Jean K. Mathieu · Teaching French is my job, and I specialized in pronunciation and exam/interview...

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Transcript of Jean K. Mathieu · Teaching French is my job, and I specialized in pronunciation and exam/interview...

Page 1: Jean K. Mathieu · Teaching French is my job, and I specialized in pronunciation and exam/interview preparation. For several years, I help French learners to achieve their goal, succeed
Page 2: Jean K. Mathieu · Teaching French is my job, and I specialized in pronunciation and exam/interview preparation. For several years, I help French learners to achieve their goal, succeed

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Jean K. Mathieu

Spoken French

ANIMAL IDIOMS

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Tableofcontent

Agneau.......................................................................................................10Aigle............................................................................................................10

Aile...............................................................................................................11

Alouette.....................................................................................................13Âne...............................................................................................................14

Anguille......................................................................................................16Araignée....................................................................................................17

Asticot........................................................................................................17

Autruche...................................................................................................18Baleine.......................................................................................................19

Bec...............................................................................................................20Bélier..........................................................................................................22

Bête.............................................................................................................23

Biche...........................................................................................................25Bique...........................................................................................................26

Blaireau.....................................................................................................27

Bœuf............................................................................................................27Bouc............................................................................................................30

Bourrique.................................................................................................31Brebis.........................................................................................................32

Buffle..........................................................................................................32

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Buse.............................................................................................................33

Cafard.........................................................................................................34Canard........................................................................................................34

Carpe...........................................................................................................38

Chacal.........................................................................................................38Chat.............................................................................................................39

Cheval.........................................................................................................45

Chèvre........................................................................................................49Chien...........................................................................................................50

Cochon.......................................................................................................55Coq...............................................................................................................58

Corbeau.....................................................................................................59

Corneille....................................................................................................59Couleuvre..................................................................................................60

Crabe...........................................................................................................60

Crocs...........................................................................................................61Crocodile...................................................................................................62

Dinde..........................................................................................................63Dinosaure.................................................................................................64

Écrevisse...................................................................................................64

Éléphant....................................................................................................65Éponge.......................................................................................................66

Faucon........................................................................................................68Fourmi.......................................................................................................68

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Gazelle........................................................................................................70

Girafe..........................................................................................................70Grenouille.................................................................................................71

Grue.............................................................................................................72

Guêpe..........................................................................................................72Huître.........................................................................................................73

Hyène..........................................................................................................74

Kangourou................................................................................................75Lapin...........................................................................................................76

Larve...........................................................................................................78Lézard........................................................................................................79

Lièvre..........................................................................................................80

Limace........................................................................................................81Lion..............................................................................................................82

Linotte........................................................................................................83

Loir..............................................................................................................83Loup............................................................................................................84

Lynx.............................................................................................................88Mammouth...............................................................................................88

Manchot.....................................................................................................89

Marmotte..................................................................................................89Maquereau...............................................................................................90

Merlan........................................................................................................90Moineau.....................................................................................................91

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Morue.........................................................................................................91

Mouche......................................................................................................92Moule..........................................................................................................95

Mouton.......................................................................................................96

Mule,mulet..............................................................................................98Oie................................................................................................................99

Oiseau......................................................................................................100

Ours..........................................................................................................102Oursin......................................................................................................103

Papillon...................................................................................................104Patte.........................................................................................................105

Perdreau................................................................................................106

Perroquet...............................................................................................106Phoque....................................................................................................107

Pie.............................................................................................................108

Pigeon......................................................................................................108Pingouin.................................................................................................109

Plume.......................................................................................................110Poils..........................................................................................................112

Poisson....................................................................................................115

Pou............................................................................................................117Poule........................................................................................................118

Puce..........................................................................................................122Punaise...................................................................................................123

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Putois.......................................................................................................123

Queue......................................................................................................124Rapace.....................................................................................................125

Rat.............................................................................................................126

Renard.....................................................................................................128Requin.....................................................................................................129

Sangsue...................................................................................................129

Sardine....................................................................................................130Serpent....................................................................................................130

Singe.........................................................................................................131Souris.......................................................................................................132

Taupe.......................................................................................................133

Taureau..................................................................................................134Thon.........................................................................................................134

Tortue......................................................................................................135

Vache.......................................................................................................135Vautour...................................................................................................139

Veau.........................................................................................................140Venin........................................................................................................141

Ver............................................................................................................141

Vipère......................................................................................................143

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About this book The French language is full of idioms and our daily life is full of animals. No wonder we have so many idioms about animals in French ! Animals are part of the daily life of French people and of course you will find a lot about pets (dogs, cats,…) but also about Animals that we traditionally raise and feed in French agriculture like cows, chicken, sheep, pigs. We also have strong and scary animals that appears in fairy tales like wolves, bears, and also birds like eagle. These animals all have their own characteristics and they can sometimes apply to someone’s attitude, character or physical appearance. In my opinion, animal idioms are the most fun to use. They can often bring a humorous part in the conversation, and the image is strong and easy to remember. Although there are a lot of French proverbs with animals (hundreds of them), this book is about idioms that we can adapt to the context. However I chose to include some of them that are still good to know, like Les chiens ne font pas des chats and Qui vole un œuf, vole un bœuf. I sorted the most relevant, to give the idioms that you might hear the most in France. You will find that some of them can be used in the medias and newspapers, but most of them are used in daily spoken French ! Have fun !

Jean K Mathieu

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About Me Teaching French is my job, and I specialized in pronunciation and exam/interview preparation. For several years, I help French learners to achieve their goal, succeed the DELF B2, pass interviews with French recruiters or universities, and help French learners to travel in France with more confidence. My only concern is to be the most effective for you and that’s why I focus only on French that you can actually use ever day. More about French on my website itsfrenchjuice.com

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Agneau

Doux comme un agneau Definition : sans aucune méchanceté ; être docile Translation : adorable, very cute

Example : Malgré sa taille imposante, il est doux comme un agneau.

Aigle

Avoir des yeux d'aigle Definition : avoir une très bonne vue Translation : to have sharp eyes

Example : Les bergers ont des yeux d'aigle pour surveiller leur troupeau à distance.

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Aile

Avoir du plomb dans l 'aile Definition : être en difficulté Translation : to be in a bad way

Battre de l 'aile

Definition : être en difficulté Translation : to be in a shaky state, to be on the skids

Example : Dès qu'un mariage commence à battre de l'aile, le couple envisage un divorce.

Se brûler les ailes

Definition : échouer dans une entreprise ambitieuse

(comme Icare qui s'est brûlé les ailes en volant trop près du Soleil)

Translation : to fail in a dicey initiative Example : À trop côtoyer le politique, certains finissent par se brûler les ailes.

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Voler de ses propres ailes Definition : être indépendant Translation : to be independant

Example : Il est content de partir faire ses études à l’étranger parce qu’il a vraiment envie de voler de ses propres ailes. Avoir un coup dans l 'aile

Definition : personne enivrée ou objet défectueux,

usé Translation : 1. to be drunk. 2. a faulty good

Example : Et quand il a un coup dans l'aile, ton père, qu'est-ce qu'il parle! Prendre quelqu'un sous son aile

Definition : s'occuper de quelqu'un, le protéger, le

guider Translation : to take care of, protect, guide somebody

Example : Il a pris ce jeune stagiaire sous son aile, ce qui l’aide bien à s’intégrer dans l’entreprise.

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Se sentir pousser des ailes Definition : prendre son autonomie, avoir

l'impression que tout va nous réussir Translation : to feel exhilarated, feel powerful

Example : En voyant leur pays organiser la Coupe du Monde, les Sud-africains se sentent pousser des ailes.

Alouette Un miroir aux alouettes

Definition : un piège, un leurre Translation : lure, enticement, snare

Example : La situation économique en France est un miroir aux alouettes, pour des pays voisins qui vivent sous le seuil de la pauvreté.

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Âne

Bonnet d'âne Definition : (bonnet de papier à longues oreilles que

l'on mettait sur la tête des mauvais élèves) têtu, élève cancre ou turbulant

Translation : headstrong, lazy, dunce Example : Les élèves du Japon, de HongKong et de la Corée-du-Sud arrivent premiers en maths et en sciences, tandis que l'Amérique du Sud a le bonnet d'âne.

Dos d'âne

Definition : ralentisseur, ou déformation convexe de

la chaussée Translation : speed bump

Example : Malgré la présence d'un dos d'âne, les automobilistes roulent encore trop vite.

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Passer du coq à l 'âne Definition : passer d'un sujet à un autre sans aucun

rapport avec le premier Translation : to go off at a tangent

Example : Lorsqu'elle parle, elle saute du coq à l'âne ou peut avoir de la difficulté à la comprendre.

Peser un âne mort

Definition : peser très lourd Translation : to be very heavy

Example : Mon sac pèse un âne mort et mon appartement est à trente minutes à pieds. Pisse d'âne

Definition : boisson insipide Translation : tasteless drink

Example :La bière de ce pub c'est de la pisse d'âne.

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Anguille

Il y a anguille sous roche Definition : quelque chose est caché, il y a un piège

quelque part Translation : there's something fishy going on

Example : Si le gouvernement insiste pour ne pas le dire clairement, c'est qu'il y a anguille sous roche. Se faufiler comme une anguille

Definition : se faufiler, se glisser Translation : to slip in and out

Example : Mais, tout d'un coup, il disparut et on le vit se faufiler comme une anguille à travers la foule.

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Araignée Avoir une araignée au plafond

Definition : avoir l'esprit dérangé, être un peu fou

mais pas dangereux Translation : deranged, fig. to have a screw loose

Example : Il a une araignée au plafond mais il n'est pas méchant.

Asticot

Asticoter quelqu'un Definition : agacer de manière répétée et insistante Translation : to hassle somebody

Example : Elle prend souvent le taxi, et presque tous les chauffeurs de taxi l'asticotaient pour savoir quand elle allait enfin arrêter de fumer.

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Un drôle d'asticot Definition : une personne fantaisiste ou bizarre Translation : a freak

Example : Marc est un drôle d'asticot et sa grande taille fait qu'on le repère de loin.

Autruche Faire l 'autruche, politique de l 'autruche

Definition : refuser de voir la vérité, se la cacher,

refuser de savoir quelquechose Translation : to turn a blind eye, burying one's heads

in the sand Example : Le gouvernement continue à faire l'autruche et refuse d'admettre que son bilan est catastrophique.

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Baleine Baleine

Definition : personne obèse Translation : fatty

Example : J'étais placé derrière une baleine, je n'ai rien vu de tout le concert. Rire comme une baleine

Definition : rire de bon cœur Translation : to laugh heartily

Example : Au lieu de rire comme une baleine, peux-tu me dire où sont les toilettes?

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Bec

Se retrouver le bec dans l’eau Definition : ne pas obtenir ce qu'on attendait, ne pas

avoir de solution à un problème et ne plus savoir quoi faire Translation : impasse, deadlock

Example : Lorsque des sociétés d'assurances faisaient faillite, les consommateurs se retrouvaient le bec dans l'eau. Bec-de-lièvre

Definition : malformation des lèvres et du palais Translation : harelip

Example : Aujourd'hui il existe des chirurgies presque miraculeuses pour corriger les «becs-de-lièvre». Prise de bec

Definition : dispute Translation : quarrel, dispute, argument

Example : Mélanie et elle ont eu une prise de bec, mais aucun coup n'a été échangé.

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Clouer le bec Definition : obliger quelqu'un à se taire, réduire

quelqu'un au silence, le faire taire. Translation : to shut somebody up

Example : Je pense que c'était le moyen le plus efficace de clouer le bec aux médias critiques.

Puer du bec

Definition : avoir mauvaise haleine Translation : to have bad breath

Example : Les plats avec de l'ail font puer du bec. Bec et ongles

Definition : avec toute l'énergie possible Translation : with dedication, tenacity

Example : Il s'agit d'un projet de loi contre lequel nous nous sommes battus bec et ongles. Blanc-bec

Definition : ignorant, sans expérience Translation : greenhorn, novice

Example : Ce jeune blanc-bec commençait à avoir aussi un comportement désagréable se croyait tout permis!

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More about French on itsfrenchjuice.com

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© Jean K. MATHIEU, 2019