B1 Idiom तटस्थ 3 मिनट पढ़ने का समय

rendre fou

To be questioned

शाब्दिक अर्थ: To render crazy

Use it when you feel overwhelmed or pestered to the point of losing your cool.

15 सेकंड में

  • Used when someone's constant questioning or behavior is overwhelming you.
  • Literally means 'to make crazy' but functions as 'to drive nuts'.
  • Highly versatile for both annoying people and frustrating situations.

मतलब

While it literally means 'to drive someone crazy,' in many contexts it describes being bombarded with questions or tasks until you feel overwhelmed. It is that feeling when someone won't stop pestering you for answers.

मुख्य उदाहरण

3 / 6
1

Being asked too many questions at once

Arrête de me poser toutes ces questions, tu me rends fou !

Stop asking me all these questions, you're driving me crazy!

💭
2

Dealing with a computer that won't work

Cet ordinateur va me rendre fou, il plante tout le temps.

This computer is going to drive me crazy, it crashes all the time.

😊
3

A colleague asking for constant updates

Ses mails incessants me rendent fou au travail.

His constant emails are driving me crazy at work.

💼
🌍

सांस्कृतिक पृष्ठभूमि

The French love a bit of drama in their speech, and 'rendre fou' is the perfect example of linguistic hyperbole. It traces back to the idea that external pressures can physically alter one's state of mind, a common theme in French existentialist thought. Today, it's the universal cry of the overworked Parisian or the pestered parent.

💡

Agreement is Key

Remember that 'fou' changes to 'folle' if the person being driven crazy is female. 'Elle me rend fou' (She drives me crazy) vs 'Il me rend folle' (He drives me crazy).

💬

The 'Chèvre' Alternative

If you want to sound very French and slightly whimsical, say 'Tu me rends chèvre'. It's a classic idiom that means the exact same thing.

15 सेकंड में

  • Used when someone's constant questioning or behavior is overwhelming you.
  • Literally means 'to make crazy' but functions as 'to drive nuts'.
  • Highly versatile for both annoying people and frustrating situations.

What It Means

At its heart, rendre fou means to drive someone insane. However, it is rarely about actual medical madness. It is about that buzzing, high-pressure feeling in your brain. Imagine a toddler asking 'Why?' for the fiftieth time. Or a boss asking for five different reports at once. You are being pushed to your limit. In the context of being questioned, it implies the interrogation is relentless. It is the verbal equivalent of a flickering lightbulb you cannot turn off.

How To Use It

You use this phrase to express frustration or intensity. It is a transitive verb phrase, so you need an object. You can say tu me rends fou (you are driving me crazy). You can also use it for situations, like ce bruit me rend fou (this noise is driving me crazy). When you feel like you are being interrogated, this is your go-to expression. It highlights the emotional toll of the questioning. It is punchy, effective, and very common in daily French life.

When To Use It

Use it when you feel overwhelmed by people's demands. It is perfect for a busy day at the office. Use it when your friends are digging too deep into your private life. It works well when you are stuck in a bureaucratic loop. Use it when someone keeps changing their mind. It is great for texting a friend about a stressful date. It captures the 'I can't take this anymore' vibe perfectly.

When NOT To Use It

Avoid using this in very solemn or tragic situations. Do not say it to a doctor during a serious mental health check-up. It is too hyperbolic for formal legal proceedings. Avoid it if you want to sound calm and collected. If you use it with a superior, make sure you have a close relationship. Otherwise, it might sound like you are complaining too much. It is an emotional phrase, so keep it for emotional moments.

Cultural Background

French culture values intellectual debate and sharp questioning. However, there is a fine line between a 'débat' and being 'rendu fou'. This expression reflects the French tendency for hyperbole. Everything is either 'magnifique' or 'catastrophique'. Being 'driven crazy' by questions is a classic Gallic shrug moment. It shows that you value your peace of mind. It has been a staple of French pop songs and cinema for decades.

Common Variations

You might hear rendre chèvre which literally means 'to turn someone into a goat'. It means the exact same thing but feels a bit more old-school. There is also faire tourner en bourrique, which is like being driven like a donkey. If you want to be more vulgar, you might hear rendre dingue. Rendre fou remains the most versatile and widely understood version. It is the 'Little Black Dress' of French frustration expressions.

इस्तेमाल की जानकारी

The phrase is neutral but leans toward informal in its usage. Always ensure the adjective 'fou' agrees in gender and number with the person being affected.

💡

Agreement is Key

Remember that 'fou' changes to 'folle' if the person being driven crazy is female. 'Elle me rend fou' (She drives me crazy) vs 'Il me rend folle' (He drives me crazy).

💬

The 'Chèvre' Alternative

If you want to sound very French and slightly whimsical, say 'Tu me rends chèvre'. It's a classic idiom that means the exact same thing.

⚠️

Don't use 'Faire'

English speakers often try to say 'faire fou' because they translate 'to make crazy' literally. In French, you must use 'rendre'.

उदाहरण

6
#1 Being asked too many questions at once
💭

Arrête de me poser toutes ces questions, tu me rends fou !

Stop asking me all these questions, you're driving me crazy!

A direct way to tell someone to back off with the interrogation.

#2 Dealing with a computer that won't work
😊

Cet ordinateur va me rendre fou, il plante tout le temps.

This computer is going to drive me crazy, it crashes all the time.

Applying the phrase to an object or situation rather than a person.

#3 A colleague asking for constant updates
💼

Ses mails incessants me rendent fou au travail.

His constant emails are driving me crazy at work.

Expressing professional frustration in a relatable way.

#4 Texting a friend about a confusing crush
😊

Il ne répond pas à mes messages, ça me rend folle !

He isn't answering my messages, it's driving me crazy!

Note the feminine agreement 'folle' for a female speaker.

#5 A funny moment with a hyperactive pet
😄

Ce chien est adorable mais il me rend fou !

This dog is adorable but he's driving me crazy!

A lighthearted, affectionate use of the idiom.

#6 Explaining a difficult task to a teacher
🤝

Cet exercice de grammaire me rend fou.

This grammar exercise is driving me crazy.

Neutral enough for a classroom setting if the tone is light.

खुद को परखो

Choose the correct form to say 'You (singular/informal) are driving me crazy'.

Tu me ___ fou.

✓ सही! ✗ बिलकुल नहीं। सही जवाब: rends

The verb 'rendre' is always used with 'fou' to mean 'to make' or 'to drive' someone into that state.

If a woman is saying she is being driven crazy, which form does she use?

Cette situation me rend ___.

✓ सही! ✗ बिलकुल नहीं। सही जवाब: folle

The adjective must agree with the person being made 'crazy'. 'Folle' is the feminine form.

🎉 स्कोर: /2

विज़ुअल लर्निंग टूल्स

Formality of 'Rendre Fou'

Very Informal

Using 'Rendre dingue' with best friends.

Tu me rends dingue, mec !

Neutral

Standard 'Rendre fou' in daily conversation.

Cette attente me rend fou.

Formal

Using 'Exaspérer' in a professional meeting.

Cette situation m'exaspère.

When to say 'Ça me rend fou'

Rendre Fou
💻

Tech Issues

The Wi-Fi is down again.

Interrogation

Parents asking about your grades.

🚗

Traffic

Stuck in a Parisian jam.

❤️

Love

Waiting for a crush to text.

अक्सर पूछे जाने वाले सवाल

10 सवाल

Not necessarily! It can mean you are frustrated, overwhelmed, or even 'crazy in love' depending on the tone.

Only if you have a very relaxed relationship. Otherwise, use c'est frustrant or c'est difficile.

The feminine form is folle. For example: Elle me rend folle.

No, it's neutral. It is perfectly acceptable in everyday conversation, though not in formal writing.

You say ça me rend fou or cela me rend fou.

Yes! Tu me rends fou de joie means you are driving me crazy with joy.

Dingue is more informal/slangy. Fou is the standard term.

Yes, if you are driving multiple people crazy, it's rendre fous. Example: Ces bruits nous rendent fous.

It implies the *result* of being questioned excessively, rather than the act of questioning itself.

You could use the verb exaspérer or pousser à bout.

संबंधित मुहावरे

Rendre chèvre

Faire tourner en bourrique

Sortir de ses gonds

Perdre la tête

Être à bout

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