À cloche-pied and six more French expressions featuring body parts

French is full of turns of phrase and expressions using words where you might not expect them. 

This includes body parts - in the following expressions, the words pied (foot), tête (head), coude (elbow), nez (nose) and oreille (ear) are used to evoke vivid metaphors.

How many of these expressions have you heard used before?

D’arrache-pied - relentlessly

If someone travaille d’arrache pied, it means they are working relentlessly. 

The verb arracher can be defined as to pull something from or to tear something away.

The expression has meant various things over the years. The saying first appeared in 1515, and originally meant tout de suite (immediately). It is thought this meaning came from the idea that if someone was asked to act immediately (tout de suite) they would have to physically pull their feet from the floor rather than staying planted in one position. 

Latterly, d’arrache pied referred to the idea of non-stop or without interruption, which later became relentless, as we would translate it today. 

À cloche-pied - on one leg 

If you are ever asked to sauter à cloche pied, it means you are being asked to hop! 

À cloche pied means on one leg. This likely stemmed from the verb clocher, which can mean to limp. 

Foncer tête baissée - rush headfirst

Foncer tête baissée means to rush in headfirst. 

The phrase dates back to antiquity, when soldiers wore helmets with visors to protect themselves. As a result they were forced to lower their heads when they charged to protect themselves. 

Today, this expression means to throw yourself into something without reflecting too much. 

Avoir une dent contre quelqu’un - to hold a grudge against someone

This phrase means to hold a grudge against someone. In the past, la dent (the tooth) in French symbolised aggression and hostility. 

As a result, this expression originally evoked the image of an animal baring its teeth and therefore the idea of harboring aggression towards someone. 

Nowadays, it is used when someone is angry with somebody, or holding something against them. 

Être au coude à coude - neck and neck 

Etre au coude à coude is the French version of the English saying: to be neck and neck. 

It is usually used in reference to a competition or race, when there is nothing (or not very much) separating at least two competitors. 

It can also be used to describe people working side-by-side or in collaboration. 

Avoir le nez creux - to have good instincts/have good intuition

When we talk about someone having un nez creux, it means they have a good intuition for things. 

The phrase comes from the idea of having a very good nose, meaning that you can anticipate and feel things, like how animals track their prey through their sense of smell.

Creux can translate as: hollow, empty or deep. 

Avoir un petit creux means to be a bit peckish, while avoir l’estomac creux means to have an empty stomach. 

Dormir sur ses deux oreilles - sleep soundly

Dormir sur ses deux oreilles literally translates as: sleeping on both ears. However, it is actually used when you want to describe sleeping very deeply or soundly. 

It creates the idea of not being able to hear anything, and therefore being 'out for the count!' It could be used as a means of reassurance - tu peux dormir sur tes deux oreilles (you can sleep soundly). 

The phrase is almost the opposite of ne dormir que d’un oeil, which means to sleep with one eye open.