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°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.