Purée!

Last week, we invited French friends to dinner. During the conversation, I noted that Marie would say “Purée!” instead of swearing or saying some other mild oath.

“Purée” is an example of how food terms are inserted into the French language everyday. It makes sense: food and food preparation are extremely important in France. As I have said before, it is not easy to find a bad meal here. The French also seem to appreciate and support local (and fresh) foods more. 

I wrote about food idioms before (2013) but I have since learned some more. Hats off to French food and its place in French conversation. Here are some more French food idioms:

haut que trois pommes - as high as three apples (very short, knee-high to a grasshopper )

mettre du piment dans sa vie - put some spice in your life

avoir la pêche – to have the peach (feeling peachy, to be in fine shape)

Avoir un cœur d’artichaut - have the heart of an artichoke (falls in love easily, give one’s heart easily)

Etre pressé comme un citron - to be squeezed like a lemon (squeeze someone dry)

Raconter des salades - to tell salads (to lie)

Les carottes sont cuites - the carrots are cooked (all is lost, no hope)

Rouler quelqu’un dans la farine - Roll someone in the flour (to dupe someone, to play someone)

Faire le poireau - Act like a leek (hang around, stay too long)

And last, but not least:

La cerise sur le gâteau - The cherry on the cake (the icing on the cake).

Purée! The French have a lot of expressions based on food.