12 Wonderfully Bizarre French Expressions, Translated Literally

1. HE'S RUNNING ON MY BEAN

In French: Il me court sur le haricot.
 

 
What it means: He’s annoying me.

2. TO PEDAL IN COUSCOUS

In French: Pédaler dans la semoule.
 

 
What it means: To lose your composure, have trouble doing something.

3. THE CLOTHES DOESNT MAKE THE MONK

In French: L’habit ne fait pas le moine.
 

 
What it means: Appearances can be deceiving.

4. TO HAVE THE MOLE AT THE COUNTER

In French: Avoir la taupe au guichet.
 

 
What it means: To be desperate for a shit.

5. TO HAVE ONE'S ARSE FILLED WITH NOODLES

In French: Avoir le cul bordé de nouille.
 

 
What it means: To be lucky.

6. TO CUT HAIR FOUR WAYS

In French: Couper les cheveux en quatre.
 

 
What it means: To make a task unnecessarily difficult.

7. TO BE IN BEAUTIFUL SHEET

In French: Être dans de beaux draps.
 

 
What it means: To be in a bad situation.

8. TO MAKE A CHEESE OUT OF IT

In French: En faire tout un fromage.
 

 
What it means: To make a big deal out of something.

9. TO MISTAKE BLADDERS FOR LANTERNS

In French: Prendre les vessies pour des lanternes.
 

 
What it means: To think something is cooler/more beautiful than it really is.

10. IT DOESN'T BREAK THREE LEGS OF A DUCK

In French: Ça ne casse pas trois pattes à un canard.
 

 
What it means: It’s not that incredible.

11. TO PEE IN A VIOLIN

In French: Pisser dans un violon.
 

 
What it means: To waste time on something futile.

12. TO POOP A CLOCK

In French: Chier une pendule.
 

 
What it means: To get angry about something insignificant.

#frenchexpressions #french #expressions #frenchlessons #vocabulary

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