5 Great Environment Idiomatic Expressions in French

Bonjour,

“Mettre de l’eau dans le vin”

Ok at first glance you can see it mentions putting water in the wine. 

But did you realise this means to come to a compromise?

Today you will discover:

• Five great environment idiomatic expressions in French

• Great contextual examples

• How to remember them when in spontaneous conversations

Five contextual examples with French expressions related to the environment.

You will enjoy these French expressions as long as you understand their meaning.

• Mettre de l’eau dans son vin  >>> to put little water in the wine.

What it really means is that you compromise with someone.

Here’s an example for you:

• Paul voulait un repas chic, mais Marie voulait un repas simple. Ils ont mis de l’eau dans leur vin et ont choisi un bistrot convivial. >>> Paul wanted a posh meal, but Marie preferred a simple meal. They compromised and chose a friendly bar / pub.

The following one refers to time when there’s no rush:

• Il n’y a pas le feu au lac. >>> Where’s the fire? 

You could use it like this:

• Calme-toi, il n’y a pas le feu au lac, on a encore deux semaines. >>> Calm down, there’s no need to rush or panic, we’ve still got two weeks left.

The next one is related to fast growth. 

• Pousser comme des champignons  >>> to crop up all over the place.

You could see the idiomatic expression used like this:

• Ce quartier était vide il y a un an, mais maintenant les immeubles poussent comme des champignons. >>> This area was empty a year ago, but now the buildings are shooting up (growing up like mushrooms).

Still in the environment field with this expression: 

• Faire un geste pour la planète.  >>> to make a gesture for the planet.

Here’s an example for you:

• J’ai décidé de faire un geste pour la planète en arrêtant d’utiliser des bouteilles en plastique. >>> I decided to something (even small) for the planet and stop using plastic bottles.

Still in the environment field with this expression:. 

• Avoir la main verte.  >>> to have a green thumb.

The French expression is very similar to the English one but the body part is bigger!

• Regarde comme ses plantes sont belles. Elle a vraiment la main verte. >>> Just look how beautiful her plants are! She has such green fingers..

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 practise 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 five idiomatic expressions related to the environment:

• Mettre de l’eau dans son vin  >>> to put little water in the wine.
• Il n’y a pas le feu au lac. >>> there's no great hurry! 
• Pousser comme des champignons  >>> to crop up all over the place.
• Faire un geste pour la planète.  >>> to make a gesture for the planet.
• Avoir la main verte.  >>> to have a green thumb.

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

4 easy cat expressions to sound French  

How to use the expression AVOIR BEAU

What are your favourite French idiomatic expressions?