| rouler une poussette | to push a baby carriage | ||
| rouler les R | to roll one’s Rs | ||
| rouler sa bosse | (informal) | to see the world, to knock around | |
| rouler ses manches (jusqu’au coude) | to roll up one’s sleeves (to the elbow) | ||
| rouler sous la table | to be drunk | ||
| rouler sous les coups | to roll with the punches | ||
| rouler sur l’or | (informal) | to be rolling in money, very rich | |
| rouler sur un sujet | to center on a topic (of conversation) | ||
| rouler un tapis | to roll up a rug | ||
| rouler une voiture | to drive a car |
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| se faire rouler (dans la farine) | (informal) | to get swindled, to be had | |
| se rouler dans une couverture | to wrap oneself in a blanket | ||
| se rouler en boule | to roll oneself into a ball | ||
| se rouler les pouces se les rouler |
(informal) | to twiddle one’s thumbs | |
| se rouler par terre de rire | to roll on the ground laughing |
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| Ça roule ? | (familiar) | How’s life? How’s it going? | |
| C’est à se rouler (par terre) ! | It’s hilarious! It’s a riot! | ||
| Il a pas mal roulé. | (informal) | He’s been around. | |
| Laissez les bons temps rouler ! | Let the good times roll! | ||
| On a bien roulé. | (informal) | We made good time. | |
| une roulade | trill, rolled meat, roll | ||
| roulant | (adj) | rolling, on wheels, moving, fast, hilarious | |
| un rouleau | roll, roller | ||
| le roulement | rotation, movement | ||
| un roulement (à billes) | (ball) bearing | ||
| une roulette le patin à roulettes |
castor roller skate |
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| un rouleur | flat racer (bicycle) | ||
| une roulotte | caravan, trailer | ||
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