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Details

Idioms
common; idioms avec être & idioms avec avoir
30
Language - French
Undergraduate 2
04/24/2016
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Cards

Term
What is an idiom?
 Definition
An idiom is a commonly used expression whose meaning does not relate to the literal meaning of its words.
Term
to be on time
 Definition
être à l'heure
Term
to be back
 Definition
être de retour
Term
to be late
 Definition
être en retard
Term
to be in the process of
 Definition
être en train de
Term
What should you remember about idioms with avoir?
 Definition
Many French idioms that take the verb avoir would use 'to be' in English and can cause misunderstandings if used incorrectly
Term
to be ___ years old
 Definition
avoir ___ ans
Term
to be hot
 Definition
avoir chaud
Term
to be cold
 Definition
avoir froid
Term
to be huntry
 Definition
avoir faim
Term
to seem
 Definition
avoir l'air
Term
to have an ache; pain
 Definition
avoir mal à
Term
to be thirsty
 Definition
avoir soif
Term
to be sleepy
 Definition
avoir sommeil
Term
to need
 Definition
avoir besion de
Term
to feel like
 Definition
avoir envie de
Term
to be ashamed of
 Definition
avoir honte de
Term
to be afraid of
 Definition
avoir peur de
Term
to be right
 Definition
avoir raison (de)
Term
to be wrong
 Definition
avoir tort (de)
Term
to take place
 Definition
avoir lieu
Term
to be lucky
 Definition
avoir de la chance
Term
to have the opportunity
 Definition
avoir l'occasion / la possibilité de
Term
What is the literal translation and the actual meaning of the idiom:

appeler un chat un chat
 Definition
Literally 'to call a cat, a cat'

Meaning: to call a spade a spade; to speak your mind or to speak the truth
Term
What is the literal translation and the actual meaning of the idiom:

au pif
 Definition
Literally 'at the nose'

Meaning: a general estimate / rough estimate, e.g. il y a un dizaine au pif
Term
What is the literal translation and the actual meaning of the idiom:

Avoir un faim de loup
 Definition
Literally: 'to have the hunger of a wolf'

Meaning; to be really hungry
Term
What is the literal translation and the actual meaning of the idiom:

devenir chèvre
 Definition
Literally: 'to become a goat'

Meaning: to become really angry or enraged
Term
What is the literal translation and the actual meaning of the idiom:

'faire le pont'
 Definition
Literally 'to make a bridge'

Meaning: when a public holiday falls on a Tuesday or Thursday the French 'make a bridge' to the next working day and take a nice long four day weekend
Term
What is the literal translation and the actual meaning of the idiom:

fais gaffe!
 Definition
Literally: 'faire une gaffe' means to make a blunder, but without une it is a warning

Meaning: telling someone this is telling them to watch out or be careful
Term
What is the literal translation and the actual meaning of the idiom:

'revenons à nos moutons'
 Definition
Literally: 'let's return to our sheep'

Meaning: let's get back to the topic at hand
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