Eat your words: bizarre French food sayings

We decipher some of France’s most bananas food-based sayings

Appuyer sur le champignon

Literal translation: To press on the mushroom
Meaning: To step on the gas

Ne pas être dans son assiette

Literal translation: Not to be in your plate
Meaning: To be under the weather

Compter pour du beurre

Literal translation: To count for butter
Meaning: To count for nothing

Faire chou blanc

Literal translation: To make white cabbage
Meaning: To fail

Être comme un coq en pâte

Literal translation: To be like a cockerel in pastry
Meaning: To be pampered

Tomber dans le pommes

Literal translation: To fall in the apples
Meaning: To faint

Être soupe au lait

Literal translation: To be milky soup
Meaning: To be quick-tempered

Avoir la banane

Literal translation: To have the banana
Meaning: To be happy

Mettre du beurre dans les épinards

Literal translation: To put butter in the spinach
Meaning: To top up your income

Arriver comme un cheveu sur la soupe

Literal translation: To arrive like a hair in the soup
Meaning: To turn up at an awkward moment

Pédaler dans la choucroute

Literal translation: To pedal in sauerkraut
Meaning: To go around in circles

Mettre les pieds dans le plat

Literal translation: To put your feet in the dish
Meaning: To put your foot in your mouth

Se prendre une châtaigne

Literal translation: To take a chestnut
Meaning: To be punched

Être une bonne poire

Literal translation: To be a good pear
Meaning: To be gullible

Avoir la tête comme une pastèque

Literal translation: To have a head like a watermelon
Meaning: To have a headache

Être haut comme trois pommes

Literal translation: To be high as three apples
Meaning: To be knee-high to a grasshopper (to be small/young)

This comes courtesy of Taste of France Issue Two. For more great recipes, food news and interviews with top chefs, buy your copy here!