đš Fun and Easy French Idioms for Kids â Learn and Play with Words 2026
Bonjour, little language explorers! đ Did you know that French, like English, has magical phrases called idioms? Idioms are special expressions where the meaning is not exactly what the words say.
For example, if someone says in French, âavoir le cafardâ (to have the cockroach), it doesnât mean they have a bugâit means they feel sad! Learning idioms is a fun way to understand a new language and make your conversations exciting.
Hereâs a list of popular French idioms, each with easy explanations and fun examples to help you learn and play with words!
1ïžâŁ Number Idioms in French
- Ătre sur son trente-et-un â To be dressed up very nicely.
- Today, I wore my new suit â I was sur son trente-et-un!
- She looked amazing at the party, all trente-et-un!
- For the school play, he dressed sur son trente-et-un.
- Avoir un coup de foudre â Love at first sight.
- When he saw the puppy, it was coup de foudre!
- She felt coup de foudre when she saw the rainbow.
- They met at the park and it was coup de foudre!
- Ătre aux anges â To be extremely happy.
- I was aux anges after winning the game!
- Sheâs aux anges with her new bike.
- We were aux anges during the ice cream party.
- Avoir deux mains gauches â To be clumsy.
- Tim dropped the vase â he has deux mains gauches!
- I canât cook well; I have deux mains gauches.
- Donât worry if you fall, itâs normal to have deux mains gauches.
- Compter pour du beurre â To be useless or unimportant.
- My broken pencil compte pour du beurre.
- That old key compte pour du beurre.
- If you donât study, your effort compte pour du beurre.
- Ne pas ĂȘtre dans son assiette â To not feel well.
- I was pas dans mon assiette after the long trip.
- She felt pas dans son assiette after eating too much candy.
- Tim was pas dans son assiette during the math test.
- Mettre les pieds dans le plat â To say something awkward.
- Oops! I mis les pieds dans le plat talking about her surprise.
- He met les pieds dans le plat at the party.
- Donât mettre les pieds dans le plat, think first!
- Avoir la pĂȘche â To feel full of energy.
- I ai la pĂȘche after a fun run!
- She a la pĂȘche before her dance class.
- The puppy a la pĂȘche when playing in the yard.
2ïžâŁ Animal Idioms in French
- Avoir un chat dans la gorge â To have a frog in your throat (canât speak well).
- I ai un chat dans la gorge before the school presentation.
- She a un chat dans la gorge while singing.
- Tim a un chat dans la gorge after cheering too loud.
- Se faire des cheveux blancs â To worry a lot.
- Mom se fait des cheveux blancs about my grades.
- He se fait des cheveux blancs before the test.
- Donât te faire des cheveux blancs, everything will be fine!
- Ătre comme un poisson dans lâeau â To feel comfortable.
- I was comme un poisson dans lâeau in the swimming pool.
- She felt comme un poisson dans lâeau on stage.
- He is comme un poisson dans lâeau playing soccer.
- Donner sa langue au chat â To give up (on a question).
- I didnât know the answer, so I donnĂ© ma langue au chat.
- She donne sa langue au chat during the quiz.
- Donât worry if you donnez votre langue au chat sometimes!
- Avoir la chair de poule â To have goosebumps.
- I ai la chair de poule watching the scary movie.
- She a la chair de poule in the cold wind.
- Tim a la chair de poule hearing the thunder.
- Ătre tĂȘte de mule â To be stubborn.
- He is tĂȘte de mule refusing to eat vegetables.
- Donât be tĂȘte de mule, try your homework!
- She is tĂȘte de mule when choosing her outfit.
- Avoir un Ćil de lynx â To have sharp eyes.
- Tim a un Ćil de lynx spotting the hidden toy.
- She a un Ćil de lynx noticing mistakes in the drawing.
- He a un Ćil de lynx finding shells on the beach.
- Appeler un chat un chat â To speak frankly.
- Mom always appelle un chat un chat.
- I like friends who appellent un chat un chat.
- Donât be afraid to appeler un chat un chat!
3ïžâŁ Everyday Idioms in French
- Avoir la tĂȘte dans les nuages â To daydream.
- I ai la tĂȘte dans les nuages during class.
- She a la tĂȘte dans les nuages thinking about the playground.
- Tim a la tĂȘte dans les nuages at the library.
- Ătre au bout du rouleau â To be very tired.
- I suis au bout du rouleau after soccer practice.
- She est au bout du rouleau cleaning the room.
- Donât push too hard if you ĂȘtes au bout du rouleau!
- Poser un lapin â To stand someone up.
- He a posé un lapin at the birthday party.
- She was sad because Tim a posé un lapin.
- Donât posez un lapin to your friends!
- Raconter des salades â To tell lies.
- Tim raconte des salades about winning the race.
- Donât racontes des salades; tell the truth!
- She racontait des salades about the homework.
- Se tenir Ă carreau â To be careful.
- I me tiens Ă carreau when crossing the street.
- She se tient Ă carreau in the science lab.
- Tim se tient Ă carreau when using scissors.
- Faire dâune pierre deux coups â To achieve two things at once.
- I cleaned my room and helped Mom â faire dâune pierre deux coups!
- She studied and listened to music â faire dâune pierre deux coups!
- We walked to school and picked flowers â faire dâune pierre deux coups!
- Tomber dans les pommes â To faint.
- Tim est tombé dans les pommes after running too much.
- She tombe dans les pommes in the heat.
- Donât worry if you tombez dans les pommes once in a while.
- Avoir un poil dans la main â To be lazy.
- He a un poil dans la main and never cleans his room.
- Donât avoir un poil dans la main; help with chores!
- She a un poil dans la main during weekends.
4ïžâŁ Food Idioms in French
- Avoir la main verte â To be good at gardening (green thumb).
- Mom a la main verte with flowers.
- Tim a la main verte planting tomatoes.
- She a la main verte making the garden pretty.
- Couper la poire en deux â To compromise.
- We coupé la poire en deux about snack time.
- She coupe la poire en deux when sharing toys.
- Tim coupe la poire en deux with his friendâs game.
- Mettre du beurre dans les Ă©pinards â To improve a situation.
- Getting extra points met du beurre dans les épinards!
- She worked hard to mettre du beurre dans les épinards.
- Tim met du beurre dans les épinards by helping Mom.
- Ătre haut comme trois pommes â To be very small.
- Iâm haut comme trois pommes compared to my brother!
- The puppy is haut comme trois pommes.
- She was haut comme trois pommes at the carnival.
- Avoir la frite â To be energetic.
- I ai la frite after breakfast!
- She a la frite dancing all afternoon.
- Tim a la frite playing soccer with friends.
- Prendre la cerise sur le gĂąteau â To take the best part.
- Winning candy was la cerise sur le gĂąteau!
- The fun trip was la cerise sur le gĂąteau after school.
- She got an extra cookie â la cerise sur le gĂąteau!
- Se mettre dans le jus â To be in trouble or busy.
- Tim sâest mis dans le jus forgetting homework.
- She se met dans le jus trying to clean too fast.
- Donât te mettre dans le jus, take your time!
5ïžâŁ More Number Idioms in French
- Ne pas avoir froid aux yeux â To be brave.
- Tim nâa pas froid aux yeux and climbed the tall slide!
- She nâa pas froid aux yeux speaking in front of the class.
- Donât worry, being brave means ne pas avoir froid aux yeux!
- Tirer le diable par la queue â To struggle financially.
- Some families tirent le diable par la queue sometimes.
- Mom said they tirent le diable par la queue but are still happy.
- Helping others is nice when people tirent le diable par la queue.
- Avoir la tĂȘte sur les Ă©paules â To be sensible and smart.
- Tim a la tĂȘte sur les Ă©paules deciding what game to play.
- She a la tĂȘte sur les Ă©paules finishing homework first.
- Being responsible means avoir la tĂȘte sur les Ă©paules.
- Tomber des nues â To be very surprised.
- I suis tombé des nues when I saw the giant cake!
- She est tombée des nues hearing the funny story.
- Tim tombe des nues when the magician made the rabbit appear!
- Se serrer la ceinture â To be careful with money.
- We nous serrons la ceinture and save coins for the trip.
- Mom said to se serrer la ceinture until payday.
- Sometimes you serrez la ceinture to buy something special later.
6ïžâŁ More Animal Idioms in French
- Avoir dâautres chats Ă fouetter â To have other things to do.
- Tim a dâautres chats Ă fouetter than cleaning his room.
- She a dâautres chats Ă fouetter than arguing with friends.
- Donât worry, everyone a dâautres chats Ă fouetter!
- Avoir une mĂ©moire dâĂ©lĂ©phant â To have an excellent memory.
- She a une mĂ©moire dâĂ©lĂ©phant and remembers all the songs!
- Tim a une mĂ©moire dâĂ©lĂ©phant recalling his friendsâ birthdays.
- I wish I avais une mĂ©moire dâĂ©lĂ©phant for homework!
- Avoir un appĂ©tit dâoiseau â To eat very little.
- Tim a un appĂ©tit dâoiseau and just ate a sandwich.
- She a un appĂ©tit dâoiseau during lunch.
- Some birds ont un appĂ©tit dâoiseau, just like us sometimes!
- Ătre malin comme un singe â To be clever or tricky.
- Tim est malin comme un singe solving the puzzle.
- She est maline comme un singe hiding the chocolate.
- Clever kids sont malins comme des singes!
- Courir comme un dĂ©ratĂ© â To run very fast.
- Tim court comme un dératé to catch the bus.
- She court comme un dératé during the school race.
- Puppies courent comme des dératés in the yard!
7ïžâŁ More Everyday Idioms in French
- Avoir le coup de main â To know how to do something well.
- Tim a le coup de main making his bed perfectly.
- She a le coup de main baking cookies.
- Practice gives you le coup de main!
- Faire la tĂȘte â To sulk or be upset.
- I fais la tĂȘte when I lose my favorite toy.
- She fait la tĂȘte after the game ended.
- Donât faire la tĂȘte, try smiling instead!
- Ătre sur la mĂȘme longueur dâonde â To understand each other.
- Tim and his friend sont sur la mĂȘme longueur dâonde about the game.
- We sommes sur la mĂȘme longueur dâonde planning a party.
- Being friends means ĂȘtre sur la mĂȘme longueur dâonde!
- Mettre la main Ă la pĂąte â To help.
- Tim met la main Ă la pĂąte cleaning the classroom.
- She met la main Ă la pĂąte baking cupcakes.
- Everyone met la main Ă la pĂąte during the school fair!
- Avoir le cafard â To feel sad.
- I ai le cafard on rainy days.
- She a le cafard when missing her friends.
- Playing outside helps when on a le cafard!
8ïžâŁ More Food Idioms in French
- Rire comme une baleine â To laugh a lot.
- Tim rit comme une baleine at the funny joke.
- She rit comme une baleine during the clown show.
- Puppies rient comme des baleines when playing!
- Manger sur le pouce â To eat quickly.
- I mange sur le pouce before school.
- She mange sur le pouce during recess.
- Donât manger sur le pouce too often; enjoy your food!
- Avoir un petit creux â To feel a little hungry.
- I ai un petit creux before lunch.
- She a un petit creux after playing outside.
- Tim a un petit creux after school.
- Ătre le dindon de la farce â To be fooled.
- Tim est le dindon de la farce in the prank.
- She est le dindon de la farce when tricked.
- Sometimes we all sommes le dindon de la farce!
- Ne pas ĂȘtre dans son assiette â To not feel well.
- I ne suis pas dans mon assiette after eating too much candy.
- She nâest pas dans son assiette today.
- Tim nâest pas dans son assiette after the roller coaster ride.
- Avoir du pain sur la planche â To have a lot to do.
- Tim a du pain sur la planche with homework.
- She a du pain sur la planche cleaning her room.
- We all avons du pain sur la planche sometimes!
9ïžâŁ More Number Idioms in French
- Avoir le vent en poupe â To be successful or lucky.
- Tim a le vent en poupe after winning the race.
- She a le vent en poupe when everyone liked her drawing.
- When things go well, we avons le vent en poupe!
- Avoir un poing sur le cĆur â To feel sad or emotional.
- I ai un poing sur le cĆur when my ice cream fell.
- She a un poing sur le cĆur watching the sad movie.
- Donât worry, feeling sad sometimes is avoir un poing sur le cĆur.
- Faire les quatre cents coups â To get into mischief.
- Tim fait les quatre cents coups with his little brother.
- She fait les quatre cents coups at school, playing pranks.
- Kids love to faire les quatre cents coups with friends!
- Casser les pieds â To annoy someone.
- He casse les pieds when he keeps shouting.
- She casse les pieds by taking all the toys.
- Donât casser les pieds, be nice instead!
- Tomber Ă pic â To happen at the perfect moment.
- The umbrella tombe Ă pic when it started raining.
- She brought cookies tomber Ă pic for the tired team.
- Sometimes surprises tombent Ă pic!
- Avoir le moral dans les chaussettes â To feel down.
- Tim a le moral dans les chaussettes after losing the game.
- She a le moral dans les chaussettes on a rainy day.
- Playing with friends helps when on a le moral dans les chaussettes!
10ïžâŁ More Animal Idioms in French
- Avoir un Ćil de lynx â To notice everything.
- Tim a un Ćil de lynx spotting hidden stickers.
- She a un Ćil de lynx seeing the small mistake in homework.
- Having un Ćil de lynx helps in games!
- Ătre doux comme un agneau â To be very gentle.
- The kitten est doux comme un agneau.
- She est douce comme un agneau with her little brother.
- Tim est doux comme un agneau while helping Mom.
- Se faire des idĂ©es â To imagine things that arenât real.
- I me fais des idĂ©es thinking thereâs a ghost.
- She se fait des idées about the funny noise.
- Donât worry if tu te fais des idĂ©es, sometimes imagination is fun!
- Ătre un mouton de Panurge â To follow others blindly.
- Tim est un mouton de Panurge copying his friends.
- She est un mouton de Panurge joining the game because everyone else did.
- Being independent is better than ĂȘtre un mouton de Panurge!
- Avoir un caractĂšre de cochon â To be grumpy or stubborn.
- He a un caractĂšre de cochon refusing to share toys.
- She a un caractĂšre de cochon in the morning.
- Sometimes we all avons un caractĂšre de cochon!
11ïžâŁ More Everyday Idioms in French
- Avoir les yeux plus gros que le ventre â To take more than you can eat.
- Tim a les yeux plus gros que le ventre with cake.
- She a les yeux plus gros que le ventre grabbing cookies.
- Donât avoir les yeux plus gros que le ventre, take only what you need!
- Se mettre sur son 31 â To dress nicely.
- Mom se met sur son 31 for the party.
- She se met sur son 31 when visiting grandma.
- We all nous mettons sur notre 31 for special days!
- Avoir le coup de barre â To feel very tired suddenly.
- Tim a le coup de barre after soccer practice.
- She a le coup de barre after a long school day.
- Donât worry, everyone a le coup de barre sometimes!
- Faire chou blanc â To fail or get nothing.
- I tried to find candy but jâai fait chou blanc.
- She fait chou blanc in the game.
- Sometimes we faisons chou blanc, and thatâs okay!
- Avoir la tĂȘte dans le guidon â To be very busy or focused.
- Tim a la tĂȘte dans le guidon studying for the test.
- She a la tĂȘte dans le guidon preparing her project.
- Donât forget to take a break when tu as la tĂȘte dans le guidon!
12ïžâŁ More Food Idioms in French
- Ătre au rĂ©gime â To be on a diet.
- Tim est au rĂ©gime and canât eat chocolate.
- She est au régime eating only fruits.
- Sometimes we all sommes au régime for health!
- Avoir la patate â To feel great and energetic.
- I ai la patate after my morning run!
- She a la patate dancing all afternoon.
- Tim a la patate playing soccer with friends.
- Mettre la cerise sur le gĂąteau â To add something extra special.
- Winning candy was mettre la cerise sur le gĂąteau!
- She added glitter to the drawing â mettre la cerise sur le gĂąteau!
- Tim got an extra cookie â mettre la cerise sur le gĂąteau!
- Ne pas ĂȘtre dans son assiette â To feel unwell.
- I ne suis pas dans mon assiette after eating too much cake.
- She nâest pas dans son assiette today.
- Tim nâest pas dans son assiette after the roller coaster ride.
- Avoir du pain sur la planche â To have a lot to do.
- Tim a du pain sur la planche with homework.
- She a du pain sur la planche cleaning her room.
- We all avons du pain sur la planche sometimes!
13ïžâŁ Fun Extra Idioms
- Avoir le cafard â To feel blue or sad.
- I ai le cafard on rainy days.
- She a le cafard missing her friends.
- Playing outside helps when on a le cafard!
- Ătre au bout du rouleau â To be exhausted.
- Tim est au bout du rouleau after running the marathon.
- She est au bout du rouleau after cleaning the house.
- Everyone feels au bout du rouleau sometimes!
- Donner sa langue au chat â To give up.
- I didnât know the answer, so I donnĂ© ma langue au chat.
- She donne sa langue au chat in the tricky quiz.
- Sometimes itâs okay to donner sa langue au chat!
- Avoir le bras long â To have influence.
- Mom a le bras long at school to help with projects.
- Tim a le bras long with his teacher.
- Some people ont le bras long to get things done faster.
14ïžâŁ Even More Animal Idioms
- Ătre tĂȘtu comme une mule â To be very stubborn.
- Tim est tĂȘtu comme une mule refusing vegetables.
- She est tĂȘtue comme une mule choosing her dress.
- We all sommes tĂȘtus comme des mules sometimes!
- Faire lâĂąne pour avoir du son â To pretend to be silly to get something.
- Tim fait lâĂąne pour avoir du son and gets extra cookies.
- She fait lâĂąne pour avoir du son in class.
- Sometimes pretending works, like faire lâĂąne pour avoir du son!
- Avoir la chair de poule â To get goosebumps.
- I ai la chair de poule watching a scary movie.
- She a la chair de poule in the cold wind.
- Tim a la chair de poule hearing thunder.
15ïžâŁ More Everyday Idioms
- Faire dâune pierre deux coups â To achieve two things at once.
- I cleaned my room and helped Mom â faire dâune pierre deux coups!
- She studied and listened to music â faire dâune pierre deux coups!
- We walked to school and picked flowers â faire dâune pierre deux coups!
- Avoir la tĂȘte dans les nuages â To daydream.
- I ai la tĂȘte dans les nuages thinking about the playground.
- She a la tĂȘte dans les nuages during class.
- Tim a la tĂȘte dans les nuages imagining dragons!
- Mettre les bouchĂ©es doubles â To work twice as hard.
- Tim met les bouchées doubles finishing homework.
- She met les bouchées doubles preparing for the exam.
- Sometimes we mettons les bouchées doubles to reach a goal!
- Avoir le cĆur sur la main â To be very generous.
- Mom a le cĆur sur la main giving toys to friends.
- She a le cĆur sur la main helping classmates.
- Tim a le cĆur sur la main sharing candies.
- Casser du sucre sur le dos â To gossip.
- Tim casse du sucre sur le dos of his friend.
- She casse du sucre sur le dos at school.
- Donât casser du sucre sur le dos, be kind instead!
16ïžâŁ More Number Idioms in French
- Ătre sur la corde raide â To be in a risky situation.
- Tim est sur la corde raide trying to balance on the beam.
- She est sur la corde raide deciding whether to join the game.
- Sometimes we all sommes sur la corde raide when trying something new!
- Avoir plusieurs cordes Ă son arc â To have many skills.
- Tim a plusieurs cordes Ă son arc; he can draw and play soccer.
- She a plusieurs cordes Ă son arc baking and singing.
- Itâs fun to avoir plusieurs cordes Ă son arc!
- Faire dâune pierre deux coups â To do two things at once.
- I cleaned my room and fed the dog â faire dâune pierre deux coups!
- She studied and painted â faire dâune pierre deux coups!
- We walked and collected flowers â faire dâune pierre deux coups!
- Avoir un coup de barre â To feel very tired suddenly.
- Tim a un coup de barre after soccer practice.
- She a un coup de barre after a long day at school.
- Everyone a un coup de barre sometimes!
- Ătre tirĂ© Ă quatre Ă©pingles â To be perfectly dressed.
- Mom est tirée à quatre épingles for the wedding.
- She est tirée à quatre épingles for the school play.
- Tim est tiré à quatre épingles for the birthday party!
17ïžâŁ More Animal Idioms in French
- Ătre comme chien et chat â To fight like cat and dog.
- Tim and his brother sont comme chien et chat over toys.
- She est comme chien et chat with her sister sometimes.
- Friends donât always ĂȘtre comme chien et chat!
- Avoir un appĂ©tit dâoiseau â To eat very little.
- Tim a un appĂ©tit dâoiseau during lunch.
- She a un appĂ©tit dâoiseau when snacking.
- Puppies sometimes ont un appĂ©tit dâoiseau!
- Ătre rusĂ© comme un renard â To be clever.
- Tim est rusé comme un renard solving puzzles.
- She est rusée comme un renard hiding presents.
- Clever kids sont rusés comme des renards!
- Avoir un caractĂšre de chien â To be grumpy.
- Tim a un caractĂšre de chien in the morning.
- She a un caractĂšre de chien when sleepy.
- We all avons un caractĂšre de chien sometimes!
- Se jeter dans la gueule du loup â To go into danger.
- Tim se jette dans la gueule du loup climbing the tall tree.
- She se jette dans la gueule du loup trying the scary ride.
- Be careful when tu te jettes dans la gueule du loup!
18ïžâŁ More Everyday Idioms in French
- Ătre sur la mĂȘme longueur dâonde â To understand each other.
- Tim and his friend sont sur la mĂȘme longueur dâonde about the game.
- We sommes sur la mĂȘme longueur dâonde planning a party.
- Friends sont sur la mĂȘme longueur dâonde when playing together!
- Avoir le coup de foudre â Love at first sight.
- Tim a eu le coup de foudre for the puppy.
- She a eu le coup de foudre seeing the rainbow.
- Sometimes we all avons le coup de foudre for something special!
- Mettre la main Ă la pĂąte â To help.
- Tim met la main Ă la pĂąte baking cookies.
- She met la main Ă la pĂąte cleaning the classroom.
- Everyone met la main Ă la pĂąte during the school fair!
- Avoir la tĂȘte dans le guidon â To be very busy.
- Tim a la tĂȘte dans le guidon finishing homework.
- She a la tĂȘte dans le guidon preparing her project.
- Donât forget to take breaks when tu as la tĂȘte dans le guidon!
- Faire la sourde oreille â To ignore someone.
- Tim fait la sourde oreille when told to clean his room.
- She fait la sourde oreille during the lecture.
- Sometimes we faisons la sourde oreille, but listening is better!
19ïžâŁ More Food Idioms in French
- Avoir la frite â To feel energetic.
- I ai la frite after breakfast!
- She a la frite dancing all afternoon.
- Tim a la frite playing soccer with friends.
- Manger sur le pouce â To eat quickly.
- I mange sur le pouce before school.
- She mange sur le pouce during recess.
- Donât manger sur le pouce too often; enjoy your food!
- Avoir un petit creux â To feel a little hungry.
- I ai un petit creux before lunch.
- She a un petit creux after playing outside.
- Tim a un petit creux after school.
- Avoir du pain sur la planche â To have a lot to do.
- Tim a du pain sur la planche with homework.
- She a du pain sur la planche cleaning her room.
- We all avons du pain sur la planche sometimes!
- Couper la poire en deux â To compromise.
- We coupé la poire en deux about snack time.
- She coupe la poire en deux sharing toys.
- Tim coupe la poire en deux with his friendâs game.
20ïžâŁ Fun Extra Idioms (Mixed)
- Avoir un chat dans la gorge â To have trouble speaking.
- I ai un chat dans la gorge before the school presentation.
- She a un chat dans la gorge while singing.
- Tim a un chat dans la gorge after cheering too loud.
- Ătre tĂȘte en lâair â To be forgetful or distracted.
- Tim est tĂȘte en lâair forgetting his homework.
- She est tĂȘte en lâair losing her pencil.
- We all sommes tĂȘte en lâair sometimes!
- Ne pas ĂȘtre dans son assiette â To feel unwell.
- I ne suis pas dans mon assiette after eating too much candy.
- She nâest pas dans son assiette today.
- Tim nâest pas dans son assiette after the roller coaster ride.
- Avoir les dents longues â To be ambitious.
- Tim a les dents longues wanting to win the race.
- She a les dents longues aiming for top grades.
- Ambitious kids ont les dents longues!
- Se mettre dans de beaux draps â To get into trouble.
- Tim se met dans de beaux draps forgetting his homework.
- She se met dans de beaux draps breaking the vase.
- Be careful not to se mettre dans de beaux draps!
â Conclusion
French idioms are like magical words that make learning fun! đ They help you express feelings, tell stories, and make conversations exciting. Start using these idioms today and watch your words become colorful, playful, and full of life!