Student Zone · Érudits

Idiom of the Week

One authentic French idiom every week — explained, put in context, and ready to enrich your writing and speaking. Hit “Listen” to hear it pronounced properly before you use it.

N°7

Idiom of the Week

Francophone World

Avoir son voyage

Literal

To have one’s trip.

Meaning

A Québécois expression meaning to be completely fed up — or utterly stunned — when something has gone too far. It belongs to informal, spoken French: use it in a dialogue, a blog post or an oral role-play rather than a formal essay.

Example

Après trois heures d’attente à l’aéroport de Montréal, j’avais mon voyage !
After three hours of waiting at Montréal airport, I’d had enough!

Why it matters: the French-speaking world is far bigger than France, and the Québécois way of speaking is one of its richest varieties. Recognising an expression like this shows real intercultural awareness when you compare francophone communities — and using it in the right register, instead of a flat « j’en ai marre », is exactly what enriches your writing and speaking.
N°6

Idiom of the Week

Contemporary Issues

Jeter un pavé dans la mare

Literal

To throw a paving stone into the pond.

Meaning

To shake things up by saying or doing something bold that disturbs a comfortable situation and forces everyone to react and take a position.

Example

Sa proposition de supprimer les devoirs a jeté un pavé dans la mare.
Her proposal to abolish homework really stirred things up.

Why it matters: debates, campaigns and social change are at the heart of the Contemporary Issues context, and you will often need to describe an opinion, article or movement that sparks controversy. This idiom lets you say exactly that, with far more flair than a flat « c’est controversé » — exactly what enriches your writing and speaking.
N°5

Idiom of the Week

Community

Mettre tout le monde dans le même panier

Literal

To put everyone in the same basket.

Meaning

To unfairly lump different people or things together, judging a whole group by the actions or traits of just a few.

Example

Ce n’est pas parce qu’une personne a mal agi qu’il faut mettre tout le monde dans le même panier.
It’s not because one person behaved badly that everyone should be lumped together.

Why it matters: discussions of stereotypes, discrimination and tolerance appear regularly across the WA French course, especially when comparing communities and cultures. This idiom lets you challenge a generalisation with real nuance instead of a flat « ce n’est pas juste » — exactly what enriches your writing and speaking.
N°4

Idiom of the Week

Lifestyle

Avoir un chat dans la gorge

Literal

To have a cat in the throat.

Meaning

To lose your voice or find it hard to speak clearly — often from nerves, a sore throat, or being caught off guard — so the words just won’t come out.

Example

Pendant son oral, elle avait un chat dans la gorge et n’arrivait plus à trouver ses mots.
During her oral exam, she had a frog in her throat and couldn’t find her words anymore.

Why it matters: nerves before an oral assessment are something every student knows — this idiom gives you a natural, native way to describe that moment instead of a flat « je suis nerveuse ». Drop it into a reflective piece about exam day, or use it in the oral itself to show real command of the language — exactly what enriches your writing and speaking.
N°3

Idiom of the Week

Education & Pathways

Mettre la charrue avant les bœufs

Literal

To put the cart before the oxen.

Meaning

To do something too soon or in the wrong order — acting before you’re ready, or before the necessary groundwork has been done.

Example

Il ne faut pas mettre la charrue avant les bœufs en choisissant une carrière avant d’avoir terminé ses études secondaires.
You shouldn’t put the cart before the oxen by choosing a career before finishing secondary school.

Why it matters: questions about study choices, career planning and life after school run through Year 11 and 12 oral and written tasks. An idiom like this lets you talk about timing, preparation and decision-making with real nuance instead of a flat « c’est trop tôt » — exactly what enriches your writing and speaking.
N°2

Idiom of the Week

Identity

Être bien dans sa peau

Literal

To be good in one’s skin.

Meaning

To feel comfortable and confident with who you are — at ease with your own identity, values and choices, rather than putting on an act for other people.

Example

Depuis qu’elle a choisi ses propres études, elle se sent enfin bien dans sa peau.
Since she chose her own course of study, she finally feels comfortable in her own skin.

Why it matters: questions of identity — who you are, what shapes you, how you present yourself — run through personal and reflective writing and speaking tasks. An idiom like this lets you talk about self-acceptance and confidence with real nuance instead of a flat « elle est heureuse » — exactly what enriches your writing and speaking.
N°1

Idiom of the Week

Contemporary Issues

Prendre le taureau par les cornes

Literal

To take the bull by the horns.

Meaning

To face a difficult situation head-on and take decisive action, instead of avoiding it or waiting for it to resolve itself.

Example

Face au changement climatique, les jeunes doivent prendre le taureau par les cornes et agir maintenant.
Faced with climate change, young people must take the bull by the horns and act now.

Why it matters: the « contemporary issues » theme (environment, technology, social change) comes up constantly in French conversation and writing. Swapping a flat, translated phrase like « il faut agir » for an idiom like this one shows real control of the language — exactly what enriches your writing and speaking.