A penny for your thoughts?
Colloquial or ‘local’ expressions can be a bit bizarre and hard to explain! They do add colour and humour to any language. Raining cats and dogs? You’ve hit the nail on the head!
Here’s a selection of French idioms to get to know!
Chaleur d’aout c’est du bien partout – in the heat of August, everything is fine.
Meaning – as August is the height of the summer, it describes a certainty that all is good this time of year.
Il fait un temps de chien – the weather has gone to the dogs.
Meaning – describes when it’s pouring rain or is a miserable cold day.
Il pleut des hallebardes – it’s raining halberds (halberd is an ax-like weapon used around the 14th Century.
Meaning – describes a heavy downpour.
Il pleut des cordes – it’s raining ropes.
Meaning – describes a heavy downpour (like ropes).
Une pluie battante – a beating rain.
Meaning – describes pouring rain that is abundant and heavy.
Trempé comme une soupe – soaked like a soup.
Meaning – describes someone who is soaked after being caught out in heavy rain.