se casser la binette
To be mistaken
Literalmente: To break one's little face (or mug)
Use it to describe a clumsy fall or a failed plan in a lighthearted, informal way.
Em 15 segundos
- A playful way to say someone fell down physically.
- Can describe a project or plan failing completely.
- Uses the cute slang word 'binette' for face or head.
Significado
While it literally sounds like breaking a face, it actually means to fall down or fail miserably. It is a colorful way to say you tripped or that a plan crashed and burned.
Exemplos-chave
3 de 6Tripping on the street
Fais attention au trottoir, tu vas te casser la binette !
Watch out for the sidewalk, you're going to fall!
Talking about a failed cake
Mon beau gâteau s'est cassé la binette en sortant du four.
My beautiful cake collapsed coming out of the oven.
Discussing a business failure
Leur nouvelle application s'est vraiment cassé la binette.
Their new app really crashed and burned.
Contexto cultural
The term 'binette' dates back to the 1800s and refers to a small hoe. It became a slang term for the face because of the way people lean their heads while gardening. It is a quintessentially 'old-school' French expression that remains popular for its mild, humorous tone.
The 'Cute' Factor
Using 'binette' instead of 'figure' makes you sound more like a native who knows the charming, older nuances of the language.
Watch the Gueule
While 'se casser la gueule' is more common among young people, it can be seen as aggressive or rude in mixed company. 'Binette' is much safer.
Em 15 segundos
- A playful way to say someone fell down physically.
- Can describe a project or plan failing completely.
- Uses the cute slang word 'binette' for face or head.
What It Means
Imagine you are walking and suddenly trip over a sidewalk crack. In French, you wouldn't just fall; you would se casser la binette. The word binette is an old-fashioned, cute term for your face or head. So, you are literally 'breaking your face.' It describes a physical tumble or a metaphorical failure. If your new business venture flops, you also se casser la binette.
How To Use It
You use this phrase like a reflexive verb. This means you need to include the pronoun that matches the subject. For example, Je me suis cassé la binette means 'I fell.' It is very common in the past tense because we usually talk about falls after they happen. You can use it for yourself, your friends, or even objects. If a vase falls off a shelf, it se casse la binette too!
When To Use It
Use this when you want to be descriptive and a bit funny. It is perfect for telling a story about a clumsy moment. If you are hiking with friends and someone slips, this phrase lightens the mood. It is also great for texting. It sounds much more natural than the clinical verb tomber (to fall). Use it when a project fails despite your best efforts.
When NOT To Use It
Avoid this phrase in very serious or tragic situations. If someone is seriously injured, 'breaking their little face' sounds insensitive. Do not use it in a formal medical report. Also, avoid it in high-level corporate presentations about serious financial losses. It is too colorful for a board meeting with the CEO. Stick to échouer for professional failures.
Cultural Background
The word binette originally referred to a gardening tool used for weeding. In the 19th century, French slang started using garden terms for body parts. Your head became a 'pot' or a 'hoe' (binette). It reflects the French love for using agricultural metaphors in daily life. It feels nostalgic and slightly rural, like something a French grandmother might say with a wink.
Common Variations
You might hear se casser la figure, which is the most common version. If you want to be more vulgar, people say se casser la gueule. That one is very common among young people but can be rude. Se casser le nez is another variation used specifically when you fail to meet someone or reach a goal. Se casser la binette remains the most charming and 'safe' informal option.
Notas de uso
This phrase sits perfectly in the 'informal but safe' category. Use it with friends, family, and casual acquaintances to sound like a local without being vulgar.
The 'Cute' Factor
Using 'binette' instead of 'figure' makes you sound more like a native who knows the charming, older nuances of the language.
Watch the Gueule
While 'se casser la gueule' is more common among young people, it can be seen as aggressive or rude in mixed company. 'Binette' is much safer.
Garden Roots
Many French insults and body parts are garden-themed. Your 'citrouille' is your head, and your 'binette' is your face!
Exemplos
6Fais attention au trottoir, tu vas te casser la binette !
Watch out for the sidewalk, you're going to fall!
A classic warning to a friend who isn't looking where they are going.
Mon beau gâteau s'est cassé la binette en sortant du four.
My beautiful cake collapsed coming out of the oven.
Used here to describe an object failing or falling apart.
Leur nouvelle application s'est vraiment cassé la binette.
Their new app really crashed and burned.
A metaphorical use for a commercial failure.
Je me suis cassé la binette dans les escaliers ce matin.
I took a tumble in the stairs this morning.
Informal but acceptable for work friends.
Mdr, je me suis cassé la binette devant tout le monde !
Lmao, I fell flat on my face in front of everyone!
Self-deprecating humor in a digital context.
Oh là là, il va se casser la binette s'il court comme ça.
Oh boy, he's going to fall if he runs like that.
Commonly used by parents as a gentle warning.
Teste-se
Complete the sentence with the correct reflexive pronoun.
Fais attention, tu vas ___ casser la binette !
Since the subject is 'tu', the reflexive pronoun must be 'te'.
Choose the best word to complete this common idiom.
Elle a glissé sur le verglas et s'est cassé la ___.
'Binette' is the correct slang term for face in this specific idiom.
🎉 Pontuação: /2
Recursos visuais
Formality Scale of Falling Expressions
Chuter / Tomber
Il a fait une chute.
Tomber par terre
Je suis tombé.
Se casser la binette
Je me suis cassé la binette.
Se casser la gueule
Il s'est cassé la gueule.
When to say 'Se casser la binette'
Clumsy trip
Tripping over a rug
Project failure
A startup going bankrupt
Object falling
A stack of books falling
Sports mishap
Slipping while skiing
Perguntas frequentes
10 perguntasNot at all! It is informal and playful. It is much softer than saying se casser la gueule.
Probably not. It is better suited for spoken conversation or casual texts with colleagues you know well.
No, it can also mean a metaphorical failure, like a project or a business that se casse la binette.
Literally, it is a small gardening hoe. In this context, it is old slang for 'face' or 'head'.
It uses 'être' because it is reflexive. For example: Elle s'est cassé la binette.
Yes, though it feels slightly more 'Old France.' In Quebec, you might hear different variations like se pèter la fiole.
Only if the injury is minor. If it is a serious accident, using such a playful phrase would be inappropriate.
Yes, se casser la figure is the most standard informal version of this expression.
It is a dramatic way to describe the impact of a fall, similar to the English 'break a leg' but for falling down.
Yes! If a picture frame falls off the wall, you can say Il s'est cassé la binette.
Frases relacionadas
Se casser la figure
To fall down (standard informal)
Se prendre une pelle
To take a hard fall/trip (slang)
Tomber dans les pommes
To faint or pass out
Échouer lamentablement
To fail miserably (formal)
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