20 Funny French Expressions About Food and Their Meanings

French culture has long been synonymous with sumptuous cuisine, from buttery croissants to multi-course gourmet feasts. But beyond the scrumptious meals and refined table manners lies another delightful aspect: the French language is rife with expressions derived from everyday foods. Some of these French expressions might seem puzzling—or downright hilarious—when translated literally into English. In this article, we’ll explore a buffet of funny French expressions about food, sharing their literal translations as well as their actual meanings. If you’ve ever wanted to add a dash of French flair to your conversations, these idioms are the perfect starting point!

Classic French Food Expressions and Their Meanings

Many of these expressions might seem nonsensical until you appreciate that the French love to sprinkle food references throughout their everyday chatter—after all, what better way to add flavor to the conversation? Let's explore some of the most common French expressions about food below.

1. Être dans les choux
   Literal Translation: To be in the cabbages
   Meaning: To be in trouble or to fail at something
   Explanation: “Il est dans les choux” can refer to a tough spot or a failed attempt. Cabbages might be nutritious, but in this case, they represent a less-than-rosy situation!
2. Raconter des salades
   Literal Translation: To tell salads
   Meaning: To tell tall tales or lies
   Explanation: A salad often features a variety of ingredients tossed together, so if someone is “telling salads,” they’re mixing truths and fabrications into a rather dubious story.
3. Avoir la pêche
   Literal Translation: To have the peach
   Meaning: To feel energetic or be in high spirits
   Explanation: Much like biting into a fresh, juicy peach, this phrase connotes a burst of vitality and enthusiasm. If you’re feeling chipper, you might exclaim, “J’ai la pêche!”
4. Tomber dans les pommes
   Literal Translation: To fall into the apples
   Meaning: To faint or pass out
   Explanation: Though it conjures an image of toppling into a pile of apples, it simply means someone has suddenly lost consciousness. Watch out for literal translations here, or people might think you had a fruit mishap.
5. Avoir la frite / Avoir la patate
   Literal Translation: To have the fry / To have the potato
   Meaning: To be full of energy or excitement
   Explanation: Whether you’re holding a potato or a French fry, both expressions point to a spirited, can-do attitude. Similar to “avoir la pêche,” it’s a peppy, fun way to say you’re feeling great.
6. Mettre du beurre dans les épinards
   Literal Translation: To put butter in the spinach
   Meaning: To improve one’s financial situation or general well-being
   Explanation: Spinach can be a bit bland, so adding butter instantly enriches the dish. Figuratively speaking, this means adding some “extra” to your life—usually in monetary form.
7. Avoir du pain sur la planche
   Literal Translation: To have bread on the board
   Meaning: To have a lot of work to do
   Explanation: Visualize a cutting board loaded with bread that still needs slicing. This phrase highlights having a significant amount of tasks that demand attention.
8. C’est la fin des haricots
   Literal Translation: It’s the end of the beans
   Meaning: It’s a disaster, or the end of everything
   Explanation: Beans were historically a cheap and essential source of nutrition. If you run out of beans, you’re in big trouble. This idiom indicates a hopeless scenario.
9. Ne pas avoir un radis
   Literal Translation: To not have a radish
   Meaning: To be flat broke
   Explanation: Radishes are small and cost next to nothing. Claiming you don’t even have a radish underscores your extreme lack of funds.
10. Avoir la moutarde qui monte au nez
    Literal Translation: To have mustard going up your nose
    Meaning: To become angry
    Explanation: Mustard has a pungent, nose-burning quality. This phrase describes that flash of anger (or irritation) rising swiftly, much like a mustard-induced tingle.

The Wider World of French Expressions

Of course, these foodie idioms are just one slice of France's rich linguistic pie. If you want even more flair, try learning some beautiful French phrases. Interested in talking about meals beyond mere idioms? You can check out these French phrases for food to navigate your next French restaurant visit with confidence. And if you’re keen to blend in seamlessly, here’s a quick read on French etiquette so you won’t accidentally step on any toes (or baguettes). Now, let’s dig into the main course!

Additional Funny French Expressions to Chew On

Get ready for a second helping! These next idioms range from sweet to sour, but they’ll all flavor your French with cultural zest. Want to try these phrases in real-time chats? Download Tandem and start practicing today!

1. Avoir un cœur d’artichaut
   Literal Translation: To have an artichoke heart
   Meaning: To be overly sentimental or quick to fall in love
   Explanation: Artichoke leaves peel away easily, revealing a tender heart underneath. Describing someone’s “artichoke heart” suggests a soft, romantic core that’s easy to access.
2. Être haut comme trois pommes
   Literal Translation: To be as tall as three apples
   Meaning: To be very short in stature
   Explanation: This cute phrase is often applied to children, conjuring an image of a small stack of apples—perfect for someone who’s just a little munchkin.
3. Faire le poireau
   Literal Translation: To do the leek
   Meaning: To wait for a long time, typically standing in one spot
   Explanation: A leek stands tall and motionless in a garden bed. If you’ve ever felt like you’re rooted to one spot while waiting, this phrase might be your go-to.
4. Occupe-toi de tes oignons
   Literal Translation: Take care of your onions
   Meaning: Mind your own business
   Explanation: Onions can bring tears when you meddle with them too much, so this idiom essentially tells others to focus on their own affairs if they want to avoid tears.
5. Être mi-figue, mi-raisin
   Literal Translation: To be half-fig, half-grape
   Meaning: To be ambivalent or indecisive
   Explanation: Figs are sweet, while grapes can vary from tart to sweet. Being “half one, half the other” suggests a mixture of sweet and sour feelings—perfect for describing indecision.
6. Boire comme un trou
   Literal Translation: To drink like a hole
   Meaning: To drink excessively
   Explanation: A hole can seemingly absorb limitless amounts of liquid. This expression humorously notes someone’s ability to drink a lot.
7. Être tout sucre tout miel
   Literal Translation: To be all sugar and honey
   Meaning: To be overly sweet or insincere
   Explanation: Too much sweetness can sometimes be a cover for hidden intentions. If someone is “sucre et miel,” they might not be as genuine as they appear.
8. En faire tout un fromage
   Literal Translation: To make a whole cheese out of it
   Meaning: To make a mountain out of a molehill
   Explanation: Cheese-making is a process that takes time and effort. By “making a cheese” out of something small, you’re exaggerating a minor issue.
9. Avoir le melon
   Literal Translation: To have the melon
   Meaning: To be full of oneself or big-headed
   Explanation: Melons are large and round, and this phrase implies someone’s ego is equally inflated.
10. Avoir la banane
    Literal Translation: To have the banana
    Meaning: To have a big smile
    Explanation: Picture the curve of a banana resembling a wide grin. When you “have the banana,” you’re sporting a huge smile or feeling cheerful.

Food for Thought—Why Master Funny French Expressions?

Before wrapping up, let’s introduce a key point: these funny French expressions aren’t merely amusing quips. They unlock cultural nuances, show off your language prowess, and often provide the perfect icebreaker in a conversation. If you pepper your speech with idioms like “avoir la patate” or “raconter des salades,” you’ll come across as more authentic and engaged in French culture. Plus, you’ll make native speakers smile—and that’s always a plus!

If you’re serious about taking your French beyond the textbook, learning food idioms is a great way to stand out. From describing your enthusiasm (“j’ai la frite”) to cautioning someone to mind their own onions (“occupe-toi de tes oignons”), these expressions can add color and personality to your dialogues.

Practice Makes Perfect

The French language has an uncanny ability to weave its most cherished cultural treasure—food—into everyday conversation. From fainting among apples to being in the cabbages, these food-centric expressions offer a window into how humor and culinary heritage merge in French culture. By embracing these funny French expressions, you’re not only broadening your vocabulary but also savoring a slice of what makes French communication so distinct and delightful. Who knew that a simple radish, leek, or banana could say so much about how the French think, feel, and connect?

You can read about them all day, but the real magic happens when you use these expressions with actual French speakers. So, next time you chat in French, don’t be shy—give these idioms a whirl. Download Tandem to practice these French expressions with native speakers and take your language skills to the next level.