Have you heard of “idiomatic expressions”? These are figurative expressions specific to French, that are usually not translatable directly, as each language uses its own references! Therefore, you need to learn them directly in the language, as well as learning French equivalents to the ones you use in English! Knowing idiomatic expressions is key when learning a new language and it will definitely help you sound like a true Français 😊
✍️ Today’s French expression is:
“Péter dans la soie”
Figuratively: “To live in luxury”
👂 Here’s a mini-podcast about it!
Want to learn more about this fun expression, what it means, and hear some in-context examples? Then listen to Aurélie and Céline‘s related mini-podcast below:
🎠 Some context
“Péter dans la soie” is a rather vivid French idiom meaning “to live in luxury/ to be well-off”. The image plays on the contrast between the rather crude action of farting and the refined fabric silk, a symbol of wealth and luxury. In other words, even one’s least dignified moments are cushioned by comfort: nothing seems to ruffle them. This expression is deliberately mocking the rich and their cushy, privileged lives. You can also use it to chastise someone whose behaviour is rather brash or smug.
👀 How about some examples?
To help you commit this expression to memory, here are some useful examples of how to use it in context:
- – Tu as vu la nouvelle maison de vacances de Cédric ?
– Oui, il pète vraiment dans la soie !
- En grandissant, mon meilleur ami Simon était riche. Sa famille pétait dans la soie.
- Si j’arrive à devenir directeur d’une grande entreprise, je péterai dans la soie !
- – Henri se plaint toujours de n’avoir jamais assez d’argent !
– Ah bon ? Pourtant avec son bonus de banquier, il devrait péter dans la soie !
🙌 Now is your time to shine!
Challenge yourself to use this expression in a French conversation or piece of writing, and let us know how your French friends reacted to it in the comments 🙂
À toi de jouer !
Author info
For over ten years now, Céline has been teaching French and Italian to students of all ages and abilities in the UK. This French native speaker comes from Brittany, and likes crafts, Breton dance (of course!) and Breton music which she actually played for four years. She also has a fondness for European cinema and British History.
Aurélie is our resident French Expert. She has created most of the wonderful content you see on the site and is usually the person answering your tricky help questions. She comes from a small village near Chartres in Central France, country of cereal fields and not much else. She left (in a hurry) to study English at the world-famous Sorbonne in Paris, before leaving France in 2007 to experience the “London lifestyle” - and never looked back! She's worked as a professional French teacher, translator and linguist in the UK since. She loves to share her love of languages and is a self-professed cinema and literature geek!