We live in times of unprecedented multiculturalism and linguistic interaction, where people write on social networks, blogs and columns expressing their feelings. In many cases, they use short sentences to give more visibility to their messages, as well as to give added value to their thoughts.

Thanks to platforms such as WhatsApp, Telegram and other instant messaging services, foreign language phrases have become widely accepted. Memes and sentences in French are the order of the day .

Short phrases in French

If you are one of those people who likes to play with mixed words and paraphrasing in another language, here are some of the best expressions and short phrases in French you can use .

1. Tâter le terrain

Test the ground.

2. Tendre l’autre joue

Turn the cheek

3. Toucher du bois

Touch wood!

4. Tourner autour du pot

Beat around the bush.

5. Un tiens vaut mieux que deux tu l’auras

Better a bird in the hand than a hundred in the air!

6. Une tempête dans un verre d’eau

Drowning in a glass of water

7. Voir trente-six chandelles

See the stars.

8. Comme dans un moulin

Like Peter for his house.

9. Aller à quelqu’un comme un gant

Sitting like a ring on the finger.

10. Appeler un chat un chat

Bread and wine.

11. Tenir le crachoir

Talking out of your elbows.

12. Tirer son chapeau à quelqu’un

Hats off.

13. Autant chercher une aiguille dans une botte de foin

Looking for a needle in a haystack.

14. Avoir le compas dans l’îil

Have a good eye.

15. Bavard comme une pie

Talking like a parrot.

16. Bâiller à s’en décrocher la mâchoire

Thinking about shrews.

17. Après la pluie, le beau temps

After the storm comes the calm.

18. Au bout de son rouleau

About to kick the bucket.

19. Au bout du tunnel

The end of the tunnel.

20. Rendre la monnaie de sa pièce

Pay with the same currency.

21. Savoir d’où vient le vent

Crawl into the hottest sun.

22. C’est là où le bât blesse

The elm of my shoe.

23. Casser les pieds a quelqu’un

To give the nagging.

24. Changer un cheval borgne pour un cheval aveugle

From Guatemala to Guatepeor.

25. Faire d’une pierre deux coups

Two birds with one stone.

26. Faire des yeux de velours à quelqu’un

Making eyes.

27. Faire la pluie et le beau temps

Be the master.

28. Faire mouche

Make a target.

29. De fil en aiguille

Between this and that…

30. Débarrasser le plancher

Pulling the wing out.

31. Dévoiler le pot aux roses

Discovering the cake.

32. Tiré à quatre épingles

Blank.

33. Au pied de la lettre

To the letter.

34. Au royaume des aveugles, les borgnes sont rois

In the land of the blind, the one-eyed man is king.

35. Écraser dans l’Å“uf

Nip it in the bud.

36. Être la cinquième roue du carrosse

Be the last monkey.

37. Être né sous une bonne étoile

To have a star.

38. Boire comme une éponge

Drink like a Cossack.

39. Bouche cousue!

Period!

40. C’est du gâteau

It is c

45. In April, don’t be uncovered by a thread; in May, do as you please

Hasta el cuarenta de mayo, no te quites el sayo.

46. Make a big deal out of it

Hacer una montaña de un grano de arena.

47. In the blink of an eye

Hacerlo in one ply.

48. Pushing a door open

Describe America.

49. Closing your eyes to something

Hacerse el sueco.

50. Crazy as shit

Loco de atar.

51. Gay as a finch

Feliz como una perdiz.

52. Dog Mood

Estar de mala hostia.

53. Throwing money out the window

Tirar la casa por la ventana.

54. Shoemakers always have the worst shoes

En casa de herrero, cuchillo de palo.

55. Walking as if on wheels

Ir sobre raíles.

56. Getting in the way

Poner palos en las ruedas.

57. Putting the chip to the ear

Tener la mosca detrás de la oreja.

58. There is no smoke without fire

No hay humo sin fuego.

59. It’s raining nails

Llover a cántaros.

60. Don’t go there by four ways

No andarse por las ramas.

61. Hold on to only one wire

Hanging from a hilo.

62. Sponge on something

Borrón y cuenta nueva.

63. Put your finger on something

Dar de pleno.

64. Pay ruby on the nail

Pagar a toca teja.

65. When we talk about the wolf, we see its tail

¡Hablando del rey de Roma!

66. He who looks alike assembles

Dime con quién andas y te diré quién eres.

67. Banging your head against the walls

De cabeza contra la pared.

68. Hit the bull’s-eye

Dar en el blanco.

69. My little finger told me

Me lo ha dijo un pajarito.

70. Not having your tongue in your pocket

No tener pelos en la lengua.