casser les pieds
To get on someone's nerves
字面意思: To break the feet
Use it to express frustration with someone's annoying behavior in casual, everyday social situations.
15秒了解
- Use it when someone is being annoying or boring.
- Literally means 'to break the feet' but implies deep irritation.
- Safe for friends and family, but too blunt for bosses.
意思
Imagine someone is literally stepping on your feet or kicking your shins repeatedly. It describes that specific feeling of being annoyed, pestered, or bored to death by someone.
关键例句
3 / 6Complaining about a sibling
Arrête de chanter, tu me casses les pieds !
Stop singing, you're getting on my nerves!
Discussing a boring meeting
Cette réunion me casse les pieds, on n'avance pas.
This meeting is annoying me, we aren't making progress.
Texting a friend about a persistent ex
Mon ex m'a encore écrit, il me casse vraiment les pieds.
My ex wrote to me again, he's really bothering me.
文化背景
The expression emerged in the mid-1800s, likely evolving from the idea that walking too much 'breaks' the feet, leading to exhaustion. In France, expressing your annoyance is seen as being honest rather than rude. It is a staple of 'râler' (complaining), which is a common social bonding activity.
The Noun Trick
You can turn this into a noun! 'Un casse-pieds' is a person who is a nuisance. It's a great way to describe that one friend who always forgets their wallet.
Watch the Body Parts
Be careful not to swap 'pieds' for 'couilles' (testicles) unless you are with very close friends and want to be vulgar. It's a huge jump in intensity!
15秒了解
- Use it when someone is being annoying or boring.
- Literally means 'to break the feet' but implies deep irritation.
- Safe for friends and family, but too blunt for bosses.
What It Means
Casser les pieds is the go-to French way to say someone is being a total nuisance. It implies a sense of exhaustion. You aren't just slightly annoyed. You feel like your patience is physically breaking. It is the verbal equivalent of a long, dramatic sigh.
How To Use It
You usually use it with a reflexive pronoun or a direct object. If your brother is humming loudly, you say Tu me casses les pieds. If a coworker won't stop talking about their cat, you tell your friend Il me casse les pieds. It is very flexible. You can use it as a verb or call someone a casse-pieds (a bore/nuisance).
When To Use It
Use this when you are genuinely frustrated but still keeping it relatively clean. It is perfect for family squabbles. Use it when the train is delayed for the fifth time. It works great when a salesperson is being too pushy. It is the bread and butter of daily French complaints.
When NOT To Use It
Avoid this in a job interview or with your CEO. It is too colorful for high-stakes professional settings. While not a swear word, it is definitely blunt. Don't use it if you are trying to be polite or subtle. If you want to stay formal, use déranger or ennuyer instead.
Cultural Background
This phrase dates back to the 19th century. In French culture, complaining is practically a national sport. Casser les pieds is a key part of that vocabulary. It reflects the French tendency to use physical metaphors for emotional states. It is less aggressive than other 'breaking' metaphors but still carries weight.
Common Variations
If you want to be more vulgar, you might hear casser les couilles. Be very careful with that one! A more modern, slang version is prendre la tête. If someone is a constant nuisance, they are simply un casse-pieds. You will hear children use this one a lot on the playground.
使用说明
The phrase is firmly informal. It requires an object pronoun (me, te, lui, nous, vous, leur) to indicate who is being annoyed.
The Noun Trick
You can turn this into a noun! 'Un casse-pieds' is a person who is a nuisance. It's a great way to describe that one friend who always forgets their wallet.
Watch the Body Parts
Be careful not to swap 'pieds' for 'couilles' (testicles) unless you are with very close friends and want to be vulgar. It's a huge jump in intensity!
The Art of the Râleur
In France, saying someone 'breaks your feet' isn't always a bridge-burner. It's often just a way to vent steam before continuing the conversation.
例句
6Arrête de chanter, tu me casses les pieds !
Stop singing, you're getting on my nerves!
A classic sibling interaction using the direct object 'me'.
Cette réunion me casse les pieds, on n'avance pas.
This meeting is annoying me, we aren't making progress.
Expressing professional frustration in a private vent.
Mon ex m'a encore écrit, il me casse vraiment les pieds.
My ex wrote to me again, he's really bothering me.
Used to describe a repetitive, unwanted action.
Mon chat me casse les pieds pour avoir des croquettes à 5h du matin.
My cat bugs me for kibble at 5 a.m.
Lighthearted use for a minor but persistent annoyance.
S'il te plaît, arrête. Tu me casses les pieds avec tes remarques.
Please, stop. You're driving me crazy with your remarks.
Shows a higher level of irritation and a request for change.
C'est un véritable casse-pieds, ce voisin.
That neighbor is a real pain in the neck.
Using the noun form to label someone's personality.
自我测试
Choose the correct pronoun to complete the sentence.
Tu ___ casses les pieds avec tes questions !
In French, we use the reflexive/object pronoun 'me' before the verb 'casser' to say 'you are breaking MY feet'.
Identify the noun version of the phrase.
Quel ___ ! Il ne s'arrête jamais de parler.
The compound noun 'un casse-pieds' is used to describe an annoying person and usually keeps the 's'.
🎉 得分： /2
视觉学习工具
Formality Scale of Annoyance
Used with strangers or superiors.
Cela m'ennuie.
Standard polite annoyance.
C'est agaçant.
Common with friends (Casser les pieds).
Tu me casses les pieds.
Vulgar or very aggressive.
Tu me casses les couilles.
When to say 'Casser les pieds'
Broken Vending Machine
Elle me casse les pieds, cette machine !
Persistent Telemarketer
Ils nous cassent les pieds avec leurs appels.
Boring Lecture
Ce prof me casse les pieds.
Sibling Rivalry
Arrête de me casser les pieds !
常见问题
10 个问题It is informal but not considered a swear word. You wouldn't say it to a judge, but you can say it to your brother without getting in trouble.
Yes! If your computer is freezing, you can say Cet ordi me casse les pieds.
Tu m'énerves is more direct about the feeling of anger. Tu me casses les pieds implies the person is being tedious or a nuisance.
The spelling casse-pieds usually stays the same for both singular and plural. For example, Ce sont des casse-pieds.
Often accompanied by a 'puff' of air (the gallic shrug) or rolling the eyes to show you are fed up.
No, it is too casual. Use C'est regrettable or C'est peu pratique instead.
It is a timeless classic used by everyone from toddlers to grandparents. It never goes out of style.
Similar! Prendre la tête is more about making someone overthink or giving them a headache, while casser les pieds is about being a nuisance.
Yes, if you realize you are being annoying, you can say Je vous casse les pieds avec mes histoires (I'm boring you with my stories).
No, this is a standard expression used throughout the entire French-speaking world, including Quebec and Belgium.
相关表达
Prendre la tête
To stress someone out or be overly complicated.
Courir sur le haricot
To get on someone's nerves (old-fashioned/funny).
Gonfler quelqu'un
To seriously annoy someone (literally 'to inflate').
En avoir ras le bol
To be fed up with something.
评论 (0)
登录后评论免费开始学习语言
免费开始学习