{"id":544,"date":"2022-05-29T17:31:54","date_gmt":"2022-05-29T15:31:54","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.learn-french-fun.com\/blog\/?p=544"},"modified":"2024-02-19T09:06:03","modified_gmt":"2024-02-19T08:06:03","slug":"5-french-idioms-with-everyday-objects","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.learn-french-fun.com\/blog\/5-french-idioms-with-everyday-objects\/","title":{"rendered":"5 French idioms with everyday objects"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

As a French teacher, I love learning about French idioms. They are so interesting and fun to use! In this blog post, I will share with you 5 common idioms in French that involve everyday objects. Each French idiom is accompanied by a definition and an example sentence. So without further ado, let’s get started!  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

P.S.<\/strong>: If you’re interested in learning more about French<\/em> idioms in general, check out my other blog post on the topic.<\/em> Enjoy! \ud83d\ude00<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What is a French idiom?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The idioms in French that we will be learning today are expressions that have a different meaning than the words that make them up<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For example, \u00ab\u00a0Avoir la main verte<\/strong>\u00a0\u00bb (to have a green thumb) doesn’t mean to have a thumb of the color green- it means to be good at gardening.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

French idioms can be fun and useful in conversations with native speakers. But not surprisingly, idioms are among the most difficult linguistic usages to assimilate when learning French. There are no miracles, the best way to learn these idioms is to live or travel for a while in France or a French-speaking country.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Of course, the French language is not the only one to use idioms in its daily use. All the languages of the world have their own expressions and their own imaginary constructions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Let’s discover together 5 idiomatic expressions with everyday objects<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The 5 French idiomatic expressions that I have selected for you are expressions that are actually used in everyday life by the French<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

1. Aller \u00e0 quelqu\u2019un comme un gant<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Here is a 2 in 1 expression. Indeed, there is the first expression: \u00ab\u00a0aller \u00e0 quelqu’un<\/strong>\u00a0\u00bb which means that something is nice on a person<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For example, a friend tries on a new dress in a store, and when she shows you the dress, you think that the dress looks very nice on your friend<\/strong>, that she wears the dress very well. Then, you tell her that \u00ab\u00a0\u00e7a<\/strong> (the dress) lui va bien<\/strong>\u00a0\u00bb (It looks good on her) or \u00ab\u00a0La robe te va bien<\/strong>\u00a0\u00bb (the dress looks good on you).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

And then, to this first expression, we add the word \u00ab\u00a0gant<\/strong>\u00a0\u00bb (glove).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In general, a glove corresponds exactly to the hand, the thickness and length of the fingers. So when \u00ab\u00a0quelque chose va comme un gant<\/strong>\u00ab\u00a0, it means it fits the person perfectly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Example<\/span>:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

– Seller<\/strong>: Oh mon Dieu, \u00e7a vous va comme un gant<\/strong> !<\/p>\n\n\n\n

– Customer<\/strong>: Ah oui ? Je dois l’acheter alors !<\/p>\n\n\n\n

2. \u00catre au bout du rouleau<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Un rouleau <\/strong>is a roll. Be at the end of the roll…
It means: being very tired<\/strong>, being exhausted<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A synonymous but familiar expression<\/strong> used by young people is: \u00ab\u00a0\u00catre au bout de sa vie<\/strong>\u00a0\u00bb (to be at the end of one’s life).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Example<\/span>:<\/p>\n\n\n\n