French is famous for its beautiful and funny expressions. These sayings show how creative and playful the French language can be. Here are 10 amazing French expressions that will make you smile and help you understand French culture better.

1. Il pleut comme vache qui pisse

“Il pleut comme vache qui pisse”

Meaning: It’s raining very, very hard. This is a funny and rude way to say there is heavy rain. French people use this when it’s pouring outside.

Equivalents:

• English: It’s raining cats and dogs
• Dutch: Het regent pijpenstelen
• German: Es regnet Bindfäden
• Spanish: Llueve a cántaros
• Portuguese: Está chovendo canivetes

2. Avoir le cafard

“Avoir le cafard”

Meaning: To feel sad or depressed. The word “cafard” means cockroach, so you feel as low as a bug on the floor.

Equivalents:

• English: To have the blues / To feel down
• Dutch: Een dipje hebben
• German: Trübsal blasen
• Spanish: Estar deprimido
• Portuguese: Estar na fossa

3. Poser un lapin

“Poser un lapin”

Meaning: To not show up for a date or meeting without telling the other person. Like leaving a rabbit instead of yourself!

Equivalents:

• English: To stand someone up
• Dutch: Iemand laten zitten
• German: Jemanden versetzen
• Spanish: Dar plantón
• Portuguese: Dar o cano

4. Avoir la moutarde qui monte au nez

“Avoir la moutarde qui monte au nez”

Meaning: Getting angry slowly, like mustard burning your nose. You feel irritated and ready to explode.

Equivalents:

• English: To see red / To lose your temper
• Dutch: Kwaad worden
• German: Die Geduld verlieren
• Spanish: Subírsele la mostaza a las narices
• Portuguese: Perder a paciência

5. Tomber dans les pommes

“Tomber dans les pommes”

Meaning: To faint or pass out. Nobody knows why French people say “fall into the apples” for fainting, but it sounds very cute!

Equivalents:

• English: To faint / To pass out
• Dutch: Flauwvallen
• German: Ohnmächtig werden
• Spanish: Desmayarse
• Portuguese: Desmaiar

6. Avoir un chat dans la gorge

“Avoir un chat dans la gorge”

Meaning: Having a hoarse voice or sore throat. It feels like there is a cat stuck in your throat making your voice sound funny.

Equivalents:

• English: To have a frog in your throat
• Dutch: Een kikker in de keel hebben
• German: Einen Frosch im Hals haben
• Spanish: Tener carraspera
• Portuguese: Estar rouco

7. Les carottes sont cuites

“Les carottes sont cuites”

Meaning: It’s too late to change anything. The situation is hopeless. When carrots are cooked, you cannot make them raw again!

Equivalents:

• English: It’s all over / The game is up
• Dutch: Het is te laat
• German: Es ist zu spät
• Spanish: Ya no hay nada que hacer
• Portuguese: Já era

8. Avoir les yeux plus gros que le ventre

“Avoir les yeux plus gros que le ventre”

Meaning: Taking more food than you can eat, or wanting more than you can handle. Your eyes want more than your stomach can hold.

Equivalents:

• English: Eyes bigger than your stomach
• Dutch: Je ogen zijn groter dan je maag
• German: Die Augen sind größer als der Magen
• Spanish: Los ojos más grandes que la barriga
• Portuguese: Os olhos maiores que a barriga

9. Mettre la charrue avant les bœufs

“Mettre la charrue avant les bœufs”

Meaning: Doing things in the wrong order. You cannot put the cart before the oxen - they need to pull it from the front!

Equivalents:

• English: To put the cart before the horse
• Dutch: Het paard achter de wagen spannen
• German: Das Pferd beim Schwanz aufzäumen
• Spanish: Empezar la casa por el tejado
• Portuguese: Pôr a carroça na frente dos bois

10. Se lever du pied gauche

“Se lever du pied gauche”

Meaning: Having a bad day from the very beginning. When you wake up grumpy and everything goes wrong, you got up with your left foot first.

Equivalents:

• English: To get up on the wrong side of bed
• Dutch: Met het verkeerde been uit bed stappen
• German: Mit dem linken Fuß aufstehen
• Spanish: Levantarse con el pie izquierdo
• Portuguese: Acordar com o pé esquerdo

Why French Expressions Are So Special

French expressions often use animals, food, and body parts in funny ways. They show how French people see the world with humor and creativity. Many of these sayings are very old but people still use them every day.

When you learn these expressions, you will understand French movies and books better. French people will also be impressed when you use them correctly!

Try to remember one or two of these expressions. Next time you talk with French speakers, surprise them with your knowledge of their colorful language!