Product Description

Intermediate This whimsical collection of colloquialisms entertains students while providing insight into French-language idioms, customs, and humor. Grouped according to theme — from "Our Animal Friends" to "Speaking About the Body" to "Food for Thought" — the idioms are illustrated with humorous cartoons that provide keys to understanding the literal and real meanings.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #34872 in Books
• Published on: 1995-01-11
• Original language: French, English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 160 pages

Amazon.com
An idiom is the crossroads where language and culture meet. What does it mean, for instance, that when in English we'd say someone was "out of his tree," in French he would be "pedaling in the semolina"? 101 French Idioms collects this and other colorful turns of phrase into one whimsically illustrated volume. Each idiom comes with both literal and figurative English translations as well as a vivid cartoon; snippets of French narrative or dialogue use the term in context. The result is a humorous, fun, easy-to-remember introduction to French idioms, an excellent way to learn more about French as it's actually spoken.

Language Notes
Text: English, French

About the Author
McGraw-Hill authors represent the leading experts in their fields and are dedicated to improving the lives, careers, and interests of readers worldwide

McGraw-Hill authors represent the leading experts in their fields and are dedicated to improving the lives, careers, and interests of readers worldwide

Customer Reviews

Great/Funny/Excellent Xmas Gift
This is a great book to give to a high-school or middle-school student of French. Often it's hard for kids to understand that the language one speaks makes a difference in how one thinks. It's also hard for kids to understand that People In France Really Do Speak French All The Time. They have a hard time really knowing that you can think in another language. This little book is a funny and painless way to show you how a French person thinks about things. It has a French expression, a little cartoon showing the action, and an English translation. Perfect.
It's going in my daughter's stocking this xmas.

entertaining and helpful
This is a great book for those who already have a good grasp on the French language and/or intermediate knowledge. It is an entertaining and easy read for those wanting to improve basic conversational French (each idiom has a short conversation as a definition of the French phrase). I have lots of other French language books and this one should be in everyone's collection. It's fun and easy to read - a book you can pick up time and time again.

Thank heavens!
This was very useful for people learning French, who may even be fluent but don't know or understand the cultural idioms. I understand French movies and conversations better now. This book fills a need not addressed in many French language texts or books. Hooray!