IdiomBody & Senses
French
FrenchAvoir la chair de poule
Meaning: Experiencing fear, cold, or emotional reaction causing skin reaction.
Literally: To have hen's flesh
Example: “Rien qu'en repensant à ce film d'horreur, j'ai la chair de poule.” — Just thinking back to that horror movie gives me goosebumps.
Origin: When cold or fear makes the hairs on the skin stand up, the little bumps at their roots make human skin look like that of a plucked hen. The Académie française listed it in 1762, comparing it to the skin of a plucked hen and saying of anything that makes one shiver that it brings on la peau de poule, la chair de poule. English "goosebumps" uses a goose for the same skin.
More French idioms
- Crier sur les toits To announce something loudly and publicly, for everyone to hear.
- Faire un poisson d'avril To play an April Fools' prank on someone.
- Être une girouette Being inconsistent, constantly changing opinions or allegiances.
- Faire la soupe à la grimace To sulk; to give someone a sour, unwelcoming face, especially at home.
- Avoir la bougeotte To be restless; unable to stay put, always wanting to travel or move somewhere new.
- Être aux petits soins To wait on someone hand and foot; to lavish care and attention on them.
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