Compliment or insultInsultFrench

T'as pas inventé le fil à couper le beurre

Meaning: You're not exactly a genius — the wire to cut butter is about the most obvious tool imaginable.

Literally: You didn't invent the wire to cut butter

Origin: One of France's favourite gentle put-downs for someone who isn't the sharpest.

More compliments & insults — Insult

  • Tête de mule An impossibly stubborn person who refuses to change their mind no matter what.
  • C'est une vraie chèvre They're hopelessly stubborn and infuriating — a goat that refuses to be moved.
  • Casse-pieds A massive bore or pain in the neck — someone who wears you down with their irritating way…
  • Espèce de patate You dim bulb — a potato being the very picture of inert, unthinking stodginess.
  • Quel râleur / quelle râleuse You never stop moaning — everything is a complaint, nothing is ever good enough.
  • Peau de vache A mean, difficult, and unpleasant person — tough and unyielding like tanned hide.

More French compliments & insults

Explore another collection: False Friends

Words that look familiar in another language but mean something else entirely.

  • Monnaie Actually means 'change' or 'coins'. Money in general is l'argent.
  • Sensible Actually means 'sensitive'. For sensible/level-headed, say raisonnable.
  • Librairie Actually means 'bookshop'. A library is une bibliothèque.

Browse all false friends →

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