110 Common French Idiomatic Phrases You’ll Hear Native Speakers Use Daily

Common French Idiomatic Phrases are the reason French conversations can feel confusing even when the vocabulary seems familiar. You hear all the words, yet the meaning slips away. That’s because native speakers rely on idioms every day. Without them, your French lacks flow and natural rhythm. This guide walks you through 110 real idiomatic phrases, explained simply for learners.

Now that you know why idioms matter, let’s break them down properly.

What French Idiomatic Phrases Really Are

French idiomatic phrases are fixed expressions whose meanings cannot be understood word-for-word. If you translate them literally, you often get something strange or funny. Native speakers don’t think about these expressions; they use them automatically in conversation, at work, with friends, and even in formal settings.

For learners, idioms are one of the final steps toward sounding natural. Vocabulary and grammar help you form sentences. Idioms help you sound human.

Why Native Speakers Use Idioms So Much

Idioms save time. They add emotion. They signal belonging. When a French speaker uses an idiom, they are not trying to be clever — they are being normal. If you avoid idioms, your French stays correct but distant. If you use them correctly, your French becomes alive.

That brings us to the phrases themselves.

French Idiomatic Phrases About Life And Situations

1. Ça marche – It works / okay
   Used constantly to agree or confirm something.
2. Comme ci, comme ça – So-so
   Neutral way to say things are neither good nor bad.
3. Ça roule – All good
   Very casual and friendly.
4. Ça va sans dire – That goes without saying
   Used to emphasize something obvious.
5. C’est la vie – That’s life
   Acceptance of a situation you can’t change.
6. Il y a un hic – There’s a catch
   Often used when a plan has a hidden problem.
7. Être dans le pétrin – To be in trouble
   Common in spoken French.
8. Faire avec – To make do
   Used when options are limited.
9. Tomber à l’eau – To fall through
   When plans are canceled or fail.
10. Ça ne fait rien – It doesn’t matter

French Idiomatic Phrases About Emotions And Feelings

11. Avoir le cafard – To feel down
    Very common for sadness or low mood.
12. Être aux anges – To be overjoyed
13. Avoir la pêche – To feel great
    Informal and positive.
14. Être à bout – To be exhausted
15. Avoir le cœur gros – To feel heavy-hearted
16. Être sur un petit nuage – To be on cloud nine
17. Avoir la boule au ventre – To feel anxious
18. Être de bonne humeur – To be in a good mood
19. Être de mauvaise humeur – To be in a bad mood
20. Avoir le moral à zéro – To feel very low

French Idiomatic Phrases Used In Conversations

21. Tu m’étonnes – No kidding
    Often sarcastic.
22. C’est clair – Exactly
    Strong agreement.
23. Je vois – I see
    Used constantly in discussions.
24. Bref – In short
    Used to move on quickly.
25. En gros – Basically
26. À vrai dire – To be honest
27. Entre nous – Between us
28. Disons que – Let’s say that
29. Sans blague – Seriously?
30. Figure-toi que – Imagine that

French Idiomatic Phrases About Work

31. Mettre la main à la pâte – To pitch in
32. Faire le point – To review a situation
33. Être débordé – To be overwhelmed
34. Travailler d’arrache-pied – To work tirelessly
35. Avoir du pain sur la planche – To have a lot to do
36. Faire cavalier seul – To work alone
37. Mettre les bouchées doubles – To speed up
38. Être dans le coup – To be up to date
39. Tirer son épingle du jeu – To do well in a difficult situation
40. Passer à autre chose – To move on

French Idiomatic Phrases About Time And Frequency

41. De temps en temps – From time to time
42. À l’instant – Just now
43. En un clin d’œil – In the blink of an eye
44. Au fil du temps – Over time
45. À la longue – In the long run
46. D’un jour à l’autre – From one day to the next
47. À temps – On time
48. En retard – Late
49. À l’avance – In advance
50. Sur le moment – At the time

French Idioms Related To Money And Value

51. Coûter les yeux de la tête – To be very expensive
52. Être fauché – To be broke
53. Gagner sa vie – To earn a living
54. Jeter l’argent par les fenêtres – To waste money
55. Être plein aux as – To be rich
56. Ne pas valoir un clou – To be worthless
57. Faire des économies – To save money
58. Être à court d’argent – To be short of money
59. Avoir les moyens – To be able to afford
60. Ça vaut le coup – It’s worth it

Idiomatic Phrases About Communication

61. Dire les choses clairement – To speak plainly
62. Tourner autour du pot – To beat around the bush
63. Mettre les points sur les i – To clarify everything
64. Couper la parole – To interrupt
65. Avoir le dernier mot – To have the final say
66. Parler pour ne rien dire – To talk nonsense
67. Être sur la même longueur d’onde – To be on the same wavelength
68. Prendre la parole – To speak up
69. Faire passer le message – To get the message across
70. Ne pas mâcher ses mots – To speak bluntly

French Idioms About Decisions And Choices

71. Prendre une décision – To make a decision
72. Changer d’avis – To change one’s mind
73. Faire un choix – To make a choice
74. Hésiter longtemps – To hesitate
75. Aller droit au but – To get straight to the point
76. Prendre le taureau par les cornes – To face a problem head-on
77. Faire marche arrière – To backtrack
78. Couper la poire en deux – To compromise
79. Peser le pour et le contre – To weigh pros and cons
80. Se lancer – To take the plunge

Idiomatic Phrases About Relationships

81. Bien s’entendre – To get along well
82. Tomber d’accord – To agree
83. Avoir un bon contact – To connect well
84. Mettre quelqu’un à l’aise – To make someone comfortable
85. Faire connaissance – To meet
86. Être sur la même longueur d’onde – To think alike
87. Avoir un coup de foudre – Love at first sight
88. Se prendre la tête – To argue or overthink
89. Passer du bon temps – To have a good time
90. Perdre contact – To lose touch

French Idioms Used To React Or Emphasize

91. Pas du tout – Not at all
92. Bien sûr – Of course
93. Évidemment – Obviously
94. Ça dépend – It depends
95. Pourquoi pas – Why not
96. D’accord – Okay / agreed
97. Comme tu veux – As you like
98. Peu importe – Whatever
99. Tant pis – Too bad
100. Heureusement – Luckily

Very Common Spoken French Idioms

101. Ça me dit – I’m up for it
102. Ça ne me dit rien – I’m not interested
103. Ça m’étonne – That surprises me
104. Ça suffit – That’s enough
105. Ça arrive – It happens
106. Ça fait longtemps – It’s been a long time
107. Ça me va – That works for me
108. Ça vaut mieux – That’s better
109. Ça n’a rien à voir – That has nothing to do with it
110. Ça me dépasse – That’s beyond me

How To Learn And Use French Idioms Correctly

Now that you know the phrases, the mistake most learners make is trying to memorize them like a vocabulary list. That doesn’t work. Idioms stick when you hear them, see them, and reuse them in context.

Start by picking five idioms that match your daily life. Use them in simple sentences. Repeat them aloud. Listen for them in videos, podcasts, and conversations. Over time, they stop feeling like expressions and start feeling natural.

Common Mistakes Learners Make With Idioms

One mistake is overusing idioms too early. Another is forcing them into every sentence. Native speakers use idioms naturally, not constantly. Use them where they make sense. Also, be careful with tone. Some idioms are casual and should not be used in formal writing.

Why Idioms Are A Turning Point In Learning French

Grammar builds structure. Vocabulary builds meaning. Idioms build identity. When you start understanding and using idiomatic French, conversations become smoother, faster, and more enjoyable. You stop translating in your head and start reacting naturally.

That brings everything together.

Final Thoughts

Learning French idiomatic phrases is not about sounding impressive. It’s about sounding real. These 110 common French idiomatic phrases you’ll hear native speakers use daily are the backbone of everyday communication. Master them slowly, use them correctly, and your French will move from “correct” to “confident.”