The English language has some pretty weird expressions. Why do we say someone has ‘bats in the belfry’ (or call them ‘batty’) when they act a little crazy? We know what it means, but what does it have to do with bats? French expressions are pretty bizarre, too.

In the video below, there are 20 French expressions that will make you smile – but only if you understand French.

There’s a translation below for those who need it:

French expressions: Expressions Françaises

  1. The French don’t simply fall in love; ‘They are struck by lightning’ … Ils recoivent un coup de foudre.
  2. They don’t make love; ‘They throw themselves into the air’ … Ils s’envoient en l’air.
  3. They don’t get depressed; ‘They have the cockroach’ … Ils ont le cafard.
  4. When something drives them mad, ‘It takes their head’ … Ça leur prend la tête.
  5. They have too much work, ‘and have bread on the board’ … et du pain sur la planche.
  6. They dream, or ‘are in the west’ … sont à l’ouest.
  7. They are not fed up with something; ‘They have a bowl full of it’ … Ils en ont ras le bol.
  8. When they are frightened; ‘They have a blue fear’ … Is ont une peur bleue.
  9. When they aren’t feeling well; ‘They aren’t in their plate’ … Ils ne sont pas dans leur assiette.
  10. They aren’t angry; ‘They have mustard up their noses’ … Ils ont la moutarde qui monte au nez.
  11. After a bender; ‘They have a hang over’, or ‘have a wooden face’ … Its ont la gueule de bois.
  12. Stupid people ‘have the IQ of an oyster’ … ont le QI d’une huître.
  13. When they don’t have time to stop for lunch; ‘They eat on the thumb’ … Ils mangent sur le pouce.
  14. ‘Pigging out’? ‘Their eyes are bigger than their belly’ … Ils ont les yeux plus gros que le ventre.
  15. When it’s cold; It’s ‘cold fit for a duck’ … un froid de canard.
  16. They waste money; ‘or ‘’They throw it through the windows’ …Ils le jettent par les fenêtres.
  17. When making someone talk; ‘They pull worms from his/her nose’ … Ils lui tirent les vers du nez.
  18. An expensive item ‘costs you the eyes from your head’ … vous coûte les yeux de la tête.
  19. When they are rich; ‘They ride on gold … Ils roulent sur l’or.
  20. When the situation gets complicated or difficult; ‘It turns into vinegar’ … Elle tourne au vinaigre.

By the way, the French equivalent of ‘having bats in the belfry is ‘to have a spider on the ceiling’ … avoir une araignée au plafond. There’s a story behind that – a story for another day.

Have you heard any bizarre French expressions? Let us know in the comments.

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