15+ Funny French Phrases And Their Meaning

Want to know some funny French phrases and their meaning? French is certainly known as the language of love and romance, so why not start learning French to have a rich vocabulary and impress those around you.

Learning some funny expressions can also help you sound like a native speaker, even if you only know a few words in reality. So, let’s begin!

Best Funny French Phrases To Use

Funny French Phrases

If you want to amuse others and sound funny and sophisticated, you should start learning some French sayings to use in different situations.

Let’s begin with understanding how the French people are. They have a good sense of humor, but when having conversations, you will notice they express it differently than people from other countries.

If you don’t want to be outdone, then here are the best funny French phrases to know:

1. Coup de foudre – Thunderbolt

‘Coup de foudre’ is a French expression used to indicate love at first sight or a sudden event.

2. Ça ne casse pas trois pattes à un canard – It’s nothing to write home about

The literal meaning of this expression is, “It does not break three legs of a duck.” It is a funny way of saying that what is going on is not exciting or interesting. On the contrary, it may even come across as mediocre.

3. Pédaler dans la semoule – Get nowhere fast (English equivalent: “going around in circles”)

‘Pédaler dans la semoule’ is a French saying that refers to a situation that has become difficult. It expresses the struggle a person faces to get out of trouble, similar to when a cyclist keeps riding in a roundabout without ever leaving.

4. Tu me casses les oreilles – You break my ears

You may have a similar phrase in your country to refer to people who are so noisy that it is bothering you. ‘Tu me casses les oreilles’ means that someone is being so loud that it’s “breaking” someone else’s ears. You can use it especially when another person is talking extremely loud.

5. Avoir le cafard – To have the cockroach

Another funny French phrase translates to the English idiom “to feel blue.” If you don’t know, feeling blue means being sad or depressed.

6. Revenons à nos moutons – Back on topic

“Moutons” means sheep. So, the literal translation is “let’s get back to our sheep.” This phrase tells other people that they are speaking out of context and that they need to get back to the main point.

7. Avoir (or Vouloir le beurre) le beurre et l’argent du beurre – Have the butter and the butter money

This funny French phrase signifies an illogic desire to have everything both ways. However, we usually end up having to choose one option. So, in this case, you can’t have the butter’s money if you use it to buy the butter!

8. Il y a quelque chose qui cloche – There is something wrong.

This is a French phrase used to indicate something wrong and doesn’t make sense.

9. Tomber dans les pommes (or dans les pommes cuites) – To faint into apples

This French phrase means “to faint,” which is usually caused by being very tired. It is a common belief that the expression originates from George Sand, who wrote the sentence “to be in the baked apples,” which meant to be very tired.

10. Aller se faire cuire un œuf – Get lost

‘Aller se faire cuire un œuf’ is a simple phrase. It is a way to tell others to go away!

11. Péter haut que son cul- Fart higher than her ass

This phrase means to be pretentious, arrogant, or vain. It is used to describe people who pretend to be more than what they are or act in a way to look more important than they are.

12. Il me court sur le haricot – He runs me on the bean

This phrase indicates someone who is annoying you by talking about every tiny and insignificant detail.

13. Les doigts dans le nez – The fingers in the nose

The expression means ” with great ease.” It is equivalent to saying, “it is a piece of cake” or “with one hand tied behind your back.

14. L’habit ne fait pas le moine – The clothes do not make the man

This phrase means ” the clothes do not make a person a monk.” In other words, you should not judge people from their appearance because looks can be deceiving.

15. Donner un coup de main – Give a hand.

This phrase is used to ask others to help.

16. En faire tout un fromage – Make a whole cheese (about something)

This phrase means to make things more complicated than they are. For example, when a person is complicating a situation, it is said that that person is “making a whole cheese about it.”

Would you like to learn more French? Check out the Ling App!

Learn French With Ling App

Learning French can be very easy if you’re using the right tools. In this case, you can use the Ling App to become proficient in French or even another language.

The Ling App is a learning device that can help you learn French at your own pace. It includes speaking, listening, reading, writing, and grammar. 

The app features an interactive AI chatbot to help you improve your pronunciation in real-time by giving direct feedback as you’re talking!

However, suppose you already know a foreign language and only want to refresh your memory. In that case, the Ling App is also the perfect app to use.

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