IdiomBody & Senses
French
FrenchDire ses quatre vérités à quelqu'un
Meaning: To tell someone exactly what is wrong with them.
Literally: To tell someone their four truths
Example: “Excédée, elle a dit ses quatre vérités à son colocataire.” — Fed up, she gave her roommate a piece of her mind.
English equivalent: To give someone a piece of one's mind
Equivalents in other languages
English: give someone a piece of one's mind
Origin: The four is the conventional round number of French idiom rather than a count, as in se mettre en quatre. It implies a complete accounting delivered in one go.
More French idioms
- Une lapalissade A statement so obvious it is comic — a truism.
- Prendre des vessies pour des lanternes To be grossly deceived about something.
- Être piqué de la tarentule To be seized by frantic, uncontrollable agitation.
- Tonnerre de Brest ! An exclamation of astonishment or annoyance.
- En voiture, Simone ! Right then, off we go.
- Une tempête dans un verre d'eau A great commotion over something trivial.
Explore another collection: Untranslatable Words
Words that capture a feeling or idea English needs a whole sentence for.
- L'esprit de l'escalier Thinking of the perfect comeback only after the moment has passed — on your way down the…
- Terroir The unique character that a place — its soil, climate and tradition — gives to a wine or…
- Râler To complain and grumble with a certain national flair — a beloved French pastime.
Keep exploring