Funny French Phrases

Idiomatic Expressions

French Idioms are often quite humorous to non-French speakers because when translated literally, the meaning is illogical. For example, Ah, la vache! literally translates as Oh, the cow. To the French this is a way of expressing surprise much in the same way that Americans might say wow or Good grief! Here are some more examples of amusing idioms:

Funny French Idioms

Phrase	Literal Translation	Actual Meaning
C'est la fin des haricots.	That's the end of the beans.	It's the last straw or that's the end of it.
Les carottes sont cuites.	The carrots are cooked.	I've had it.
Marcher à côté de ses pompes.	To walk next to one's shoes.	To be out of it.
Arrête ton char!	Stop your chariot!	Stop bluffing!
Aller au charbon	To go to the coal (mines).	To do something very difficult or arduous.
Casser les oreilles	To break someone's ears.	Hurt someone's ears. (With too much/too loud music, talking, etc.)

Sometimes the French use funny idioms to describe the same types of situations that English speakers do.

• Boire comme un trou literally translates as to drink like a hole but means to get wasted which isn't even grammatically correct in English.

• Poser un lapin literally translates as to leave a rabbit but means to stand someone up which in literal English would mean to put someone in a standing position.

Sometimes idiomatic expressions are based on the same idea, such as with 'beef' below, but are then used differently in French and in English.
Faire un boeuf translates into To make a beef. In French that means to improvise musically -- as in a jam session. Of course in English, to beef means to complain or make a fuss.

Funny French Phrases That Sound Funny

Unlike the phrases above, some groups of words simply sound silly when spoken. Sometimes the meaning is silly as well. Tongue twisters are in and of themselves funny because they are absurdly hard to say. Since they are 'alliterative,' meaning they often start with the same letter, it all starts to sound like childish babble, reducing both the listener and speaker to fits of laughter.

Logical Tongue Twisters

The meanings of the following phrases aren't necessarily funny, and might even be considered instructive.

• Poisson sans boisson--c'est poison!.

(To eat) fish without drinking wine is poison!

• Didon dîna, dit-on, du dos d'un dodu dindon.

Didon ate, it is said, from the back of a fat turkey.

• Natacha n'attacha pas son chat qui s'échappa.

Natasha did not tie up her cat, who escaped.

• Tonton, ton thé t'a-t-il ôté ta toux?

Uncle, did your tea take away your cough?

Tongue Twisters With Funny Meanings

These phrases not only sound funny coming out of the mouth, but are silly when you think about what is being said.

• La pipe au papa du Pape Pie pue.

Pope Pius' dad's pipe stinks.

• Je veux et j'exige du jasmin et des jonquilles

I want and demand jasmine and daffodils.

Just Pure Nonsense

Finally, some french tongue twisters are nonsensical in their meaning.

• Si mon tonton tond ton tonton, ton tonton sera tondu.

If my uncle shaves your uncle, your uncle will be shaved.

• Si six scies scient six cyprès, six cents scies scient six cent cyprès.

If six saws saw six cypresses, six hundred saws saw six hundred cypresses.

By Dianne Brooks 
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