se composer le visage
Meaning: To adopt a serious or carefully studied expression suited to the circumstances.
Language: French
Literally: to compose oneself the face
Category: Body & Senses
Origin: Origin uncertain; the phrase pictures arranging one's face as deliberately as one would arrange a composition or artistic work.
More idioms — Body & Senses
- être de mauvais poil — To be in a bad mood or irritable disposition.
- se casser la figure — To fall to the ground; to have an accident or suffer a collapse.
- joindre le geste à la parole — To back up what you say with action; to keep your promises.
- se payer la tête de quelqu'un — To mock or ridicule someone.
- avoir les sangs tournés — To be profoundly shocked or horrified.
- fourrer son nez dans les affaires de quelqu'un — To meddle or pry indiscreetly into someone else's affairs.
More French idioms
- prendre le train en marche — To join opportunely in an action or endeavor already underway.
- aiguiser ses couteaux — To prepare oneself for conflict or confrontation.
- passer le Rubicon — To make a decisive, irrevocable commitment or choice with serious consequences.
- être à ramasser à la petite cuiller — To be completely exhausted, utterly without strength.
- casser le nez à coups d’encensoir — To offer someone clumsy, exaggerated, and insincere flattery to their face.
- péter une baloune — To cause deep disappointment; to shatter someone's illusions or hopes.
From our tongue twisters
- Dans ta tente ta tante t'attend. — A gentle 'ta / ten / tan / t'' warm-up that sounds faster than it reads.
- Seize chaises sèches sur seize arches sèches. — A relentless collision of 'sei', 'sèch', and 's' — the tongue can't find traction.
- Un beau ver vert dans un verre vert verra un ver vert. — Ver (worm), vert (green), and verre (glass) are near-homophones — distinguishing them at…