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French Idioms
To know a language you have to know its idioms, and French is no exception. All forms of the language, from the highly colloquial to the utterly erudite use idioms. Browse below to find the idiom you need, or just explore the many ways you can express yourself in French.
A B C D E F G H I J L M N O P Q R S T U V
bagage intellectuel
fund of knowledge (lit.: knowledge baggage; n.b.: can be used with other words, e.g.: littéraire)
baisser les bras
give up; throw in the towel (lit.: lower the arms)
bas de gamme
low-end, low quality
bâtir des châteaux en Espagne
build castles in the air (lit.: to build castles in Spain)
bâton de maréchal
the highest level one can rise to; one’s limit (lit.: one’s field marshal’s baton)
battre comme plâtre
beat the living daylights out of someone (lit.: beat someone flat)
battre froid à qqn
give someone the cold shoulder (lit.: beat cold to someone)
bec et ongle
tooth and nail
bec fin
gourmet
bel et bien
well and truly; definitively; completely; altogether (lit.: beautiful and good)
beuârk
yuck
bien conduire sa barque
handle oneself well; do all right (lit.: drive one’s boat well)
bien en chair
well padded; plump (lit.: good in flesh)
bien mener sa barque
handle oneself well; do all right (lit.: manage one’s boat well)
bien roulée
well endowed, stacked
blague
joke
boire comme un trou
drink like a fish
boire comme une éponge
drink like a fish
boire sec
be a heavy drinker
bomber le torse
swagger; puff out one’s chest
bomber le torse
swagger; throw out one’s chest; strut
bouche bée
agape, stunned
bouche cousue
not a word; mum’s the word
bourrer le crâne
brainwash; stuff someone’s head with ideas; cram
bourrer le mou
take somebody in; have somebody on
branler dans le manche
be shaky; totter
bras dessus, bras dessous
arm in arm
bras droit
right-hand man
brasser les affaires
wheel and deal
briller par son absence
be conspicuous by one’s absence
brouiller les cartes
cloud an issue
broyer du noir
be down in the dumps; have the blues
brûler (d’envie) de
be eager to; be spoiling for
brûler les étapes
go without stopping; go faster than expected
brûler une étape
skip a stage; skip a step
brûler une feu rouge
run a red light