Using the Common French Expression Casser Les Pieds

Using the Common French Expression 'Casser Les Pieds' The French expression casser les pieds quelquun is a weird one, a true idiom that doesnt directly translate. Phrased correctly, it means to annoy someone. This expression has evolved from casser la cervelle to casser les oreilles to casser les pieds, with the meaning of casser being more to crush than to break. It is a very commonly-used expression in French. Il me casse les pieds avec ses problà ¨mes He really annoys/bores me with his problems. The idea behind casser les pieds is more annoyance than boredom. But its used with both meanings. Note that the construction requires an indirect object pronoun. This means the expression is used with words such as me, te, lui, nous, vous, and leur. Idioms are tricky in every language. In French, its not usual to say break a leg to wish good luck to someone, for example. Casser les Pieds This is an odd-looking idiom. If you say casser les pieds quelquun, it means to annoy/bore someone. If you say casser les pieds DE quelquun its physical, and it means you broke someones feet. On jouait au foot...Pierre a tirà © dans le ballon en mà ªme temps que moi. Il ma donnà © un grand coup de pied et il ma cassà © le pied. We were playing soccer...Peter shot the ball at the same time as I did. He kicked me hard and broke my foot. Pierre a passà © la soirà ©e me raconter ses problà ¨mes de coeur, et quand je lui ai dit darrà ªter, il est allà © casser les pieds quelquun dautre. Pierre spent the evening telling me his love problems, and when I told him to stop, he went on to annoy someone else. Synonyms There are a number of synonyms for this phase, including some very common vulgar options that appear in everyday French language and pop culture. Boredom Sennuyer (very common) Sennuyer comme un rat mort, or like a dead rat, which means to be very bored. (Common expression) Se faire chier (very common vulgar slang) Annoyance Ennuyer, agacer, exaspà ©rer, importuner (quite formal) quelquun. Casser les oreilles quelquun meeans literally to break someones ears, but this expression is mostly used when someone talks too much. Faire chier quelquun (very common vulgar slang)