French French speaking countries
quand les poules auront des dents
Expression USED On Occasion BY Almost Everyone
(when chicken have teeth) • Used to express that something will never happen.
“Quand est-ce que j’aurai une augmentation?" "Quand les poules auront des dents !”
“When will I get a pay rise?" "When chicken will have teeth!”
Interjection USED Frequently BY Young People
(so good!) • Used to say that something is cool.
"Je viens de gagner un voyage!" "Oh, trop bien!"
"I've just won a trip!" "That's so cool!"
syn
Expression USED Frequently BY Almost Everyone
(to rain strings) • To rain heavily.
"Je ne sors pas aujourd'hui, il tombe des cordes."
"I am not going out today, it is raining strings."
Standard Phrase USED Frequently BY Everyone
(n.) • (Shit !) • Used to wish good luck to someone when we want to avoid the actual "good luck" expression since it is believed that saying it actually brings bad luck.
"Merde pour l'examen de demain !"
"Shit for tomorrow's exam!"
æ
Acronym USED Very frequently BY Young People
Acronym for "j'en peux plus", meaning "I can't take it anymore". Initially used in text messages but now frequently heard in speech, pronounced not as "j'en peux plus" but as each letter sounds in the French alphabet. Used whenever we are tired by or annoyed at something.
"Mon ex n'arrête pas de m'appeler, jpp !"
"My ex won't stop calling me, I can't take it anymore!"
La vie n’est pas un long fleuve tranquille
Expression USED On Very Rare Occasion BY Older Generations
(Life is not a long calm river) • To explain that life is not always easy.
"Tu sais, la vie n’est pas un long fleuve tranquille."
"You know, life isn't a long calm river."