French French speaking countries

être le vilain petit canard

Expression USED On Very Rare Occasion BY Some People

(to be the bad little duckling) • Refers to a person who is disliked by other people and left aside because (s)he is (physically, morally, etc) different from the others.

"Cet enfant est le vilain petit canard de sa classe ; tout le monde se moque de lui parce qu'il boite."

"This child is the bad little duckling of his class; everyone laughs at him because he has a limp."

French French speaking countries

être comme chien et chat

Expression USED On Rare Occasion BY Some People

(to be like dog and cat) • Used to describe people who are constantly in conflict, like cats and dogs, that are believed to dislike each other.

"Ma soeur en moi sommes comme chien et chat : il est impossible pour nous de s'entendre plus de quelques minutes. Nous nous disputons tout le temps."

"My sister and I are like dog and cat: it's impossible for us to get along more than a few minutes. We are always arguing."

French France

balles

Name USED Very frequently BY Almost Everyone

(n.) • Slang term for euros. Very old slang word (19th) that used to designate a Franc. The term suffered a decline in use after the changeover to the euro before being used frequently again.

"T’as pas dix balles ?"

"Do you have ten euros ?"

French Québec, Canada

piastre

Word USED Frequently BY everyone

(n.) • In Québec French, "piastre" means dollar. Pronounced as "piasse", and often missheard as "pièce" by European French speakers.

"Combien t'a coûté ta nouvelle chemise ?" "20 piastres!"

"How much did you pay for your shirt?" "20 bucks!"

French | Canadian French Quebec, Canada

être habillé comme la chienne à Jacques

Expression USED On Occasion BY Almost Everyone

(to be dressed like Jacques' female dog. ) • Used to describe a person dressed poorly. Apparently, a man named Jacques Aubert, who lived during the 19th century, was known as single all his life and only had one companion: a female dog that lost all of its fur because of some disease. During cold winter times, he would dress up his dog with old clothes and rags.

"On a beau être en vacances, ce n'est pas une raison pour s'habiller comme la chienne à Jacques."

"Even if we're on a vacation, it's not a reason to be dressed like Jacques' female dog."

French French speaking countries

On ne trouve pas l'argent sous les sabots d'un cheval

Expression USED On Occasion BY Some People

(Money can't be found under a horse's hoof) • Money doesn't grow on trees.

"Je ne peux pas t'acheter ce sac, il est beaucoup trop cher ! Tu penses qu'on trouve l'argent sous les sabots d'un cheval?"

"I can't buy you this bag, it's way too expensive! Do you think money can be found under a horse's hoof?"

French French speaking countries

la semaine des quatre jeudis

Expression USED On Rare Occasion BY Some People

(the week of the four Thursdays) • Used to express that something will never happen. In the past, Thursday was a break day for pupils and teachers. So, having a week with four Thursdays would have been a wonderful dream, but it will never happen.

" - Quand vas-tu me présenter à tes parents? - La semaine des quatre jeudis."

" - When will you introduce me to your parents? - On the week of the four Thursdays."

French French speaking countries

vieux jeu

Word USED On Rare Occasion BY Adults

(adj.) • (old game) • Describes a person with old-fashioned manners or way of thinking.

"Elle est un peu vieux jeu ; selon elle, ce sont les garçons qui doivent faire le premier pas."

"She is a bit old game; in her view, boys should make the first move."

French Belgium

baptême

Word USED On Occasion BY Students

(n.) • (baptism) • An initiation ritual in Belgian universities in order to join one of the university groups. The students who succeed in the initiation are called "baptisés" (= baptised). The "bleus" (= "blues"; the students doing the initiation) have to take part in various activities for a few weeks. A "baptême" is a bit like fraternities and sororities in the US, but there's no attention payed to gender, no restricted number of members, and the baptised don't live together.

"J'ai l'intention de faire mon baptême quand j'irai à l'université, comme ça je pourrai rencontrer des gens plus facilement."

"I intend to do my baptism when I go to university so that I can meet people more easily."

French Belgium

guindaille

Word USED Very frequently BY Students

(n.) • This word refers to student parties, often in university towns, where beer is highly consumed. There is also music, often old French songs, and student songs. You can also use the verb "guindailler".

"A chaque fois que je vais en guindaille, je deviens mort bourré."

"Whenever I go to guindaille, I get very drunk."

French French speaking countries

en mettre sa main à couper

Expression USED On Rare Occasion BY Some People

(to put one's hand out to be cut) • Te be extremely sure of something. So sure that you would let your hand to be cut if you're wrong.

"Mon rouge à lèvre a encore disparu! J'en mets ma main à couper que c'est ma soeur qui l'a pris!'

"My lipstick disappeared again! I put my hand out to cut that my sister took it!"

French Belgium

tirer son plan

Expression USED On Rare Occasion BY Some People

(to pull out one's map) • To cope on one's own.

"Je vous accompagnerai à l'école et vous aiderai avec vos devoirs durant la première semaine. Après ça, vous tirez votre plan."

"I will accompany you to school and help you with your homework during the first week. After that, you'll have to cope on your own."

French French speaking countries

avoir les dents longues

Expression USED On Rare Occasion BY Older Generations

(to have long teeth) • To be very ambitious and aim high, but in a pejorative way. You would do anything to reach your goal.

"Les soeurs de Cendrillon ont les dents longues et sont prêtes à tout pour se marier avec le prince."

"Cinderella's sisters have long teeth and they are willing to do anything in order to marry the prince."

French French speaking countries

avoir un cheveu sur la langue

Expression USED On Occasion BY Most People

(to have a hair on one's tongue) • To lisp.

"J'ai l'impression que beaucoup d'enfants ont un cheveu sur la langue quand ils parlent."

"It seems that many children have a lisp when they speak."

French France

Jules

Name USED Frequently BY Adults

A masculine name which can be used to designate a boyfriend.

"Julien, c'est ton Jules?"

"Is Julian your Jules?"

French & Dutch Belgium

kot

Word USED Frequently BY Students

(n.) • Typical Belgian word used by Dutch- and French-speakers. It is a student accommodation, often a flat shared with other students.

"Ce soir, je fais une pré à mon kot; tu viendras?"

"Tonight, I'm having a preparty at my dorm; will you come?"

French Belgium

touriste

Word USED On Occasion BY Young People

(noun) • (tourist) • It refers to students who never have their materials (pen, sheets of paper, ...) or know what they are supposed to do in class.

"Dis, tu peux me passer une feuille? Et un stylo? Et, on doit faire quoi?" "Mec, t'es vraiment un touriste!"

"Hey, can you give me a sheet of paper? And a pen? And, what are we supposed to do?" "Dude, you're such a tourist!"

French French speaking countries

se prendre un vent

Expression USED On Occasion BY Most People

(to take oneself a wind) • Used when someone is being ignored when saying something. "Vent" (= wind) stands for the sound it makes, so the only answer that the person gets. Sometimes, you can replace "vent" by "tornade", "tsunami", "ouragan", etc. which are stronger kinds of wind, so a stronger silence after one's words.

Personne 1 -"Ça vous dit de venir manger chez moi ce soir?" Personne 2 - Pas de réaction. Personne 3 (à personne 1) - "Tu viens de te prendre un de ces vents!"

Person 1 - "Would you like to come and eat at my place tonight?" Person 2 - No reaction. Person 3 (to person 1) - "You've just taken yourself one of those winds!"

French France

Jacky

Name USED On Occasion BY Young People

It is a name used to refer to a stereotypical man, who is in love with his car and practices car tuning. Other characteritics would be wearing a mulet, watching football (and Pimp My Ride), drinking a lot of beer, calling his wife "mum", etc.

"Un mec qui pose à côté de sa voiture sur sa photo de profil, c'est clairement un jacky!"

"A guy posing next to his car on his profile pic is clearly a jacky!"

French French speaking countries

Tanguy

Name USED On Occasion BY Some People

Used to describe adults in their late twenties still living at their parents'. It comes from the movie "Tanguy" by Étienne Chatiliez.

"Mon fils est un Tanguy: il a 35 ans ans, est célibataire et vit toujours chez moi. Je ne sais pas quoi faire pour qu'il parte vivre de lui-même!"

"My son is a Tanguy: he is 35, single and still lives at my house. I don't know what to do to make him go and live on his own!"