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.
