10 French Idiomatic Expressions to Speak Like a Native
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.
How to Create Impactful Infographics for Your Projects
How to Create Impactful Infographics for Your Projects
Infographics have become one of the most effective ways to communicate information visually and memorably. Whether you’re a student, entrepreneur, trainer, or marketing professional, knowing how to create a powerful infographic can transform the way you present your ideas.
Here’s a simple, step-by-step guide to designing infographics that captivate your audience and enhance your project’s impact.
1. Define Your Objective Clearly
Before you start designing, ask yourself: “What is the main message I want to convey?”
Your objective might be to:
Simplify a complex concept
Summarize key data
Show a process
Tell a story
Highlight important statistics
An effective infographic relies on a single, clear message.
2. Organize Your Content
Even the most visual infographic starts with good content.
Steps:
Sort essential information
Highlight important numbers
Outline steps in a process
Identify key ideas
Structure it:
A catchy title
Sections or categories
A conclusion or call to action
Keep text minimal: an infographic should save time, not overwhelm readers.
3. Choose a Consistent Visual Style
Design transforms data into a pleasant visual experience.
Key points:
Consistent colors: 2–3 main colors
Readable fonts: one for headings, one for body text
Icons and illustrations that match your style
Visual hierarchy: highlight the most important elements
Remember: simplicity is key. A cluttered infographic loses its impact.
4. Use Relevant Charts and Visuals
Charts should clarify information, not complicate it.
Examples:
Pie charts (distribution)
Bar charts (comparison)
Timelines (chronology)
Flowcharts (processes or relationships)
Each visual should illustrate one main idea, not multiple ones at once.
5. Use the Right Tools
You don’t need to be a graphic designer to make high-quality infographics. Some popular tools include:
Canva – beginner-friendly
Piktochart – specialized in infographics
Venngage – great for businesses
Adobe Express – modern visual designs
These platforms provide ready-made templates to save time.
6. Test and Refine Your Infographic
Before publishing or presenting, get feedback from 2–3 people.
Ask:
Is the message clear?
Is the information easy to understand?
Is there too much text?
Are the colors visually appealing?
External feedback helps improve clarity and readability immediately.
7. Share Your Infographic Strategically
Your infographic can be used for:
Professional presentations
Reports or study documents
Social media posts
Blog articles
Newsletters
Training materials
Proper sharing maximizes the impact of your work.
Conclusion
Creating an impactful infographic combines a clear message, well-organized content, and cohesive design. With the right tools and some best practices, you can turn your ideas into visually compelling graphics that engage your audience and add value to your projects.
Sign up now and learn how to create impactful infographics with our courses!
Soft Skills to Master to Boost Your Career
The Soft Skills You Need to Boost Your Career
Introduction
Today, recruiters no longer focus only on technical skills (hard skills). What often makes the difference between two candidates with similar qualifications are their soft skills. These human and behavioral abilities have become essential to thrive professionally and adapt to a fast-changing job market.
In this article, we’ll explore the must-have soft skills to develop in order to boost your career and stand out in the workplace.
1. Communication
Good communication is one of the most sought-after soft skills. It includes both verbal and written expression as well as active listening.
π Example: A manager who clearly communicates their vision and actively listens to the team creates trust and efficiency.
2. Emotional Intelligence
Emotional intelligence is the ability to understand and manage your own emotions while being aware of others’ emotions. It is key to building strong relationships and avoiding conflicts.
π Example: Staying calm when receiving criticism and using it as an opportunity for growth.
3. Critical Thinking and Problem-Solving
Being able to analyze a situation, ask the right questions, and find creative solutions is a highly valuable skill.
π Example: When a project is running late, quickly identifying the bottleneck and suggesting a realistic plan B.
4. Creativity
Creativity goes beyond artistic jobs — it’s about innovating, generating new ideas, and finding unique approaches.
π Example: Proposing an original marketing strategy that captures customers’ attention.
5. Adaptability
The professional world is constantly evolving (digitalization, remote work, AI…). Being adaptable ensures you remain effective and competitive.
π Example: Quickly learning a new digital tool required for your role.
6. Time Management and Prioritization
Knowing how to plan, organize tasks, and manage priorities is essential to staying productive and meeting deadlines.
π Example: Applying methods like the Eisenhower Matrix or the Pomodoro Technique to optimize daily workflow.
7. Teamwork
Collaboration is at the core of professional success. Strong teamwork skills mean sharing ideas, supporting others, and reaching goals together.
π Example: Celebrating team achievements and acknowledging individual contributions.
Conclusion
Soft skills are true career accelerators. By developing communication, emotional intelligence, adaptability, time management, and other key soft skills, you strengthen both your employability and career growth opportunities.
πJoin our courses and develop your soft skills to go further.
5 Practical Methods to Learn a Language Effectively
5 Practical Methods to Learn a Language Effectively
Learning a new language is an exciting challenge that opens doors to new cultures, career opportunities, and enriching personal experiences. Yet, many learners give up because they lack the right approach. In this article, we’ll share 5 proven strategies to help you progress faster and more effectively.
1.Daily and Consistent Practice
The secret is not to study for 3 hours once a week, but rather 15 to 20 minutes every day. Consistency allows your brain to consolidate knowledge and keep the language “alive” in your memory.Tip: Create a simple routine, like listening to a podcast in your target language every morning.
2.Active Learning with the “4 Skills” Method
To truly master a language, you need to develop all four skills:
Listening (watching videos, movies, podcasts, songs)
Reading (articles, newspapers, books)
Speaking (conversation with natives or via apps)
Writing (emails, journals, short posts)
Balance these skills for steady and well-rounded progress.
3.Leverage Technology to Your Advantage
Today, apps like Duolingo, Babbel, Busuu, or Anki make vocabulary memorization easier through spaced repetition (SRS).Tip: Set your phone or computer interface to your target language to increase daily exposure.
4.Immerse Yourself in the Culture
Learning a language is not only about words—it’s about understanding the culture.
Watch movies or series in the original version.
Follow YouTube channels in the target language.
Join local or online language events.
The more natural exposure you get, the more effortless learning becomes.
5.Find a Language Partner or Coach
Practicing with someone else is one of the most effective ways to improve.
Language exchange with a native speaker.
Online tutoring (Italki, Preply, Superprof).
Personal coaching to stay motivated and disciplined.
Speaking from the very first weeks builds confidence quickly.
Conclusion
Learning a language effectively doesn’t depend on “talent” but on having the right method and perseverance. By combining consistency, technology, immersion, active practice, and guidance, you’ll be surprised at the progress you can make in just a few months.
So, which method will you start testing today?