être à deux doigts de
To be lucky
Wörtlich: To be at two fingers of
Use this phrase to describe being seconds away from an action or a major life event.
In 15 Sekunden
- Means being on the very brink of something happening.
- Used with a verb or a noun to show imminence.
- Translates best as 'on the verge of' or 'inches away'.
Bedeutung
This phrase actually means you are very close to doing something or something is about to happen. It is like saying you are 'on the verge of' or 'inches away' from a result.
Wichtige Beispiele
3 von 6Texting a friend about a bad day
Je suis à deux doigts de démissionner !
I am inches away from quitting!
Watching a tense sports match
Il était à deux doigts de marquer un but.
He was so close to scoring a goal.
In a professional business meeting
Nous sommes à deux doigts d'un accord.
We are on the verge of an agreement.
Kultureller Hintergrund
The expression dates back to the 17th century. It uses the finger as a unit of measurement, similar to an 'inch' in English. It reflects the French tendency to use physical sensations to describe abstract concepts of time and probability.
The 'De' Rule
Always remember the 'de'. If the next word starts with a vowel, it becomes 'd' (e.g., 'd'arriver').
Not about Luck
Don't use this to mean you are a lucky person. Use it to say you almost caught a break or almost had a disaster.
In 15 Sekunden
- Means being on the very brink of something happening.
- Used with a verb or a noun to show imminence.
- Translates best as 'on the verge of' or 'inches away'.
What It Means
Imagine you are reaching for a goal. You are so close that only the width of two fingers separates you. That is être à deux doigts de. It describes being on the brink of an action or an event. It usually implies a sense of imminence or a narrow escape. Despite your initial prompt, it does not mean 'to be lucky' on its own. It means you are just a tiny step away from success, failure, or a big change.
How To Use It
You follow the phrase with a noun or an infinitive verb. If you use a verb, do not forget the de. For example: Je suis à deux doigts de partir. It is very flexible. You can use it for positive things like winning. You can also use it for negative things like quitting a job. It is all about that tiny physical distance between 'now' and 'then'.
When To Use It
Use it when the tension is high. Use it when you are frustrated and about to lose your cool. It is perfect for telling a friend you almost bought those expensive shoes. Use it in meetings to say a deal is almost signed. It adds drama to your storytelling. It makes the listener feel how close the moment was.
When NOT To Use It
Do not use this for things that are far away in time. If your vacation is in six months, this phrase feels wrong. It is for the immediate 'almost'. Avoid using it in extremely stiff, legal documents. It is a bit too descriptive and visual for a contract. Also, do not confuse it with being lucky. That would be avoir de la chance.
Cultural Background
French people love using body parts to describe distance or feelings. The 'two fingers' measure is an old way of visualizing a tiny gap. It feels very tactile and Gallic. It suggests that life is a game of centimeters. It has been used for centuries to show how thin the line is between two outcomes. It is a staple of French conversation because it is so expressive.
Common Variations
You might hear être à deux doigts du bonheur (to be inches from happiness). Sometimes people say passer à deux doigts de something. This means you narrowly missed it. For example, passer à deux doigts de l'accident. It is the same 'two finger' logic applied to a near-miss. It is a great way to sound like a local.
Nutzungshinweise
The phrase is neutral and very versatile. It requires the preposition 'de' before the following verb or noun. It is often used with 'être' (to be) or 'passer' (to pass/go).
The 'De' Rule
Always remember the 'de'. If the next word starts with a vowel, it becomes 'd' (e.g., 'd'arriver').
Not about Luck
Don't use this to mean you are a lucky person. Use it to say you almost caught a break or almost had a disaster.
The Visual Gesture
When French people say this, they often hold up their thumb and index finger close together to show the tiny gap!
Beispiele
6Je suis à deux doigts de démissionner !
I am inches away from quitting!
Shows high frustration and immediate intent.
Il était à deux doigts de marquer un but.
He was so close to scoring a goal.
Describes a near-miss in a physical activity.
Nous sommes à deux doigts d'un accord.
We are on the verge of an agreement.
Professional yet descriptive of the progress.
Je suis à deux doigts de manger tout le gâteau.
I'm this close to eating the whole cake.
Uses the phrase for a lighthearted temptation.
Elle était à deux doigts de pleurer.
She was on the verge of tears.
Captures the moment just before an emotion breaks through.
On est passé à deux doigts de la catastrophe.
We came within a hair's breadth of disaster.
Uses the 'passer' variation for a near-miss.
Teste dich selbst
Choose the correct preposition to follow the phrase.
Je suis à deux doigts ___ l'appeler.
The expression is always followed by 'de' before a noun or an infinitive verb.
Complete the phrase to mean 'on the verge of winning'.
Elle est à deux ___ de gagner.
The idiom specifically uses 'doigts' (fingers) to represent the small distance.
🎉 Ergebnis: /2
Visuelle Lernhilfen
Formality of 'être à deux doigts de'
Common in texting and venting to friends.
À deux doigts de tout lâcher !
Standard daily conversation and storytelling.
Il est à deux doigts de finir.
Used in journalism or professional updates.
Le pays est à deux doigts d'une crise.
When to use 'À deux doigts de'
Impulse Buy
Buying that expensive watch.
Success
Winning a race or game.
Frustration
Losing your patience.
Danger
Narrowly avoiding an accident.
Häufig gestellte Fragen
10 FragenNot exactly. It means you are very close to something. If that something is good, you might feel lucky, but the phrase itself just means 'on the brink'.
Yes! You can say J'étais à deux doigts de... to mean 'I was just about to...' or 'I almost did...'.
No, it is perfectly polite and neutral. You can use it with your boss or your grandmother without any issues.
Faillir (e.g., J'ai failli tomber) is more about a completed 'almost'. À deux doigts de emphasizes the tiny distance or the tension of the moment.
Yes, for example: être à deux doigts du succès (to be inches from success). Just remember to contract de + le into du.
You might hear être à ça (being 'this' close) while making a pinching gesture with your fingers.
Usually, it is used for actions or events, not literal physical distance between two cities. Use à deux pas for physical distance.
You can say J'étais à deux doigts de gagner. It sounds more dramatic than just saying you lost.
It is very common in journalism and novels to create suspense, like Le monde était à deux doigts de la guerre.
No, the expression is fixed as 'deux doigts'. Changing the number would make it sound like a mistake.
Verwandte Redewendungen
Passer à un cheveu de
To miss by a hair's breadth
Être sur le point de
To be about to
Frôler la catastrophe
To come close to disaster
À deux pas de
Very close (physically)
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