Today’s post is plein à craquer (chock-full) of French idiomatic expressions which -surprise surprise- use the word “plein” (full.)

Open up your note-books, and make sure you memorize as many as you can!

* Top 10 French Expressions with the Word “PLEIN” (Full)

10- Plein de (full of)

This is the most obvious expression using the word “plein“: plein (full) + de (of ) = plein de (full of)

→ Example: “Que t’est-il arrivé? Tu es plein de poussière!” (“What happened to you? You are full of dust!”)

9- En plein (in the middle of)

8- À pleins bords (to the fullest, to the brim)

→ Example: “La Fête à pleins bords” (“Celebration to the fullest”) is a book by French sociologist Philippe Joron which analayzes celebrations in Bayonne (in the South West of France.)

7- Plein à craquer (chock-full, bursting at the seams)

Literally “so full that it’s about to crack.”

→ Example: “Vous ne pouvez pas monter dans ce métro, il est plein à craquer!” (“You can’t get into this metro, it’s chock-full of people!”)

6- En plein air (in the open, in open air)

→ Example: “Les théâtres en plein air sont nombreux pendant l’été” (“There are many open air theatres during the Summer.”)

5- En pleine mer (on the high seas, in the middle of the sea)

→ Example: “Piège en haute mer” est un film d’action qui se déroule en pleine mer (“Under Siege” is an action movie that takes place on the high seas.)

4- En pleine forme (in the best shape, “in the pink”)

→ Example: “Je ne sais pas pourquoi, mais je me sens vraiment en pleine forme aujourd’hui!” (“I don’t know why, but I feel like I’m in my best shape today!”)

3 – De plein fouet (head-on)

→ Example: “Incroyable: une voiture l’a frappé de plein fouet, mais il n’a qu’une petite blessure” (“Incredible, a car hit him head on, but he has only a small wound.”)

2- Faire le plein d’essence (to fill up the tank)

→ Example: “Nous devons nous arrêter une minute à cette station pour faire le plein d’essence” (“We have to stop for a minute at this station to fill up the tank.”) 

1- En plein dans le mille! (bull’s eye!)

→ Example: “Bravo, tu as marqué, en plein dans le mille!” (“Well done, you scored bull’s eye!”)