ne pas avoir les yeux en face des trous
To be wrong
بهطور تحتاللفظی: Not to have the eyes in front of the holes
Use this to humorously explain why you missed something obvious because you are tired or distracted.
در ۱۵ ثانیه
- Used when you miss something obvious due to tiredness.
- Literally means your eyes don't line up with their holes.
- Perfect for morning brain fog or silly mistakes.
معنی
It means you are failing to see something obvious right in front of you. It is usually because you are tired, distracted, or just having a 'brain fog' moment.
مثالهای کلیدی
3 از 6Looking for keys that are in your hand
Désolé, je n'avais pas les yeux en face des trous !
Sorry, I wasn't seeing straight!
Waking up early for a trip
Il est 5h du matin, je n'ai vraiment pas les yeux en face des trous.
It's 5 AM, I'm really not firing on all cylinders.
A colleague notices a typo in your draft
Oups, je n'avais pas les yeux en face des trous en relisant.
Oops, I must have been cross-eyed when I proofread that.
زمینه فرهنگی
This idiom emerged in French popular slang around the 1930s. it treats the human head like a machine where parts can occasionally slip out of alignment. It is a staple of 'français familier' and captures the self-deprecating humor typical of French daily life.
Drop the 'Ne'
In real-life French, people almost always say 'J'ai pas' instead of 'Je n'ai pas'. It makes you sound much more like a local.
Not for Serious Errors
Don't use this if you've caused a serious accident. It sounds like you're making light of a grave situation.
در ۱۵ ثانیه
- Used when you miss something obvious due to tiredness.
- Literally means your eyes don't line up with their holes.
- Perfect for morning brain fog or silly mistakes.
What It Means
Imagine your eyes are slightly misaligned with your eye sockets. You are looking, but you aren't actually seeing. It describes that relatable moment when you lose your keys while holding them. Or when you miss a giant typo in an email. It is about a lack of focus or clarity.
How To Use It
You use this phrase to excuse a silly mistake. It is almost always used in the negative: ne pas avoir les yeux en face des trous. You can conjugate the verb avoir to fit whoever is being unobservant. For example, Je n'ai pas les yeux en face des trous ce matin means you need more coffee.
When To Use It
Use it when you are exhausted after a long flight. Use it when you are hunting for the butter in the fridge and your partner finds it instantly. It is perfect for lighthearted self-deprecation. It works well among friends, family, or close colleagues who won't mind a bit of humor.
When NOT To Use It
Avoid this in high-stakes professional environments. If you make a massive financial error, don't tell your CEO you didn't have your eyes in front of the holes. It sounds a bit too casual and flippant for serious negligence. Also, don't use it to describe someone who is actually visually impaired; that would be quite rude!
Cultural Background
This expression dates back to the early 20th century. It plays on the mechanical idea of the body. Think of a camera lens that isn't lined up with the shutter. If the 'eyes' (the lenses) don't match the 'holes' (the sockets), the image is blurry. It reflects the French love for using physical metaphors to describe mental states.
Common Variations
You might hear people simply say J'ai pas les yeux en face des trous. In spoken French, we often drop the ne. If you are really struggling, you might add ce matin or aujourd'hui to emphasize that it is a temporary state of clumsiness.
نکات کاربردی
This is a quintessential 'everyday' French phrase. It sits comfortably in the informal register—perfect for friends, family, and casual work environments, but too relaxed for a formal speech or a first meeting with a superior.
Drop the 'Ne'
In real-life French, people almost always say 'J'ai pas' instead of 'Je n'ai pas'. It makes you sound much more like a local.
Not for Serious Errors
Don't use this if you've caused a serious accident. It sounds like you're making light of a grave situation.
The 'Holes' Secret
The 'holes' in the phrase refer to the orbits of the skull. It's a slightly macabre but funny image of a skeleton with misaligned eyes!
مثالها
6Désolé, je n'avais pas les yeux en face des trous !
Sorry, I wasn't seeing straight!
A classic way to apologize for a minor, silly oversight.
Il est 5h du matin, je n'ai vraiment pas les yeux en face des trous.
It's 5 AM, I'm really not firing on all cylinders.
Refers to the physical grogginess of early mornings.
Oups, je n'avais pas les yeux en face des trous en relisant.
Oops, I must have been cross-eyed when I proofread that.
Softens the mistake by blaming temporary fatigue.
J'ai versé le jus d'orange dans les céréales... j'ai pas les yeux en face des trous lol.
I poured orange juice in my cereal... my brain is not working lol.
The 'ne' is dropped for a natural texting vibe.
Je suis fatigué, je ne vais pas tarder, je n'ai plus les yeux en face des trous.
I'm tired, I'm heading out soon, I can't even see straight anymore.
Expresses a need to rest because concentration is gone.
Si je fais une erreur, c'est que je n'ai pas les yeux en face des trous aujourd'hui !
If I make a mistake, it's because I'm not seeing straight today!
Shows a relaxed, human side of leadership.
خودت رو بسنج
Complete the sentence to explain why you missed the exit on the highway.
Je suis désolé, je suis fatigué et je n'ai pas les ___ en face des trous.
The phrase specifically uses 'yeux' (eyes) to refer to the lack of visual focus.
Which verb is used in this idiom?
Tu ___ pas les yeux en face des trous ce matin ?
The expression uses the verb 'avoir' (to have).
🎉 امتیاز: /2
ابزارهای بصری یادگیری
When to use 'Les yeux en face des trous'
Texting friends after a party.
J'ai pas les yeux en face des trous.
Talking to family or close coworkers.
Je n'ai pas les yeux en face des trous ce matin.
Job interview or legal meeting.
Not recommended.
Common Scenarios
Morning Grogginess
Pouring salt in coffee
Extreme Fatigue
After a 12-hour shift
Distraction
Missing a red light (as a pedestrian)
Brain Fog
Forgetting your own phone number
سوالات متداول
10 سوالIt literally means 'to not have the eyes in front of the holes.' It implies your eyeballs aren't lined up with your sockets.
Not at all, as long as you use it about yourself or people you know well. It is a very common, friendly idiom.
Yes, with colleagues you are comfortable with. For example, Je n'avais pas les yeux en face des trous sur ce dossier.
You could say Je manque de concentration or Je suis distrait, but they aren't as colorful.
Yes, it is almost exclusively used with ne... pas. Saying you *do* have your eyes in front of the holes sounds very strange.
No, it's about mental focus and tiredness, not your actual eyesight or prescription.
You can say Je suis crevé, je n'ai plus les yeux en face des trous.
It is considered 'familier' (informal), which is one step above slang. It's safe for most everyday conversations.
Yes, like Tu n'as pas les yeux en face des trous ? if a friend misses something obvious.
Usually in the morning (ce matin) or late at night when everyone is exhausted.
عبارات مرتبط
Être dans le pâté
To be out of it / groggy
Avoir la tête dans le cul
To have one's head up one's ass (very vulgar, meaning very tired)
Être à l'ouest
To be spaced out / in another world
Avoir un coup de barre
To have a sudden bout of exhaustion
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