Lesson Transcript

Hi, everyone!
Have you ever wanted to sound like a native when speaking French?
This is Tommy, and in this lesson you'll learn four slang expressions about... the head!
Let's get started!
First is,
se creuser la tête,
"rack one's brains"
[SLOW] se creuser la tête
Se creuser la tête literally means "dig one's head". But as slang, it means to really think hard, like "rack one's brains".
Use this slang expression when you're pondering a problem or trying to remember something elusive.
Originally, it conveys the idea of digging into your mind for answers.
Here's an example sentence,
A: Quel est le problème ? B: Je ne comprends pas ce problème de mathématiques, je me creuse la tête depuis une heure !
A: What's the problem? B: I don't understand this math problem, I've been racking my brains for an hour!
A: Quel est le problème ? B: Je ne comprends pas ce problème de mathématiques, je me creuse la tête depuis une heure !
Next expression is,
quand les poules auront des dents,
"when pigs fly"
[SLOW] quand les poules auront des dents
Quand les poules auront des dents literally means "when hens will have teeth." It's a humorous way of saying something will never happen.
Use this slang expression when you want to describe an impossible situation.
Here's an example dialogue,
A: Tu veux avoir des enfants à quel âge ? B: Quand les poules auront des dents !
"A: What age do you want to have kids? B: When pigs fly!"
A: Tu veux avoir des enfants à quel âge ? B: Quand les poules auront des dents !
Next up is,
les doigts dans le nez,
"piece of cake"
[SLOW] les doigts dans le nez
Les doigts dans le nez literally translates to "fingers in the nose." This quirky phrase indicates something is so easy, you could do it without effort.
Use this slang expression when you're super confident about doing something.
Here's an example dialogue,
A: Tu sais coudre ? B: Les doigts dans le nez !
A: Do you know how to sew? B: Piece of cake!
A: Tu sais coudre ? B: Les doigts dans le nez !
Our last expression is,
jeter un coup d'oeil,
"to take a quick look"
[SLOW] jeter un coup d'oeil
Jeter un coup d'oeil is literally translated as "throw a shot of the eye." It means to glance or look briefly at something.
Use this slang expression when you want to quickly inspect or see something.
Here's an example dialogue,
A: Quelque chose ne va pas avec ma voiture, tu peux y jeter un coup d'oeil s'il te plaît ? B: Bien sûr, je vais y jeter un coup d'oeil tout de suite.
A: Something is wrong with my car. Could you please take a quick look at it?
B: Sure, I'll take a look at it right away."
A: Quelque chose ne va pas avec ma voiture, tu peux y jeter un coup d'oeil s'il te plaît ? B: Bien sûr, je vais y jeter un coup d'oeil tout de suite.
Let's review!
I’ll describe four situations, and you'll choose the expression that fits best.
Respond to the prompts by speaking aloud. Then repeat after me, focusing on pronunciation.
Ready?
What's the expression you'd use to mean that something will never happen?
quand les poules auront des dents
quand les poules auront des dents
Which phrase would you use when faced with a challenging problem?
se creuser la tête
se creuser la tête
How would you express the need to quickly glance at something?
jeter un coup d'oeil
jeter un coup d'oeil
And finally, what's the expression to describe something you find incredibly easy?
les doigts dans le nez
les doigts dans le nez
Well done! See you next time! Au revoir !

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