LEFO

Apprendre B110 min Membre

French Expressions That DON’T Translate

The translation trap

French speakers translate French idioms word-for-word into English. Sometimes it works ("la balle est dans ton camp" → "the ball is in your court"). Usually it doesn't, and you end up saying something that confuses or amuses English speakers.

10 French expressions and what to say instead

"I have a other fish to fry" — J'ai d'autres chats à fouetter
Say: "I've got bigger fish to fry" or "I've got other things to deal with."
Close! English uses fish too, but it's "bigger fish to fry" — not "other." And definitely not cats.
"It's not my cup of coffee" — Ce n'est pas ma tasse de thé
Say: "It's not my cup of tea."
The English version uses tea, not coffee. Very British. Means "I don't enjoy it" or "it's not for me."
"I have the moral" — J'ai le moral
Say: "I'm in good spirits" or "I'm feeling positive."
"I have the moral" means nothing in English. "Moral" = ethical principle. "Morale" (with an e) = team spirit, but you don't "have" it personally.
"I'm not in my plate" — Je ne suis pas dans mon assiette
Say: "I'm not feeling myself" or "I'm a bit off today."
"Not in my plate" will confuse everyone. "Not feeling myself" = not 100%, slightly unwell or distracted.
"I fell in the apples" — Je suis tombé(e) dans les pommes
Say: "I fainted" or "I passed out."
No fruit involved in English. Just the plain verb.
"It's the end of the beans" — C'est la fin des haricots
Say: "It's the last straw" or "That's it — game over."
English uses straw (from "the straw that broke the camel's back"), not beans.
"I have a hair on my hand" — Avoir un poil dans la main
Say: "He's lazy" or "He doesn't pull his weight."
The French image is hilarious to English speakers. "Doesn't pull his weight" = doesn't do his share of work.
"I'm going to put my grain of salt" — Mettre mon grain de sel
Say: "I'd like to put in my two cents" (US) or "Can I add something?"
English uses "two cents" (US) or "two pennies' worth" (UK) — not salt.
"To have the cockroach" — Avoir le cafard
Say: "I'm feeling down" or "I'm a bit blue."
No insects involved. "Feeling blue" or "feeling down" = sad, low mood.
"I will do the bridge" — Faire le pont
Say: "I'm taking a long weekend" or "I'm bridging the gap between the holiday and the weekend."
"Faire le pont" doesn't exist in English. Just explain: "The holiday is on Thursday so I'm taking Friday off too."

The rule

Before translating a French expression, ask: "Would this image make sense to someone who doesn't speak French?" If not, find the English equivalent — or just say it plainly. Clear beats colourful when the colour doesn't translate.

Chargement de l'exercice…