Colloquial
A condensed glossary of some favourite French expressions, local and not so much…
Avoir du monde au balcon. Literally: to have crowded balcony. To have very large breasts.
Con comme la lune. As stupid as the moon.
Être à côté de ses pompes. To be beside your shoes; i.e. out of sorts.
Groule: a worn-out shoe, gaping at the mouth.
Guinche: literally: a used, dull blade. Said of an old lady who spies on everyone so that she can go gossip about it later.
Il a la langue bien pendue. His tongue is well-hung.
Il fait soif. It’s thirsty out.
Il n’a pas sa langue dans la poche. Literally: he hasn’t got his tongue in his pocket; i.e. he says what he means.
Il pète plus haut que son cul. Literally: He farts higher than his ass; i.e. he thinks he’s above it all.
Il fait un vent fort à en faire tomber les cornes de vaches. The wind is so strong, it could blow the horns off a cow.
Lous cat cago pas dé tchi. Literally: Cats don’t shit dogs (elsewhere, the saying goes: cats don’t make dogs); i.e. There’s no denying your roots.
Qu’est-ce qu’il se met derrière la cravate! Literally: What he puts behind his tie! i.e. Christ, can he drink!
Pan-rabiné. Overcooked bread. The appearance of a tourist from up North who’s stayed too long in the sun.
Poix. Literally: pitch. A person who is impossible to get rid of.
Tu viens de louper une bonne occasion de te taire. You’ve just passed up a golden opportunity to say nothing.
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