avoir le bras long
To have influence
Littéralement: To have the long arm
Use this to describe someone whose influence reaches further than their immediate circle through powerful connections.
En 15 secondes
- Used to describe someone with powerful social or professional connections.
- Implies the ability to get favors or influence difficult situations.
- Equivalent to saying someone 'has friends in high places.'
Signification
This phrase describes someone who has a lot of influence or 'reach.' It implies they have powerful connections that allow them to get things done or bypass red tape.
Exemples clés
3 sur 6Discussing a promotion
Il a eu le poste sans entretien, il faut dire qu'il a le bras long.
He got the job without an interview; it must be said he has a long arm.
Getting into a club
Ne t'inquiète pas pour la file d'attente, mon oncle a le bras long ici.
Don't worry about the line; my uncle has a lot of influence here.
Talking about a politician
Ce ministre a le bras assez long pour étouffer l'affaire.
This minister has a long enough arm to hush up the affair.
Contexte culturel
The phrase has roots in the idea of regal power, where a King's reach extended throughout his entire realm. In modern France, it reflects the importance of 'le réseau' (the network), especially within the political and business circles of Paris.
The 'Piston' Alternative
If you want to sound younger, use `piston`. Being `pistonné` means you got a job only because of your 'long arm' connections.
Careful with Context
This phrase can sometimes sound slightly negative, implying the person didn't earn their status fairly. Use it carefully around the person you're describing!
En 15 secondes
- Used to describe someone with powerful social or professional connections.
- Implies the ability to get favors or influence difficult situations.
- Equivalent to saying someone 'has friends in high places.'
What It Means
Imagine someone standing in the middle of a room. They can reach things far away without even moving. That is the essence of avoir le bras long. It is not about physical size. It is about social and professional reach. If you have the long arm, you know the right people. You can call a favor and get a job interview. You can get a table at a fully booked restaurant. It suggests a mix of power, networking, and influence.
How To Use It
You use it just like the verb avoir. You can say il a le bras long or elle a le bras long. It usually refers to a specific person. It is a great way to explain why someone is successful. It often implies that their success isn't just hard work. It is about who they know. Use it when you are gossiping or analyzing power dynamics.
When To Use It
Use this when discussing politics or big business. It is perfect for talking about that one friend who always gets VIP tickets. Use it at a café when discussing why a certain celebrity avoided a scandal. It works well in professional settings when discussing a powerful boss. It adds a bit of 'insider' flavor to your French. You sound like you understand how the world works.
When NOT To Use It
Do not use this for physical descriptions. If someone actually has long arms, just say il a de longs bras. Avoid using it in very formal, written legal documents. It is a bit too colorful for a contract. Also, do not use it for small, insignificant favors. If someone just lent you a pen, they do not have le bras long. That would be a bit dramatic, wouldn't it?
Cultural Background
This expression dates back to the 17th century. It originally referred to kings and monarchs. Their power could reach the furthest corners of their kingdom. Over time, it moved from royalty to the elite. In France, networking (le réseautage) is incredibly important. The French elite often come from the same schools. This 'long arm' is often a result of these tight-knit circles. It is a very 'Old World' way of looking at power.
Common Variations
You might hear avoir les bras longs (plural), but the singular is more common. A more modern, slang version is avoir du piston. This means having a 'pull' or a connection. While le bras long sounds a bit more classic, le piston is what students use. Both imply that it is not what you know, but who you know. Sometimes people just wink and touch their arm to imply it.
Notes d'usage
This is a neutral-to-informal idiom. It is widely understood and safe for most conversations, though it carries a hint of cynicism regarding how power works.
The 'Piston' Alternative
If you want to sound younger, use `piston`. Being `pistonné` means you got a job only because of your 'long arm' connections.
Careful with Context
This phrase can sometimes sound slightly negative, implying the person didn't earn their status fairly. Use it carefully around the person you're describing!
The Silent Gesture
In France, you can sometimes just tap your forearm with your other hand to signal that someone has 'the long arm' without saying a word.
Exemples
6Il a eu le poste sans entretien, il faut dire qu'il a le bras long.
He got the job without an interview; it must be said he has a long arm.
Suggests the promotion was due to connections rather than merit.
Ne t'inquiète pas pour la file d'attente, mon oncle a le bras long ici.
Don't worry about the line; my uncle has a lot of influence here.
A casual way to show off a connection.
Ce ministre a le bras assez long pour étouffer l'affaire.
This minister has a long enough arm to hush up the affair.
Used in a serious, slightly cynical political context.
Tu connais le maire ? T'as le bras long toi !
You know the mayor? You've got some reach!
Playful teasing between friends.
Même pour une baguette, il appelle le patron. Il croit qu'il a le bras long !
Even for a baguette, he calls the owner. He thinks he's got influence!
Mocking someone who thinks they are more important than they are.
On ne peut rien faire contre lui, il a le bras trop long.
We can't do anything against him; his reach is too long.
Expressing a sense of helplessness against a powerful person.
Teste-toi
Choose the correct verb to complete the idiom.
Elle ___ le bras long dans le milieu du cinéma.
The idiom uses the verb `avoir` (to have).
Which body part completes the expression for influence?
Il a le ___ long.
`Le bras` (the arm) represents the reach of one's influence.
🎉 Score : /2
Aides visuelles
Formality of 'Avoir le bras long'
Pistonné / Avoir du piston
Il est trop pistonné.
Avoir le bras long
T'as le bras long, toi !
Avoir de l'entregent / Être influent
C'est un homme très influent.
When to use 'Le bras long'
Job Hunting
Getting a referral from a CEO.
Legal Trouble
Knowing a top lawyer or judge.
VIP Access
Skipping the line at a concert.
Politics
Passing a law through friends.
Questions fréquentes
10 questionsNo, it has nothing to do with height. It refers strictly to social influence and connections, like Il a le bras long dans cette ville.
Not necessarily, but it can be. It often implies that someone uses their connections to get advantages others don't have.
It is a bit too idiomatic for a formal email. Better to use avoir des relations or être influent in a business letter.
The closest equivalents are 'to have friends in high places' or 'to have a lot of pull'.
No, avoir le bras court isn't a standard expression. To say someone has no influence, you'd just say il n'a aucun pouvoir.
It is completely gender-neutral. You can say elle a le bras long just as easily as il a le bras long.
It's a classic, but still very much in use. You will hear it on the news and in daily conversation.
Sometimes. It suggests that rules might be bent because of who the person knows, like grâce à son bras long, il a évité l'amende.
You can, but it might sound a bit boastful. It's better to use it to describe someone else's power.
Le bras long is the influence itself; le piston is the act of using that influence to get someone a job or favor.
Expressions liées
Être bien placé
Avoir du piston
Être dans les petits papiers de quelqu'un
Avoir ses entrées
Commentaires (0)
Connectez-vous pour CommenterCommencez à apprendre les langues gratuitement
Commence Gratuitement