20 French expressions with body parts + Exercises
To receive the bonus “12 tips to learn a language”, please fill out the form on the right of the screen or at the end of the article !
I need your comments at the end of the article to write ones that fit your needs.
Dont’ forget to subscribe to
- Fast French Learning (Facebook)
- Fast French Learning (Twitter)
Hi English speakers who want to Learn French 🙂 !
In this article I share with you what are the 20 French expressions with body parts.
1 - C’est tiré par les cheveux
It's exaggerated, it's complicated, it's not logical.
Example : L’explication que tu donnes est tirée par les cheveux.
2 - La moutarde me monte au nez
Designate a person on the verge of ange. Impatience overwhelms me.
Example : J’en ai marre, la moutarde me monte au nez.
3 - Ça se voit comme le nez au milieu de la figure
It's obvious. To say that something is very visible.
Example : Il se sent mal, ça se voit comme le nez au milieu de la figure.
4 - C’est le pied !
It's great.
Example : Cette journée ensoleillée, c’est le pied !
5 - Mettre les pieds dans le plat
To approach awkwardly a subject to avoid without realizing it.
Example : En parlant du mariage, il a mis les pieds dans le plat.
6 - Pratiquer la langue de bois
Manipulation by a fake message.
Example : Les politiciens pratiquent la langue de bois.
7 - Avoir la gueule de bois
Being sick because you drank too much alcohol.
Example : Ce matin, après la soirée d’hier, j’ai la gueule de bois.
8 - Ça me prend la tête
Make your life difficult, get upset.
Example : Cette histoire ça me prend la tête.
9 - Faire la sourde oreille
Pretend not to hear.
Example : Il fait la sourde oreille à ce que je lui dis.
10 - Les murs ont des oreilles
A private conversation may be heard.
Example : Ne parle pas trop fort, les murs ont des oreilles.
11 - Jeter un coup d’œil
Watch furtively.
Example : Je jette un coup d’œil à ce livre.
12 - Ne pas fermer l’œil de la nuit
Do not sleep.
Example : Les voisins ont fait trop de bruit, je n’ai pas fermé l’œil de la nuit.
13 - Avoir les yeux plus gros que le ventre
Not being able to eat all that was asked to be served.
Example : J’ai trop pris à manger, j’ai eu les yeux plus gros que le ventre.
14 - J’y tiens comme à la prunelle de mes yeux
To give importance a lot to something.
Example : Mes enfants, j’y tiens comme à la prunelle de mes yeux.
15 - Ça m’a coûté les yeux de la tête
Cost very expensive.
Example : Mon pantalon m’a coûté les yeux de la tête.
16 - Ne pas avoir les yeux en face des trous
Do not see something clearly visible.
Example : Il a raté l’entrée de l’immeuble, il n’avait pas les yeux en face des trous.
17 - Donner un coup de main à quelqu’un
To help in a punctual way.
Example : Cet après-midi je vais donner un coup de main à mon frère pour son déménagement.
18 - Avoir la main verte
Know how to maintain the plants.
Example : Il aime le jardinage, il a la main verte.
19 - Avoir le bras long
Have influence, power.
Example : Il sait à qui parler, il a le bras long.
20 - Avoir la bouche en cul de poule
Tight lips denoting a stilted character.
Example : Elle a la bouche en cul de poule, elle se sent mal à l’aise.
Exercises
Among the 3 proposals, choose the right one
1 - C’est tiré par les cheveux
Catch someone by the hair
Scold a student who does not listen in class
It's hard to understand, it's complicated
2 - La moutarde me monte au nez
I'm starting to get angry
I'm very hungry
I want to move
3 - Ça se voit comme le nez au milieu de la figure.
It's not clear
It's obvious
I have a cold
4 - C’est le pied !
It is complicated !
That's great !
It's easy !
5 - Mettre les pieds dans le plat
To make a mistake
Say things nicely
To eat badly
6 - Pratiquer la langue de bois
Tell the truth
Speak without revealing anything important
To have drunk too much alcohol
7 - Avoir la gueule de bois
To have drunk too much alcohol
Speak without revealing anything important
Say jokes
8 - Ça me prend la tête
It is a pleasure
It annoys me
It worries me
9 - Faire la sourde oreille
Lie in
To go to bed early
Pretend not to hear what is said
10 - Les murs ont des oreilles
This place is very noisy
A private conversation may be heard
This place is very quiet
11 - Jeter un coup d’œil
Watch quickly
Spy on a person
Put on eyeshadow
12 - Ne pas fermer l’œil de la nuit
Snore all night
Nightmares all night long
Do not sleep
13 - Avoir les yeux plus gros que le ventre
Take more than you can eat
Diet and lose weight
To be small
14 - J’y tiens comme à la prunelle de mes yeux
I really like it
It does not matter to me
I need glasses
15 - Ça m’a coûté les yeux de la tête
It did not cost me anything
It cost me dear
I had to make a lot of effort
16 - Ne pas avoir les yeux en face des trous
Do not see what is obvious
Having forgotten to put on glasses
Losing memory
17 - Donner un coup de main à quelqu’un
Hitting someone
Get revenge
Serving someone
18 - Avoir la main verte
Being good at gardening
To be good at painting
Be good for architecture
19 - Avoir le bras long
To have money
To have influence
To have a big house
20 - Avoir la bouche en cul de poule
To be honeyed (having a stilled character)
To be supportive
Being provocative
Answers
1 - C’est tiré par les cheveux
It's hard to understand, it's complicated
2 - La moutarde me monte au nez
I'm starting to get angry
3 - Ça se voit comme le nez au milieu de la figure.
It's obvious
4 - C’est le pied !
That's great !
5 - Mettre les pieds dans le plat
To make a mistake
6 - Pratiquer la langue de bois
Speak without revealing anything important
7 - Avoir la gueule de bois
To have drunk too much alcohol
8 - Ça me prend la tête
It annoys me
9 - Faire la sourde oreille
Pretend not to hear what is said
10 - Les murs ont des oreilles
A private conversation may be heard
11 - Jeter un coup d’œil
Watch quickly
12 - Ne pas fermer l’œil de la nuit
Do not sleep
13 - Avoir les yeux plus gros que le ventre
Take more than you can eat
14 - J’y tiens comme à la prunelle de mes yeux
I really like it
15 - Ça m’a coûté les yeux de la tête
It cost me dear
16 - Ne pas avoir les yeux en face des trous
Do not see what is obvious
17 - Donner un coup de main à quelqu’un
Serving someone
18 - Avoir la main verte
Being good at gardening
19 - Avoir le bras long
To have influence
20 - Avoir la bouche en cul de poule
To be honeyed (having a stilled character)
To go further, here is
- 9 Common French Idioms related to money (https://frenchtogether.com/)
- 20 Casual, Everyday French Phrases You Oughta Know (https://www.fluentu.com/)
Thanks for reading this article 🙂
What do you want to learn about the French language? What are your needs ?
Tell me in the comments, I will write an article about it !
Thomas Ricomard
Thomas Ricomard specializes in teaching French as a foreign language. He has been providing private lessons since 2015, both in-person and online (via Skype). He taught at the Popular University of the Canton of Geneva (Switzerland) from 2015 to 2018, instructing several groups of 20 students from around the world (United States, Canada, United Kingdom, Spain, Brazil, South Africa, Zimbabwe, Mexico, etc.), ranging from beginner to intermediate levels (A1 to B2). With a Master’s degree in clinical and cognitive psychology from the University of Geneva, his knowledge of psychology allows him to tailor his teaching methods for optimal learning, taking into account factors such as visual memory versus auditory memory. He expresses his passion for the French language through writing texts, including poetry and songs, which he presents publicly at numerous music and slam events.