Matching game
French weather idioms: il pleut des cordes and more
Il pleut des cordes, un temps de chien, après la pluie le beau temps, être dans le brouillard: match ten weather idioms, literal and figurative.
- B1
- 10 pairs
- Tap to match
- Learn this in the B1 notebook →
In short
French weather idioms include il pleut des cordes (it's raining cats and dogs, literally ropes), un temps de chien (awful weather), un froid de canard (freezing cold), être dans le brouillard (to be confused) and faire la pluie et le beau temps (to call the shots).
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Tap one on the left, then its partner on the right.
Go further
| Idiom | Figurative meaning |
|---|---|
| être dans le brouillard | not understanding |
| un coup de foudre | falling in love instantly |
| un orage dans l'air | tension about to break out |
Un coup de foudre literally means a lightning strike, and it's the classic French expression for love at first sight. Parler de la pluie et du beau temps describes polite small talk, and the French do talk about the weather with neighbours as much as anyone.
- Collègue
Quel temps de chien ! Il pleut des cordes.
What awful weather! It's pouring.
- Toi
Et ce matin il faisait un froid de canard.
And this morning it was freezing.
- Collègue
Bon, après la pluie, le beau temps !
Well, every cloud has a silver lining!
- Il pleut des chats et des chiens.Il pleut des cordes.
The English idiom doesn't translate.
- J'ai eu un coup de foudre sur la route.La foudre est tombée près de la route.
Coup de foudre is about love; for real lightning, la foudre est tombée.