- Quand le chat n’est pas là, les souris dansent.
- When the cat’s away, the mice will play.
- Meaning: People will take advantage of the absence of authority.
- L’habit ne fait pas le moine.
- The clothing does not make the monk.
- Meaning: Appearances can be deceiving.
- Il ne faut pas mettre la charrue avant les bœufs.
- You must not put the cart before the horses.
- Meaning: Don’t do things out of order.
- Mieux vaut tard que jamais.
- Better late than never.
- Meaning: It’s better to do something late than not do it at all.
- Tout vient à point à qui sait attendre.
- Everything comes to those who wait.
- Meaning: Patience pays off.
- L’argent ne fait pas le bonheur.
- Money does not bring happiness.
- Meaning: Wealth does not guarantee joy.
- C’est en forgeant qu’on devient forgeron.
- It’s by forging that one becomes a blacksmith.
- Meaning: Practice makes perfect.
- Qui ne risque rien n’a rien.
- Who risks nothing, gains nothing.
- Meaning: You have to take risks to achieve something.
- Après la pluie, le beau temps.
- After the rain, good weather.
- Meaning: Difficult times will eventually pass.
- Loin des yeux, loin du cœur.
- Out of sight, out of mind.
- Meaning: Distance can weaken emotional connections.
- C’est le ton qui fait la musique.
- It’s the tone that makes the music.
- Meaning: How you say something is as important as what you say.
- Les bons comptes font les bons amis.
- Good accounts make good friends.
- Meaning: Clear agreements help maintain friendships.
- Petit à petit, l’oiseau fait son nid.
- Little by little, the bird builds its nest.
- Meaning: Great things are achieved gradually.
- Un malheur n’arrive jamais seul.
- Misfortunes never come alone.
- Meaning: Bad events often happen in succession.
- Qui veut voyager loin ménage sa monture.
- He who wants to travel far takes care of his mount.
- Meaning: Take care of your resources if you want to achieve long-term goals.
- L’amour est aveugle.
- Love is blind.
- Meaning: Love can make people overlook faults.
- Il n’y a pas de fumée sans feu.
- There is no smoke without fire.
- Meaning: Rumors usually have some basis in truth.
- C’est la goutte d’eau qui fait déborder le vase.
- It’s the drop of water that makes the vase overflow.
- Meaning: A small issue can trigger a larger problem.
- On ne fait pas d’omelette sans casser des œufs.
- You can’t make an omelet without breaking eggs.
- Meaning: Sacrifices are necessary to achieve something.
- Les extrêmes se touchent.
- Extremes meet.
- Meaning: Opposite situations can be more similar than they seem.
- À bon chat, bon rat.
- To a good cat, a good rat.
- Meaning: A worthy opponent is necessary for a fair competition.
- C’est la vie.
- That’s life.
- Meaning: Accepting the ups and downs of life.
- L’union fait la force.
- Unity is strength.
- Meaning: Working together leads to greater success.
- Chacun son goût.
- To each their own.
- Meaning: Everyone has their own preferences.
- Tant va la cruche à l’eau qu’à la fin elle se casse.
- The pitcher goes so often to the water that in the end it breaks.
- Meaning: Repeatedly taking risks can lead to failure.