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.

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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

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Poser un lapin

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

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Être fauché comme les blés

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

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Courir sur le haricot

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

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Être rond comme une queue de pelle

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

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Avoir le cul bordé de nouilles

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

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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.

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