Home › Idioms

avoir la chair de poule

Meaning: Experiencing fear, cold, or emotional reaction causing skin reaction.

Language: French

Literally: to have goosebumps

Category: Body & Senses

Origin: Physiological response of body hairs standing erect from cold or fear.

More idioms — Body & Senses

  • mettre son doigt sur la plaie — Identifying the exact problem or sensitive issue in a situation.
  • faire ses dents — A baby is teething and developing their first teeth.
  • avoir le compas dans l'oeil — Having excellent judgment of distance, measurement, or proportion.
  • avoir les pieds qui démangent — Wanting to travel or move to a different place.
  • avoir une peur bleue — Being terrified or extremely frightened of something.
  • avoir des étoiles dans les yeux — Being dreamy, hopeful, or enchanted by romantic ideals.

More French idioms

  • crier sur les toits — Announcing something publicly that should remain secret.
  • avoir un poisson d'avril — Being fooled by a prank or hoax on April 1st.
  • être une girouette — Being inconsistent, constantly changing opinions or allegiances.
  • faire la soupe à la grimace — Complaining or grumbling about something constantly.
  • être aux petits soins — Receiving attentive, careful treatment and consideration from someone.
  • montrer les dents — Displaying aggression, defiance, or readiness to fight.

← Back to Idioms

Loading the full interactive collection…