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Quiz about French Idioms B is for Cloche

French Idioms - B is for Cloche Quiz

Pierre, your exchange student, has a penchant for using idiomatic French. Even though you studied French in school, you sometimes have trouble understanding him. He agrees to introduce you to an alphabet of idioms, but you have to guess the meanings.

A multiple-choice quiz by lingophilia. Estimated time: 4 mins.

Author
lingophilia

Time
4 mins

Type
Multiple Choice

Quiz #
342,912

Updated
Jul 23 22

# Qns
10

Difficulty
Average

Avg Score
6 / 10

Plays
464

One at a Time - Single Page - Timed Game

Question 1 of 10

1. Every night at dinner, Pierre helps me review the idioms I've learned throughout the day. When we get to "Cela fait un bail", I can't remember what it means. Pierre tells me it means the same thing as "Il y a belle lurette". What does that mean? Hint

It's been a long time.

It's beautiful.

I need a bail-out.

It's been awful.

NEXT>

Question 2 of 10

2. Pierre is telling you about his history teacher, Mr. Richard. He says, "Monsieur Richard nous m�ne � la baguette!" What in the world is Mr. Richard doing to his students? Hint

He brings fresh-baked bread for the class.

He rules his class with an iron fist.

He hits us with a stick.

He casts spells on students with his wand.

NEXT>

Question 3 of 10

3. True or false: when Pierre tells me he is the "brebis galeuse" in his class, he is suggesting that he is the star pupil.

True

False

NEXT>

Question 4 of 10

4. After talking with his teachers, it seems that Mr. Richard may not be the one to blame. I warn Pierre that he needs to clean up his act. "C'est bient�t dit!" he replies. What is he telling me? Hint

What did he say about me?

I'll do it soon!

That's easier said than done

Stop bugging me!

NEXT>

Question 5 of 10

5. After a long day being scolded by the aforementioned Mr. Richard, Pierre tells you he is "dans le bain". What does he mean? Hint

Pierre is taking a bath.

Pierre is in trouble.

Pierre is in the bathroom.

Pierre is eating a pastry.

NEXT>

Question 6 of 10

6. Pierre tells me that Susan, a girl in his class, "me bat froid". I tell him it's probably because she likes him. What has Susan been doing to Pierre? Hint

She is feeding him ice cream.

She is fighting with him.

She is giving him the cold shoulder.

She is helping him with his homework.

NEXT>

Question 7 of 10

7. Pierre doesn't understand why Susan is treating him this way. So I explain to him about American dating traditions. When I'm done, he says, "Ben, c'est la bouteille � l'encre!" What is he saying? Hint

Well, I better write this down!

Well, that's really silly!

Well, that's as clear as mud!

Well, now it all makes sense!

NEXT>

Question 8 of 10

8. Eventually, Pierre decides to ask Susan out on a date. When he comes home from school, I ask him how it went. He wants to tell me it was easy. Which of these phrases does NOT mean "it was easy"? Hint

Ce n'�tait pas la mer � boire!

C'�tait b�te comme chou!

La barbe!

C'�tait du beurre!

NEXT>

Question 9 of 10

9. Now that Peter and Susan are dating, his teachers call me in to talk about his behaviour. "C'est le bouquet!" says his French teacher. Is this a good thing?

Yes

NEXT>

Question 10 of 10

10. Pierre is not the most dedicated student. When you suggest he think about applying to college, he replies "Tu b�tis des ch�teaux en Espagne!" What is he trying to tell you? Hint

You're an architect, what do you know?

I have to study geography!

You don't know anything about Spain!

You're dreaming!

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Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

Answer: It's been a long time.

The literal translation of "cela fait un bail" is "that makes a lease". This idiom refers to leases of agricultural land, which generally lasted for quite a long time.

The literal translation of "il y a belle lurette" is "there is a beautiful little hour". "Lurette" is a deformation of "heurette" or "little hour" which, in the nineteenth century, was taken to mean an unbearably long time.

2. Pierre is telling you about his history teacher, Mr. Richard. He says, "Monsieur Richard nous m�ne � la baguette!" What in the world is Mr. Richard doing to his students?

Answer: He rules his class with an iron fist.

The literal translation of this phrase is "Mr. Richard brings us to the stick/rod". The phrase can also mean "to boss around". "Baguette", by itself, can also mean a type of French bread, a stick, or a magic wand.

3. True or false: when Pierre tells me he is the "brebis galeuse" in his class, he is suggesting that he is the star pupil.

Answer: False

Literal translation: mangy sheep. This phrase translates idiomatically to "black sheep" (pariah, unwanted person in a group) in English, but the French also use the phrase "mouton noir" (literally, black sheep). The same expression exists in German ("schwarzes Schaf"), Swedish ("svart f�r"), and Spanish ("la oveja negra"), among other languages.

Answer: That's easier said than done

Literal translation: "It's soon said". It can also be translated as "That's easy to say".

5. After a long day being scolded by the aforementioned Mr. Richard, Pierre tells you he is "dans le bain". What does he mean?

Answer: Pierre is in trouble.

Literal translation: "in the bath". Besides "in trouble", "dans le bain" can also mean "in the know".

6. Pierre tells me that Susan, a girl in his class, "me bat froid". I tell him it's probably because she likes him. What has Susan been doing to Pierre?

Answer: She is giving him the cold shoulder.

Literal translation: "beat/fight cold to me". The origin of the phrase in French is unknown, but it is believed that "cold shoulder" in English was coined by Sir Walter Scott in 1816.

Answer: Well, that's as clear as mud!

Literal translation: "Well, that's a bottle of ink". Originally (at the end of the 18th century), the phrase was "clair comme une bouteille � l'encre" (clear as a bottle of ink). The figurative meaning here is fairly obvious when one thinks about a bottle of ink, which is opaque even when empty.

A similar expression exists in Vietnamese (possibly borrowed from French), the English simile involves mud, and Germans compare use the phrase "klar wie Klo�br�he" (clear as dumpling soup).

Answer: La barbe!

Literal translation of "la barbe": The beard! This phrase can mean any of the following: "What a pain in the neck!", "Damn it!", "Shut up!", "Stop it!", etc.
Literal translation of "b�te comme chou": stupid like cabbage, suggesting something so easy that anyone could do it. The origin of this phrase is disputed; "b�te" could mean stupid or could be a deformation of "bette", which is "swiss chard" in English. Similar expressions in other languages include German "dummm wie Bohnenstroh" (dumb as bean stalks) and English "thick as a plank."
Literal translation of "du beurre": butter, meaning "a cinch" or very easy. Other French expressions containing butter include the following: "vouloir le beurre et l'argent du beurre" (to want two things at the same time), "n'y voir que de beurre" (to see nothing), and "mettre du beurre dans les �pinards" (to improve one's finances).
Literal translation of "Ce n'est pas la mer � boire": it's not the sea to drink, meaning it could be much more difficult. This expression originated in the late 17th century as its antonym, "c'est la mer � boire," implying great difficulty. Similar expressions in English could be "It's not rocket science" or "It's not brain surgery."

9. Now that Peter and Susan are dating, his teachers call me in to talk about his behaviour. "C'est le bouquet!" says his French teacher. Is this a good thing?

Answer: No

Literal translation: "This is the bouquet!" Similar expressions in English include "This takes the cake!" and "This is the last straw!" Clearly, Pierre's teacher has had enough of his behaviour.

10. Pierre is not the most dedicated student. When you suggest he think about applying to college, he replies "Tu b�tis des ch�teaux en Espagne!" What is he trying to tell you?

Answer: You're dreaming!

Literal translation: You are building castles in Spain. The phrase suggests unrealistic ideas or projects. This expression is quite old, dating back as far as the 13th century. Spain had no castles, which prevented the Moors from finding shelter as they were conquering the Iberian Peninsula.

A similar French idiom is "tirer des plans sur la com�te" (draw plans on a comet/star), Germans "bauen auf Sand" (build on sand), and the Dutch build "luchtkastelen" (castles in the air).

Source: Author lingophilia

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