Not to be taken literally

Want to impress with your French? Use idioms. Even if you sometimes have to forget the literal meaning.

Do you want someone to stop bragging? Then say: arrête de te la péter!

Literally: Stop blowing yourself up.
The meaning in French: Stop bragging.

Are you annoyed by someone? Then you can say: faire chier quelqu’un.

Literally: To poop on someone.
The meaning in French: A vulgar expression for making someone angry or annoying them.

A cute raccoon is called a raton laveur in French.

Literally: Washing rat.
The meaning in French: Raccoon.