boire comme un trou
To be successful
حرفيًا: To drink like a hole
Use this informally to describe someone drinking excessive alcohol, but never in professional or polite company.
في 15 ثانية
- Used to describe someone who drinks vast amounts of alcohol.
- Highly informal and can be perceived as critical or judgmental.
- The 'hole' implies the liquid never fills the person up.
المعنى
This phrase actually describes someone who drinks excessive amounts of alcohol without appearing to get drunk. It's like they have a hole in them where the liquid just disappears.
أمثلة رئيسية
3 من 6Gossiping about a party
Dis donc, ton pote a bu comme un trou hier soir !
Wow, your friend drank like a fish last night!
Warning a friend about a date
Fais attention, il paraît qu'il boit comme un trou.
Be careful, I heard he drinks like a fish.
A humorous observation at a wedding
Regarde l'oncle Jean, il boit encore comme un trou !
Look at Uncle Jean, he's drinking like a fish again!
خلفية ثقافية
This expression dates back several centuries and highlights the French fascination with capacity and tolerance. While wine is a staple of French life, 'boire comme un trou' carries a slightly derogatory weight, suggesting a lack of refinement or self-control. It is a staple of 'argot' (slang) that has remained popular across generations.
Watch your company
This phrase is very blunt. If you say it about someone in front of their family, it might be taken as an insult rather than a joke.
The Templar Alternative
If you want to sound a bit more 'old school', try `boire comme un templier`. It refers to the historical reputation of the Knights Templar for heavy drinking!
في 15 ثانية
- Used to describe someone who drinks vast amounts of alcohol.
- Highly informal and can be perceived as critical or judgmental.
- The 'hole' implies the liquid never fills the person up.
What It Means
Imagine someone pouring water into a bottomless pit. That is the visual here. When you say someone is boire comme un trou, you are saying they consume alcohol in massive quantities. It implies a high tolerance or a very long night of partying. It is not a compliment about being successful in life. It is a vivid description of heavy drinking.
How To Use It
You use it as a standard verb phrase. You can conjugate boire in any tense. For example, Il a bu comme un trou means he drank like a fish last night. It usually refers to a single event or a general habit. Use it when the amount of alcohol consumed is truly shocking to witnesses.
When To Use It
Use this with your close friends while gossiping about a wild party. It is perfect for describing that one cousin at a wedding who never leaves the bar. You might use it in a text message to warn someone about a heavy drinker. It works well when you are being descriptive or slightly judgmental about someone's habits. It is a very common idiom in social circles.
When NOT To Use It
Never use this in a professional setting or a job interview. It is way too blunt and focuses on alcohol. Do not use it to describe your boss to their face. Even though it is a common idiom, it can sound quite harsh or critical. Avoid using it in formal writing or academic essays. It is strictly for casual, spoken French among people you trust.
Cultural Background
France has a deep relationship with wine and spirits. While social drinking is normalized, the French also have many colorful ways to describe over-indulgence. The 'hole' metaphor suggests a body that cannot be filled. It has been used for centuries to describe those who seem immune to the effects of alcohol. It reflects a culture that observes drinking habits closely.
Common Variations
You might also hear boire comme une éponge (to drink like a sponge). Another common one is boire comme un templier (to drink like a Knight Templar). If someone is just a little tipsy, you would use être pompette instead. If they are totally wasted, you might say they are bourré. Boire comme un trou specifically focuses on the act of consuming the volume.
ملاحظات الاستخدام
This is a very informal expression. It should be reserved for casual conversations with friends or family where the tone is relaxed or slightly critical of someone's drinking habits.
Watch your company
This phrase is very blunt. If you say it about someone in front of their family, it might be taken as an insult rather than a joke.
The Templar Alternative
If you want to sound a bit more 'old school', try `boire comme un templier`. It refers to the historical reputation of the Knights Templar for heavy drinking!
Pluralizing
When talking about a group, remember to say `boire comme des trous`. The 'hole' becomes plural too!
أمثلة
6Dis donc, ton pote a bu comme un trou hier soir !
Wow, your friend drank like a fish last night!
A classic way to comment on someone's behavior at a social event.
Fais attention, il paraît qu'il boit comme un trou.
Be careful, I heard he drinks like a fish.
Used here as a warning about someone's reputation.
Regarde l'oncle Jean, il boit encore comme un trou !
Look at Uncle Jean, he's drinking like a fish again!
Lighthearted but still pointing out heavy drinking.
Je m'inquiète pour lui, il boit comme un trou depuis son divorce.
I'm worried about him, he's been drinking heavily since his divorce.
Shows the phrase can be used in a serious, concerned context.
J'ai trop mal à la tête... on a bu comme des trous.
My head hurts so much... we drank like fish.
Self-deprecating use in a casual text message.
Dans le roman, le détective boit comme un trou pour oublier.
In the novel, the detective drinks like a fish to forget.
Using the idiom to describe a character trait.
اختبر نفسك
Complete the sentence to describe someone who consumed a lot of wine.
Pendant la fête, Marc a ___ comme un trou.
The idiom specifically uses the verb 'boire' (to drink).
Choose the correct noun to complete the idiom.
Elle boit comme un ___.
The standard idiom is 'boire comme un trou' (to drink like a hole).
🎉 النتيجة: /2
وسائل تعلم بصرية
Formality Scale of 'Boire comme un trou'
Never use this in a meeting.
Consommer avec excès
Safe for general conversation.
Boire beaucoup
Perfect for friends and family.
Boire comme un trou
Where to use 'Boire comme un trou'
At a bar with friends
Regarde-le, il boit comme un trou !
Gossip at home
Ton voisin boit comme un trou.
Morning after a party
On a bu comme des trous hier.
Describing a movie character
Le héros boit comme un trou.
الأسئلة الشائعة
10 أسئلةNo, despite your initial note, this phrase has nothing to do with success. It strictly means drinking a lot of alcohol, like Il boit comme un trou.
It can be. It's very informal and often judgmental, so use it carefully. Saying Elle boit comme un trou suggests she has a drinking problem or no self-control.
Absolutely not. It is too slangy and the subject matter (excessive drinking) is unprofessional. Stick to Il boit beaucoup if you must mention it.
The closest English idiom is 'to drink like a fish'. Both imply a bottomless capacity for liquid.
No, it can be used for any alcohol, including beer or spirits. If someone is downing shots, you can say Ils boivent comme des trous.
Yes, you can say Il a une bonne descente, which is a bit more 'admiring' of their capacity, though still informal.
Technically you could, but it's 99% used for alcohol. Using it for water would sound like a very specific joke.
Just like the verb boire. For example: Je bois, Tu bois, Il boit, Nous buvons, etc., followed by comme un trou.
Yes, it is widely understood in France, Belgium, Switzerland, and Quebec, though regional alternatives exist.
Don't use this phrase. Use être éméché or être pompette. Boire comme un trou is about the volume consumed, not just the state of being drunk.
عبارات ذات صلة
Boire comme une éponge
To drink like a sponge (excessively)
Avoir une bonne descente
To be able to drink a lot
Être plein comme une barrique
To be as full as a barrel (very drunk)
Lever le coude
To lift the elbow (to drink frequently)
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