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<\/p>\nFewer things are more revealing of a person\u2019s familiarity with a language than utilizing expressions to convey an idea. Unlike expletives, which many people use to add emphasis to a statement, a thoughtfully used expression is la meilleure fa\u00e7on<\/b> (the best way) to convey your understanding of French that might surprise, and even impress, the unassuming listener.<\/p>\n
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Here are few more tournures de phrases<\/b> (turns of phrase) worth adding to your repertoire. For previous posts on French expressions, see part 1<\/a>, part 2<\/a> and part 3<\/a>.<\/p>\n **Phrase in parentheses is the literal translation, or as close to it as possible.**<\/p>\n Peigner la giraffe<\/b> (Painting the giraffe) – Not doing anything useful.<\/p>\n Battre la semelle<\/b> (Beating the sole) – Walking and waiting.<\/p>\n Filer \u00e0 l\u2019anglaise <\/b>(Getting away at the english) – Leaving without saying goodbye or without telling anyone.<\/p>\n L\u2019habit ne fait pas le moine<\/b> (The garment does not make the monk) – Appearances can be deceiving.<\/p>\n Faire un four<\/b> (Doing an oven) – Being a failure at something.<\/p>\n Rouler quelqu\u2019un dans la farine<\/b> (Rolling someone in flour) – Lying to someone.<\/p>\n Avoir le c\u0153ur sur la main <\/b>(Having the heart on the hand) – Being generous.<\/p>\n Tirer sur l\u2019ambulance<\/b> (Pulling on the ambulance) – Burdening someone who is already going through a difficult situation.<\/p>\n Couper les ponts<\/b> (Cutting the bridges) – Severing relationships (similar to the expression \u201cBurning one\u2019s bridges\u201d).<\/p>\n Salut vieille branche!<\/b> (Hey old branch!) – You can use this expression with someone you\u2019ve known a long time.<\/p>\n T\u00eate de n\u0153ud<\/b> (Head of knots) – Dummy\/fool.<\/p>\n Tenir les murs<\/b> (Holding the walls) – Not doing anything.<\/p>\n Au doigt mouill\u00e9<\/b> (At the wet finger) – Imprecisely or only approximately.<\/p>\n Sur le fil du rasoir<\/b> (On the string of the razor) – In a dangerous or unstable situation (similar to the English expression \u201cOn the razor\u2019s edge\u201d).<\/p>\n La tentation de Venise <\/b>(The temptation of Venice) – Tempted to devote your time to something else, to change vocations.<\/p>\n Faire flanelle<\/b> (Doing flannel) – Not purchasing or consuming anything.<\/p>\n Le diable est dans les d\u00e9tails<\/b> (The devil is in the details) – Remembering that details are important and not to disregard them (this expression is found in the English language and is very common).<\/p>\n Couper la poire en deux<\/b> (Cutting the pear in two) – Splitting something equally or compromising.<\/p>\n La loi de la jungle<\/b> (The law of the jungle) – The law of the strongest.<\/p>\n Rester sur l\u2019estomac<\/b> (Staying on the stomach) – Referring to something that is difficult to digest.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Fewer things are more revealing of a person\u2019s familiarity with a language than utilizing expressions to convey an idea. Unlike expletives, which many people use to add emphasis to a statement, a thoughtfully used expression is la meilleure fa\u00e7on (the best way) to convey your understanding of French that might surprise, and even impress, the…<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/french\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2014\/06\/75288771_6b76b8977c_o-350x350.png\")