Learn French Idioms with Me #3/100
Avoir du front tout le tour de la tête
Learning French idiomatic expressions is an important part of mastering the language. Idiomatic expressions are phrases or sayings that are unique to a language or culture, and they add color, humor, and insight to conversations.
They’re a great way to develop a better understanding of the language and sound more like a native speaker when speaking French.
Using French idiomatic expressions can also help you gain a better understanding of the culture. Many of these expressions embody French cultural values and beliefs and are used in everyday conversations.
By learning these expressions, you can gain a better understanding of how the French think and interact with one another.
Meaning of the expression “avoir du front tout le tour de la tête”
Meaning literally “having a forehead around your head,” this expression may seem quite strange and peculiar.
It means to have a nerve (avoir du toupet), to be shameless (être effronté à), to be confident (avoir de l’aplomb), to be bold (avoir de l’audace), or to have gall.
I was unable to find any information about its origin, with the exception that Strato thought that the rational soul was seated in the middle of the forehead right between the eyebrows.
This may suggest a connection between the forehead and one’s confidence or spirit of initiative, so having a forehead that “goes all around your head” could point to an excess of boldness. However, this remains my personal theory!
Examples of how to use “avoir du front tout le tour de la tête” in a sentence
— T’as du front de me parler comme ça! (You have the nerve to speak to me like this!)
— Il a eu le front de m’envoyer une lettre d’avocat après avoir manqué à ses obligations. (He had the nerve to send me a letter of formal notice after not fulfilling his obligations.)
— Les jeunes ont du front, mais si peu d’expérience. La vie va leur apprendre. (The youth are bold but have so little experience. Life will teach them.)
Related French Idioms
If you were looking for funny French idioms, you’re gonna love the related idiom avoir du culot (English equivalent: “to have a nerve”).
This idiom is used to describe someone having the courage, nerve or audacity to do something. It can be positive or negative, depending on the context.
When used in a positive sense, avoir du culot can refer to the bravery of someone who takes risks in order to accomplish something. For example, if someone takes a big risk in order to launch a successful business, they could be described as having du culot.
It could also refer to someone who is able to speak their mind and stand up for what they believe in, despite potential consequences.
When used in a negative sense, avoir du culot can refer to someone who is overly bold and reckless in their actions — for example, if someone drives recklessly or behaves in a way that could be seen as disrespectful.
This expression can also be used to describe someone who is overly confident and assertive in a situation where they do not have any authority.
Conclusion
Learning French idiomatic expressions can be challenging, but it’s worth the effort. It’s a great way to hone your French skills and make conversations more interesting.
There are many resources available to help learn these expressions, such as books, websites, and probably even apps. Taking the time to learn these expressions will help you become a more fluent speaker of French, which I assume is your goal if you stumbled across this article.
I wish you good luck on your journey, and stay tuned for my next post!
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