10 French Idiomatic Expressions to Speak Like a Native
Introduction
Are you learning French and want to sound like a native? French idiomatic expressions are essential! They make your speech more natural and help you better understand everyday conversations.
In this article, you’ll discover the 10 most common French idiomatic expressions, with their meaning, concrete examples, and practice exercises.
1.Avoir le cafard
Meaning: to feel sad, depressed.
Example: Depuis qu’il a perdu son travail, il a le cafard. → Since he lost his job, he’s been feeling down.
Exercise: Complete: When it rains all week, I ______.
2.Coûter les yeux de la tête
Meaning: to be very expensive.
Example: Cette robe de luxe coûte les yeux de la tête. → This luxury dress costs an arm and a leg.
Exercise: Think of something that is too expensive and write a sentence using this expression.
3.Donner sa langue au chat
Meaning: to give up guessing, not find the answer.
Example: Je ne trouve pas la solution, je donne ma langue au chat ! → I can’t find the answer, I give up!
Exercise: If you can’t answer a riddle, what do you say?
4.Être dans la lune
Meaning: to be distracted, daydreaming.
Example: Excuse-moi, j’étais dans la lune, je n’ai pas entendu. → Sorry, I was daydreaming, I didn’t hear.
Exercise: True or false? Être dans la lune means being very focused.
5.Poser un lapin
Meaning: to stand someone up, not show up to an appointment without warning.
Example: Il m’a posé un lapin hier soir. → He stood me up last night.
Exercise: Rewrite in first person: She stood her friend up.
6.Avoir la pêche / la frite
Meaning: to be in great shape, full of energy.
Example: Aujourd’hui, j’ai la pêche ! → Today, I feel great!
Exercise: Complete: After a good night’s sleep, I ______.
7.Tomber dans les pommes
Meaning: to faint.
Example: Quand il a vu le sang, il est tombé dans les pommes. → When he saw the blood, he fainted.
Exercise: Replace to faint in this sentence: She fainted during the concert.
8.Se creuser la tête
Meaning: to think hard, to rack one’s brain.
Example: Je me creuse la tête pour trouver une idée de cadeau. → I’m racking my brain to find a gift idea.
Exercise: Complete: When I have a difficult exam, I ______.
9.Mettre son grain de sel
Meaning: to give one’s (often unwanted) opinion, to butt in.
Example: Il met toujours son grain de sel dans les discussions. → He always sticks his nose into conversations.
Exercise: Rewrite: My sister often gives her opinion even when no one asks for it. → Use the expression.
10.Avoir le coup de foudre
Meaning: to fall in love at first sight.
Example: Ils ont eu le coup de foudre dès le premier regard. → They fell in love at first sight.
Exercise: Write one sentence about a “love at first sight” moment (for a person, a place, or even an object).
Tips for Memorizing These French Idiomatic Expressions
Make personal sentences using each expression.
Associate them with mental images to remember them better.
Use them in short dialogues out loud to practice.
Conclusion
Learning French idiomatic expressions will help you improve your language skills and communicate more like a native speaker. The more you practice, the more natural they will become.
