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French Idioms - C is for Froid 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: 5 mins.

Author
lingophilia

Time
5 mins

Type
Multiple Choice

Quiz #
351,140

Updated
Jul 23 22

# Qns
10

Difficulty
Average

Avg Score
7 / 10

Plays
715

Awards
Top 35% Quiz

One at a Time - Single Page - Timed Game

Question 1 of 10

1. When I ask Pierre if he's planning to go home to France for Christmas, he replies, "�a coute la peau du cul". Will he be buying a plane ticket?

Yes

NEXT>

Question 2 of 10

2. To keep Pierre's mind off missing Christmas festivities with his family, I suggest that we take a road trip. "Tu conduis comme un pied", he replies. What does he mean? Hint

He will go, but only if I am not driving

We should take a hike instead

I should have a scavenger hunt

He will bake a pie

NEXT>

Question 3 of 10

3. I'm quite offended at Pierre's assessment of my driving ability, so I reply with an idiom that Pierre taught me: "Tu cherches toujours la petite b�te!" What is my complaint? Hint

Pierre is always looking for beets

Pierre always finds me beastly

Pierre is always nit-picking

Pierre is always small-minded

NEXT>

Question 4 of 10

4. To diffuse the argument, Pierre smiles and jokes, "Au moins, je ne casse pas de sucre sur ton dos". How is he trying to justify his previous comment? Hint

At least he doesn't put unnecessary worries on my back

At least he doesn't break my things

At least he doesn't talk about me behind my back

At least he doesn't spill sugar on the floor

NEXT>

Question 5 of 10

5. At that moment, Pierre's assessment of my driving is proved correct. I rear-end the car in front of me and Pierre groans that he might have "coup de lapin". What's his problem? Hint

bloody nose

self-righteousness

headache

whiplash

NEXT>

Question 6 of 10

6. I'm very concerned for Pierre's safety and health, and I continue to question him about his injuries. He replies: "Ce n'est pas la mort du petit cheval". Should I be worried?

Yes

7. We get out of the car as the other driver is approaching us, yelling horrible things at me. Pierre reminds me not to worry, that "le chien qui aboit ne mord pas". We have almost this same idiom in English, so I understand he means what? Hint

Don't reciprocate anger, just let sleeping dogs lie

My quick thinking will get the other driver to admit fault

The other driver's bark is worse than his bite

My insurance company will pay for all the damages

NEXT>

Question 8 of 10

8. We exchange insurance information, and I drive my car straight to the mechanic to get the damages assessed. I don't know much about cars, so Pierre and the mechanic converse, and Pierre comes back shaking his head. "C'est un travail de Romain", he tells me. What does he mean? Hint

It will cost me an arm and a leg

It will be easy as pie

It's going to be a big job

My car will be ready in a fortnight

NEXT>

Question 9 of 10

9. I'm angry. At myself, of course. But I take it out on the mechanic and Pierre. Pierre chides, "Tu ne dois pas avoir un caract�re de chien". What is he accusing me of now? Hint

Having a seizure

Having amnesia

Having prejudices against mechanics

Having a bad attitude

NEXT>

Question 10 of 10

10. "Thanks for all your support!" I snarl at Pierre. "Tsk tsk," he replies, "les couteaux volent bas". Now what criticism is he throwing at me? Hint

I've stabbed him in the back

I resemble a small rodent

This is the cost of my bad driving

Sarcasm has overtaken the conversation

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Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. When I ask Pierre if he's planning to go home to France for Christmas, he replies, "�a coute la peau du cul". Will he be buying a plane ticket?

Answer: No

A literal translation of the phrase would be "That costs the skin of the butt". A nicer version would be "�a coute les yeux de la t�te" (that costs the eyes of the head). In English, we would say "It costs an arm and a leg". Especially during the holidays, the flights to France are too expensive for Pierre.

2. To keep Pierre's mind off missing Christmas festivities with his family, I suggest that we take a road trip. "Tu conduis comme un pied", he replies. What does he mean?

Answer: He will go, but only if I am not driving

Literal translation: "You drive like a foot". Pierre is telling me, in no uncertain terms, that I am a terrible driver.

3. I'm quite offended at Pierre's assessment of my driving ability, so I reply with an idiom that Pierre taught me: "Tu cherches toujours la petite b�te!" What is my complaint?

Answer: Pierre is always nit-picking

Literal translation: "You always look for the little beast". The little beast refers to small errors one might make which would annoy a nit-picker. French also has another idiom which is similar: "chercher le poil dans l'oeuf" (to look for hair in an egg).

4. To diffuse the argument, Pierre smiles and jokes, "Au moins, je ne casse pas de sucre sur ton dos". How is he trying to justify his previous comment?

Answer: At least he doesn't talk about me behind my back

Literal translation: "I don't break sugar on your back". As far back as the 17th century, "sucre" was slang for some sort of mistreatment.

5. At that moment, Pierre's assessment of my driving is proved correct. I rear-end the car in front of me and Pierre groans that he might have "coup de lapin". What's his problem?

Answer: whiplash

"Coup de lapin" literally means blow of rabbit or hare, but is used idiomatically to describe whiplash.

6. I'm very concerned for Pierre's safety and health, and I continue to question him about his injuries. He replies: "Ce n'est pas la mort du petit cheval". Should I be worried?

Answer: No

Pierre is telling me it's not the end of the world. Literal translation: "it's not the death of the little horse".

Answer: The other driver's bark is worse than his bite

The French expression is "the dog who barks does not bite", very similar to our English idiom "his bark is worse than his bite". This driver may yell and complain, but I shouldn't fear for my safety.

Answer: It's going to be a big job

Literal translation: "It's a Roman's work". Presumably, the amazing infrastructure and architectural achievements of the Roman empire are at the base of this idiom. Our English phrase, "Rome wasn't built in a day", has some of the same undertones.

9. I'm angry. At myself, of course. But I take it out on the mechanic and Pierre. Pierre chides, "Tu ne dois pas avoir un caract�re de chien". What is he accusing me of now?

Answer: Having a bad attitude

"Caract�re de chien" literally means the character of a dog. Many French idioms speak poorly of dogs.

10. "Thanks for all your support!" I snarl at Pierre. "Tsk tsk," he replies, "les couteaux volent bas". Now what criticism is he throwing at me?

Answer: Sarcasm has overtaken the conversation

Literal translation: "the knives are flying low". This is somewhat similar to our English idiom "hit below the belt". Pierre is probably right. All we've done during this quiz is snipe at each other.

Source: Author lingophilia

This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor stedman before going online.
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