4 Idiomatic FOOD expressions

“Ce n’est pas de la tarte !”

Ok at first glance you can see it mentions it not being pie. 

But did you realise this means a kind of opposite - It’s NOT as easy as pie = it’s not so easy?

If you want to step up your French a little and raise an eyebrow of admiration for your French, or just learn some idiomatic expressions because you love learning, then…

Today you will discover:

• Four popular food idiomatic expressions in French

• Great contextual examples

• How to remember them when in spontaneous conversations

Four contextual examples with French expressions related to food.

You will love these French expressions because they are fun to play with.

• Ce n’est pas de la tarte !  >>> It’s not a piece of cake!

What it really means is that it is not easy.

Here’s an example for you:

• Trouver une solution à ce problème,  ce n’est pas de la tarte !  >>> Finding a solution to this problem not easy!

The following one means the opposite…

• C’est du gâteau ! >>> It’s a piece of cake! 

You could use it like this:

• L’examen était facile, c’était du gâteau !  >>> The exam was easy, it was a piece of cake!

The next one is related to being picky. 

• Faire la fine bouche  >>> to be picky.

You could see the idiomatic expression used like this:

• Elle fait toujours la fine bouche, lorsqu’il s’agit de choisir un restaurant. >>> She’s always picky when it comes to choosing a restaurant.

This expression describes a person:

• Être une crème.  >>> to be very nice.

Cream tends to be soft like a very kind person. 

• Ma/ mon collègue est une crème, elle/il m’aide toujours. >>> My colleague is a sweetheart, she/he always helps me.

Tips to learn the idiomatic expressions in French.

To start with, choose one thing at a time and master it. Once you do, you can add more to your list.

Then, say it aloud to memorise it.

The word is not enough. Indeed, if you put it into context with your own example it will facilitate.

Then, you want to practice as much as possible or you will forget it.

In a nutshell, there is no need to learn a lot. You would better apply your learning in order to speak French simultaneously with confidence. 

In this mini-lesson, you have seen four idiomatic expressions related to food. 

• Ce n’est pas de la tarte !  >>> It’s not a piece of cake!
• C’est du gâteau ! >>> It’s a piece of cake! 
• Faire la fine bouche  >>> to be picky.
• Être une crème.  >>> to be very nice.

I have other mini-lessons about French expressions for you:

4 easy cat expressions to sound French

5 great expressions using animals in French

Which other French idiomatic expressions do you know?