Try these 17 french expressions to help improve your language skills

FROM ÊTRE DANS LA DÈCHE TO C’EST PAS VERSAILLES ICI WE LOOK AT SOME OF THE BEST FRENCH EXPRESSIONS We often do not realise how many little expressions we use each day until we start speaking

another language. French, like English, is full of sayings and expressions that are used in almost every conversation. Some have English equivalents, while others are unique to the French

language. We have rounded up some common French expressions to help improve your French. Which one is your favourite? Let us know at [email protected] 1. _PIERRE QUI ROULE N’AMASSE

PAS MOUSSE_ Translation: A stone that rolls does not gather moss. It means people who are always on the move, failing to put down roots, or those who are always changing their lives and

avoid picking up responsibilities. 2._METTRE LES PIEDS DANS LE PLAT_ Translation: To put your foot in the plate. This is the equivalent of the English expression “to put your foot in it”.

3._IL PLEUT COMME VACHE QUI PISSE_ Translation: It is raining like a cow peeing. This means it is raining very heavily. It is the equivalent of the English expression “It is raining cats and

dogs”. READ ALSO: A DOZEN FRENCH IDIOMS TO IMPROVE YOUR LANGUAGE SKILLS 4. _PLEUVOIR À SEAUX_ Translation: It is raining buckets. It is the same as the English expression “it is bucketing

down”, which describes heavy rain. 5._VENDRE LA PEAU DE L’OURS AVANT DE L’AVOIR TUE_ Translation: To sell the skin of the bear before having killed it. This means to act as if something is

yours before you have acquired it 6. _ÊTRE DANS LA DÈCHE_ Translation: To be skint. The literal translation of this is “to be in hardship” or “to be in poverty” but it is used to say you are

skint or have very little money. 7. _PRENDRE LE TAUREAU PAR LES CORNES_ Translation: To take the bull by the horns. This is the same as the English expression. It means to confront a

problem straight on. 8. _MORDRE À L'HAMEÇON_ Translation: To take the bait. This literally translates as “to bite the hook” and is the equivalent of the English expression “to take the

bait”. 9. _C’EST PAS VERSAILLES ICI_ Translation: It is not Versailles here. Parents and grandparents often say this to their children when they leave a room and forget to turn the light off

or use electricity in a wasteful way. Versailles refers to the Palace of Versailles. 10. _ÊTRE DE MAUVAISE FOI_ Translation: To be a liar or insincere. This expression literally translates

to “to be in bad faith” and is used when someone is lying or being hypocritical. 11. _AVOIR LE CAFARD_ Translation: To have the blues. This means to be down in the dumps or feel sad. 12.

_AVOIR LA FLEMME_ Translation: To have laziness. This is used to say you cannot be bothered. “_J’ai la flemme!_” - I can’t be bothered. 13._UN DE CES QUATRE MATINS_ Translation: One of these

four mornings. This is equivalent to the English expression “One of these days” meaning in the near future. READ ALSO: SEVEN BEGINNER MISTAKES IN FRENCH TO AVOID 14._ETRE TÊTU COMME UN ANE_

Translation: To be stubborn as a donkey. This is the same as the English expression and means to be extremely stubborn or stuck in your ways. 15. _EN AVOIR MARRE_ Translation: To have had

enough. This means to be annoyed with something or to have had enough. 16. _LAISSE TOMBER_ Translation: Forget about it or never mind. The literal translation is “to let fall”, so “_laisse

tomber_” means to let something go or “never mind”. 17. _FAIRE EXPRES DE FAIRE_ Translation: To do something on purpose. This means to do something intentionally or to do something on

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