arriver comme un cheveu sur la soupe
To be under pressure
Wörtlich: To arrive like a hair on the soup
Use this when someone shows up or says something that totally kills the current vibe.
In 15 Sekunden
- Used for things that happen at the most awkward time possible.
- Describes something or someone that is completely out of place.
- Think of it as the ultimate social 'bad timing' phrase.
Bedeutung
This phrase describes something that happens at the worst possible moment. It is used when someone or something arrives in a way that is awkward, unexpected, or completely out of place.
Wichtige Beispiele
3 von 6A friend interrupts a private conversation
On parlait de son cadeau et il est arrivé comme un cheveu sur la soupe.
We were talking about his gift and he showed up at the worst possible moment.
A technical glitch during a presentation
Cette panne d'ordinateur arrive comme un cheveu sur la soupe.
This computer crash happened at a really bad time.
Texting a friend about an unwanted guest
Marc est là... il tombe comme un cheveu sur la soupe, celui-là !
Marc is here... he really has a knack for showing up uninvited!
Kultureller Hintergrund
The phrase highlights the French obsession with timing and social harmony. It originated in the 1800s, emphasizing how a small, misplaced detail can ruin an entire experience. It remains one of the most popular idioms for describing social 'faux pas' in modern France.
The 'Tomber' variation
Use `tomber` instead of `arriver` if you want to sound more spontaneous. It implies the event literally 'fell' into the situation.
Don't be too literal
If you actually find a hair in your soup at a restaurant, don't use this phrase to complain to the waiter. Just say `Il y a un cheveu dans ma soupe`!
In 15 Sekunden
- Used for things that happen at the most awkward time possible.
- Describes something or someone that is completely out of place.
- Think of it as the ultimate social 'bad timing' phrase.
What It Means
Imagine you are enjoying a delicious, creamy bowl of soup. Suddenly, you spot a single, long hair floating right on top. It is gross, right? It does not belong there. It ruins the moment. In French, arriver comme un cheveu sur la soupe describes exactly that feeling. It refers to a person or a comment that appears at a time when they are not wanted. It is about being the 'odd one out' or showing up when the timing is incredibly awkward.
How To Use It
You use this phrase as a verb. You can say someone arrive or something tombe (falls) like a hair on the soup. It acts as an adverbial phrase to describe the timing of an event. You do not need to change much. Just conjugate the verb arriver to match who is being awkward. It is perfect for those 'cringe' moments we all experience.
When To Use It
Use it when a friend walks in while you are gossiping about them. Use it when your boss asks for a report right as you are heading out for vacation. It is great for social blunders. If you are at a party and someone brings up a sad topic during a toast, that comment arrive comme un cheveu sur la soupe. It highlights the contrast between the current mood and the new, unwelcome element.
When NOT To Use It
Do not use this for things that are actually good surprises. If a friend brings you pizza unexpectedly, that is not a hair in the soup! Also, avoid it in very tragic or dire situations. It has a slightly lighthearted, observational tone. Using it at a funeral would be too flippant. It is for social awkwardness, not for genuine disasters or deep grief.
Cultural Background
This expression dates back to the 19th century. In French culinary culture, soup is a staple of the meal. It represents comfort and order. A hair is the ultimate symbol of something 'out of place' in a kitchen. It represents a lack of hygiene or care. Over time, the physical disgust of finding a hair turned into a metaphor for social clumsiness. It reflects the French love for etiquette and 'le bon moment' (the right moment).
Common Variations
You might hear people say venir comme un cheveu sur la soupe or tomber comme un cheveu sur la soupe. Both mean the same thing. The verb tomber (to fall) adds a bit more emphasis on the suddenness of the intrusion. Sometimes, people just say 'C’est le cheveu sur la soupe' to point out the awkward element itself. It is a classic idiom that every French person knows.
Nutzungshinweise
This is an informal to neutral expression. It is highly evocative and common in daily conversation, but avoid using it in high-stakes formal writing where more precise language is expected.
The 'Tomber' variation
Use `tomber` instead of `arriver` if you want to sound more spontaneous. It implies the event literally 'fell' into the situation.
Don't be too literal
If you actually find a hair in your soup at a restaurant, don't use this phrase to complain to the waiter. Just say `Il y a un cheveu dans ma soupe`!
The French and Food
Many French idioms involve food (bread, soup, carrots). It shows how central the dining table is to French social logic.
Beispiele
6On parlait de son cadeau et il est arrivé comme un cheveu sur la soupe.
We were talking about his gift and he showed up at the worst possible moment.
The person arrived right when they shouldn't have.
Cette panne d'ordinateur arrive comme un cheveu sur la soupe.
This computer crash happened at a really bad time.
The timing of the crash is inconvenient.
Marc est là... il tombe comme un cheveu sur la soupe, celui-là !
Marc is here... he really has a knack for showing up uninvited!
Expressing annoyance at someone's bad timing.
Sa blague est arrivée comme un cheveu sur la soupe pendant la réunion.
His joke was completely out of place during the meeting.
The humor didn't fit the serious mood.
Cette facture arrive comme un cheveu sur la soupe juste avant les vacances.
This bill comes at a terrible time right before the holidays.
Financial bad timing.
Je m'excuse, mon commentaire est arrivé comme un cheveu sur la soupe.
I apologize, my comment was quite out of place.
Acknowledging one's own awkwardness.
Teste dich selbst
Choose the correct verb to complete the idiom.
Ta remarque ___ comme un cheveu sur la soupe !
The standard idiom uses 'arriver' or 'tomber' to describe the awkward arrival of something.
Complete the phrase with the correct object.
Il est venu comme un cheveu sur la ___.
The literal image is a hair on a soup, representing something unwanted in a meal.
🎉 Ergebnis: /2
Visuelle Lernhilfen
Formality of 'Arriver comme un cheveu sur la soupe'
Too descriptive for pure street slang.
N/A
Perfect for friends and family.
Tu arrives comme un cheveu sur la soupe !
Common in everyday office talk.
Cela arrive comme un cheveu sur la soupe.
A bit too colorful for a legal document.
N/A
When to use this expression
Awkward Meeting
A phone rings during a moment of silence.
Unwanted Guest
Your ex walks into the bar while you're on a date.
Bad News
The car breaks down on the way to a wedding.
Out of Place Comment
Someone asks about the bill during a romantic dinner.
Häufig gestellte Fragen
10 FragenNo, that is a common mistranslation. It specifically means something is happening at an awkward or inappropriate time, like arriver au mauvais moment.
It can be! If you tell someone Tu arrives comme un cheveu sur la soupe, you are telling them they are unwelcome or in the way.
Yes, an event or an object can 'arrive' this way. For example, Cette pluie arrive comme un cheveu sur la soupe if it starts raining during your picnic.
The closest equivalents are 'out of the blue' (if it's unexpected) or 'at the worst possible time'.
Not at all. It is a 'timeless' idiom. You will hear it from teenagers and grandparents alike.
It is better to use it in spoken professional contexts. In a very formal email, you might prefer Cela arrive de manière inopportune.
Sometimes people just roll their eyes and say Le cheveu sur la soupe... when something awkward happens, but usually, the full phrase is used.
Almost always. It implies a lack of harmony. Even if the thing itself isn't 'bad', its timing makes it annoying.
Only if you are teasing them about their bad timing. Ah, tu arrives comme un cheveu sur la soupe, toi !
No, that is an English idiom about drinking. The French one is strictly about soup and bad timing.
Verwandte Redewendungen
Tomber à pic
To happen at the perfect time (the opposite of our phrase).
Mettre les pieds dans le plat
To put one's foot in it / to be blunt.
Arriver à l'improviste
To show up unannounced.
Hors de propos
Irrelevant or out of place.
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