10 French idiomatic expressions with food

French cuisine is known all over the world for its delicious flavors and unique dishes.

It’s no surprise that many French idiomatic expressions involve food.

Here are some common French idioms with food and their meanings:

1. “Avoir du pain sur la planche” – “To have a lot on one’s plate”

This expression means to have a lot of work to do. The idiom originates from the idea of a baker who has a lot of bread dough to knead.

2. “Être une bonne poire” – “To be a pushover”

This expression means to be easily deceived or manipulated. The idiom originates from the idea of a ripe pear that is easily squished.

3. “Mettre de l’eau dans son vin” – “To lower one’s expectations”

This expression means to reduce one’s demands or expectations. The idiom originates from the idea of adding water to wine, which reduces its strength and makes it less potent.

4. “Avoir la moutarde qui monte au nez” – “To be angry”

This expression means to be very angry. The idiom originates from the idea of the nose feeling hot like it does when eating spicy mustard.

5. “Être un navet” – “To be a flop”

This expression means that something is a failure. The idiom originates from the idea of a bad vegetable harvest, such as turnips or carrots, which would be considered a flop.

6. “Avoir un petit pois à la place du cerveau” – “To have a pea for a brain”

This expression means to be very stupid or not very intelligent. The idiom originates from the idea of a small pea, which is not very filling or substantial.

7. “Être saoul comme une barrique” – “To be very drunk”

This expression means to be extremely drunk. The idiom originates from the idea of a wine barrel, which when full, can be very heavy and hard to move.

8. “Être dans les choux” – “To be in trouble”

This expression means to be in a difficult situation or to be in trouble. The idiom originates from the idea of a person who is lost in a field of cabbage (les choux), which is a difficult place to navigate.

9. “Être une quiche en quelque chose” – “To be bad at something”

This expression means to be very bad at a particular skill or activity. The idiom originates from the French dish, quiche, which is typically made with eggs, cream, and cheese. The idiom implies that the person is as bad at the skill as a quiche is bad at being a cake.

10. “Avoir le melon” – “To be conceited”

This expression means to be conceited or full of oneself. The idiom originates from the idea of a person’s head being as large as a melon, indicating an inflated sense of self-importance.

By learning these French idiomatic expressions with food, you can add some flavor and humor to your conversations. Be sure to practice these expressions so that you can communicate with confidence and convey your ideas in a clear and concise manner.

Bonus idioms:

1. “Avoir un cœur d’artichaut” – “To fall in love easily”

This expression means to fall in love easily or to be easily attracted to someone. The idiom originates from the idea of an artichoke, which has many layers and is easy to love but difficult to access.

2. “Se vendre comme des petits pains” – “To sell like hotcakes”

This expression means to sell very quickly and easily. The idiom originates from the idea of small, delicious pastries that are in high demand and sell very quickly.

3. “Avoir la banane” – “To be very happy”

This expression means to be very happy or to have a big smile on one’s face. The idiom originates from the idea of a banana, which has a curved shape similar to a smile.

4. “Faire le poireau” – “To wait for a long time”

This expression means to wait for a long time, often for someone who is running late. The idiom originates from the idea of a person standing alone, like a leek (un poireau), waiting for someone else.

5. “Mettre de l’huile sur le feu” – “To add fuel to the fire”

This expression means to make a situation worse by adding more tension or conflict. The idiom originates from the idea of adding oil to a fire, which makes it burn hotter and faster.