A guide to French expressions and idioms
French expressions are fixed phrases whose meaning goes beyond the words. "Il pleut des cordes" literally means "it's raining ropes", but every French speaker hears "it's pouring". Knowing the common ones helps you follow real conversations, radio and TV, and the listening sections of TEF Canada and TCF Canada, where speakers talk naturally.
You don't need hundreds. A few dozen high-frequency expressions, learned with an example sentence and the right register, will take you much further than a long list memorised out of context.
Idioms, proverbs and slang: what's the difference?
Idioms (expressions idiomatiques) are everyday phrases with a figurative meaning, like "avoir le cafard" (to feel down). They fit most conversations.
Proverbs (proverbes) are complete sayings that carry a lesson, like "Petit à petit, l'oiseau fait son nid" (little by little, the bird builds its nest). You'll hear them more than you'll use them.
Slang (argot) and verlan, where syllables are reversed ("louf" for "fou"), are informal. Recognise them, but keep them out of formal writing and exam tasks unless the situation is clearly casual.
Ten everyday expressions worth knowing
These come up constantly in France and Canada. Learn each one with the situation it belongs to.
- Avoir le cafard: to feel down, to have the blues
- Coûter les yeux de la tête: to cost an arm and a leg
- Poser un lapin à quelqu'un: to stand someone up
- Avoir du pain sur la planche: to have a lot of work ahead
- Ce n'est pas la mer à boire: it's not that hard
- Être dans la lune: to be daydreaming, distracted
- Mettre son grain de sel: to add your two cents, often uninvited
- Faire la grasse matinée: to sleep in
- Avoir un chat dans la gorge: to have a frog in your throat
- Tomber dans les pommes: to faint
Expressions you'll hear in Québec
If you're moving to Canada, Québec French has its own everyday vocabulary. You don't have to use it, but recognising it makes daily life easier.
- C'est plate: it's boring
- Être tanné: to be fed up
- Avoir de la misère à…: to have trouble doing something
- Il fait frette: it's freezing cold
- Mon chum, ma blonde: my boyfriend, my girlfriend
- Bienvenue: you're welcome, in reply to "merci" (in France you'd say "de rien")
Using expressions in the exam
In the listening sections, expressions often carry the speaker's opinion. If you hear "ce n'est pas la mer à boire", the speaker thinks the task is manageable, and a question may test exactly that.
In speaking, one well-placed expression can make you sound natural, especially when you're giving your opinion or trying to convince someone. Both exams reward vocabulary that's varied and suits the situation, so use an expression only when you're sure of its meaning and register.
In formal writing, such as a letter to a newspaper or an official request, prefer clear, neutral language and connectors ("cependant", "en effet", "par conséquent"). Leave slang and verlan out. Formats change from time to time, so check the official TEF Canada and TCF Canada sites for the current tasks.
How to learn them so they stick
Learn each expression with one example sentence and say it aloud. Group expressions by theme (feelings, money, work, weather), because related phrases are easier to remember together.
Notice them in podcasts, series and news, then review them a few days later. Five expressions you can use correctly are worth more than fifty you only recognise on a list.
French expressions: common questions
Do I need to use idioms to do well in TEF Canada or TCF Canada?
No. You're assessed on how clearly and appropriately you communicate. Idioms help you understand natural speech, and one or two used correctly can make your speaking sound more fluent, but accurate, varied everyday vocabulary matters more.
Is Québec French very different from France French?
The grammar is the same and standard French is understood everywhere. The differences are mostly accent and some everyday words and expressions, such as "char" for car or "magasiner" for to go shopping.
Should I use slang in the exam?
Avoid it in writing and in formal situations. In a speaking task where you're clearly talking to a friend, a little informal language is natural, but neutral French is always safe.
How many expressions should I learn?
Start with twenty or thirty high-frequency ones and learn each with an example sentence. Add more as you meet them in real listening and reading.