Hilarious French Idioms Using the French Word Chat

Because cats have been a presence in French households and businesses for centuries, references to them are common. Here are six of the most iconic French idioms using the French word for cat. Note that the French word for cat is un chat (silent t), when speaking generically or about a male cat. It is une chatte (t is pronounced) when speaking about a female cat. For both, the ch takes  the sh sound in shave, not the tch usually found in English.   Careful: The feminine word for cat (une chatte) has the same double entendre meaning as the English word pussy.   Appeler un chat un chat Translation: To call a cat a catMeaning: To say things as they are; to call a spade a spade   Patrice est un gros menteur. Il faut appeler un chat un chat.Patrice is a big liar. He needs to say things the way they are. Avoir un chat dans la gorge Translation:  To have a cat in the throatMeaning:  To have a frog in the throat, an excess of mucus Et je pense que... hum, hum.  Dà ©solà ©e, javais un chat dans la gorge.And I think that... hmm, hmm. Sorry, I had a frog in the throat. Donner sa langue au chat Translation:   To give your tongue to the catMeaning:  To not be able to guess. Careful: Its different from the English Cat got your tongue, which means to have nothing to say. Et alors? Qui vient dà ®ner demain ? Tu donnes ta langue au chat ? Cest Pierre!So? Who is coming for dinner tomorrow? You cant guess? Its Pierre! Quand le chat nest pas là  , les souris dansent. Translation:  When the cat is away, the mice dance.Meaning:  People misbehave without supervision. Careful: The verb is danser with an s in French, not like dance with a c in English.   Ton ado a fait la fà ªte toute la nuit quand vous à ©tiez partis le weekend dernier? Ce nest pas surprenant: Quand le chat nest pas là  , les souris dansent.Your teen partied all night while you were gone last weekend? This is not surprising: When the cat is away, the mice will play. Il ny a pas un chat. Translation:   There is not a cat (in sight).Meaning:  Ã¢â‚¬â€¹There is no one (or only a few people, but less than expected).​ Il ny avait pas un chat à   la rà ©union.There was no one at the meeting. Cest du pipi de chat. Translation:  Its cat pee.Meaning:  Its not important.​ Tes problà ¨mes à   cà ´tà © de ceux de Pierre, cest du pipi de chat!Your problems compared to Pierres are nothing!