7 French idioms deciphered

French is a rich idiom with plenty of expressions that can be considered, well, bonkers.

In honor of the elegant French language, here are 7 expressions illustrated which may enlighten or confuse you.

---

Se prendre un râteau

Literal meaning: to get or receive a rake
Actual meaning: to get turned down, rejected by someone, to get knocked back

---

Poser un lapin

Literal meaning: to place a rabbit on someone
Actual meaning: to stand somebody up

---

Être fauché comme les blés

Literal meaning: to be harvested like wheat
Actual meaning: to be completely broke

---

Courir sur le haricot

Literal meaning: to run on a bean
Actual meaning: to get on somebody’s nerves

---

Être rond comme une queue de pelle

Literal meaning: to be round as a shovel handle
Actual meaning: to be very drunk

---

Avoir le cul bordé de nouilles

Literal meaning: to have your a** full of noodles
Actual meaning: to be extremely lucky

---

Ça ne casse pas trois pattes à un canard

Literal meaning: it doesn’t break three legs of a duck
Actual meaning: It’s nothing to write home about

If this list has tickled your fancy, you should definitely move on to French proverbs and sayings that will come in handy. Or better still: you could take a stab at our online French course Frantastique: short, fun and personalized French lessons in just 10 minutes per day.

Related articles:

• A guide to selected untranslatable words in French
• 10 French dishes that you wish you never knew
• 5 fictional French villages to put on your bucket list
• A complete survival guide when in a French bar
• 5 French insults that won’t start a fight but would still be considered rude
• 5 French slang terms to help you sound like a local
• From apéritif to digestif – a beginner’s guide to drinking in France
• A brief history of the French language
• 10 reasons to learn French
• 10 animal-related French idioms you need to know to horse around with the language
• 5 French idioms around food to whet your appetite
• A short guide to French verlan
• A guide to some of Québec’s best insults and curse words (warning: may confuse the French)
• 10 Ways to Say “I Love You” in French
• 6 ways to say Hello in French to greet in any situation