French expression of the day: À deux doigts
Two fingers in France is usually a complete game-changer.
Why do I need to know à deux doigts?
Because it's a good expression for when you're come really close to something, just not close enough.
What does it mean?
A deux doigts literally translates to ‘two fingers from’, which means being ‘very close to’ something.
Deux doigts is the metaphor for being incredibly close to something - two fingers more and you would have done it/achieved it/reached it - but then you didn't.
Tu es à deux doigts de means you’re ‘at the verge of’ or 'on the brink of' something.
This is one of those expressions that often come in handy during conversation.
J’étais à deux doigts de m'acheter une glace, puis je me suis dit qu’il fallait garder de l’appétit pour notre dîner. - I was so close to getting an ice-cream, but then I thought I should probably save my appetite for our dinner.
Faut qu’il arrête avec sa musique parce que je suis à deux doigts de péter un plomb - He needs to stop that music because I am this close from freaking out..
Il a raté le but de rien de tout, c’était vraiment à deux doigts - He missed the shot by a hair's breadth, it was really close.
Synonyms
Très proche de - very close too
Sur le point de - on the point of
Comments
See Also
Why do I need to know à deux doigts?
Because it's a good expression for when you're come really close to something, just not close enough.
What does it mean?
A deux doigts literally translates to ‘two fingers from’, which means being ‘very close to’ something.
Deux doigts is the metaphor for being incredibly close to something - two fingers more and you would have done it/achieved it/reached it - but then you didn't.
Tu es à deux doigts de means you’re ‘at the verge of’ or 'on the brink of' something.
This is one of those expressions that often come in handy during conversation.
J’étais à deux doigts de m'acheter une glace, puis je me suis dit qu’il fallait garder de l’appétit pour notre dîner. - I was so close to getting an ice-cream, but then I thought I should probably save my appetite for our dinner.
Faut qu’il arrête avec sa musique parce que je suis à deux doigts de péter un plomb - He needs to stop that music because I am this close from freaking out..
Il a raté le but de rien de tout, c’était vraiment à deux doigts - He missed the shot by a hair's breadth, it was really close.
Synonyms
Très proche de - very close too
Sur le point de - on the point of
Join the conversation in our comments section below. Share your own views and experience and if you have a question or suggestion for our journalists then email us at [email protected].
Please keep comments civil, constructive and on topic – and make sure to read our terms of use before getting involved.
Please log in here to leave a comment.