Family Rows and Making Up in French
Talk through a family row, from who lost it at Sunday lunch to burying the hatchet, with the idioms French families really use.
Long family lunches are a French institution, and so are the heated debates around the table, whether about politics, money or who looks after ageing parents. Inheritance (l'héritage) is a classic source of tension because French law reserves a share of an estate for the children. The French saying « il faut laver son linge sale en famille » sums up the norm: rows are sorted out in private, and a phone call or an invitation to dinner is the usual way to make the first move.
- 1
Avec mon frère, on s'est engueulés.
My brother and I had a big row.
- 2
Elle me fait la tête depuis dimanche.
She's been giving me the silent treatment since Sunday.
- 3
Il veut toujours avoir le dernier mot.
He always wants to have the last word.
- 4
C'est toujours la même rengaine.
It's always the same old story.
- 5
Jette pas d'huile sur le feu.
Don't add fuel to the fire.
- 6
C'est pas la fin du monde.
It's not the end of the world.
- 7
Il me tape sur les nerfs.
He gets on my nerves.
- 8
Elle prend tout de travers.
She takes everything the wrong way.
- 9
Il faut crever l'abcès.
We need to clear the air.
- 10
Ils sont en froid depuis deux ans.
They haven't been on speaking terms for two years.
- 11
Maman prend toujours sa défense.
Mum always takes his side.
- 12
On enterre la hache de guerre.
Let's bury the hatchet.
- 13
C'est de l'histoire ancienne.
It's water under the bridge.
- 14
J'ai mis les pieds dans le plat.
I put my foot in it.
- 15
Il a pété un câble.
He totally lost it.
- 16
Arrête d'en faire tout un fromage.
Stop making such a fuss about it.
- 17
C'est pas tes oignons.
It's none of your business.
- 18
Il faut laver son linge sale en famille.
Family matters should stay in the family.
- 19
Je vais faire le premier pas.
I'll make the first move.
- 20
Pardon, je suis allé trop loin.
Sorry, I went too far.