{
  "name": "French C1 Idioms & Collocations",
  "front_language": "French",
  "back_language": "English",
  "cards": [
    {"front": "poser un lapin à quelqu'un", "back": "to stand someone up (literally: to put a rabbit on someone)", "level": "C1", "tags": ["idioms"], "example_front": "Elle m'a posé un lapin hier soir.", "example_back": "She stood me up last night."},
    {"front": "avoir le cafard", "back": "to feel down / blue (literally: to have the cockroach)", "level": "C1", "tags": ["idioms"], "example_front": "J'ai le cafard depuis qu'il est parti.", "example_back": "I've been feeling blue since he left."},
    {"front": "coûter les yeux de la tête", "back": "to cost an arm and a leg (literally: to cost the eyes of the head)", "level": "C1", "tags": ["idioms"], "example_front": "Ce voyage m'a coûté les yeux de la tête.", "example_back": "That trip cost me an arm and a leg."},
    {"front": "tomber dans les pommes", "back": "to faint (literally: to fall into the apples)", "level": "C1", "tags": ["idioms"], "example_front": "Elle est tombée dans les pommes en pleine réunion.", "example_back": "She fainted right in the middle of the meeting."},
    {"front": "avoir un chat dans la gorge", "back": "to have a frog in one's throat (literally: to have a cat in the throat)", "level": "C1", "tags": ["idioms"], "example_front": "Excusez-moi, j'ai un chat dans la gorge.", "example_back": "Excuse me, I have a frog in my throat."},
    {"front": "casser du sucre sur le dos de quelqu'un", "back": "to badmouth someone (literally: to break sugar on someone's back)", "level": "C1", "tags": ["idioms"], "example_front": "Ils passent leur temps à casser du sucre sur son dos.", "example_back": "They spend their time badmouthing him."},
    {"front": "avoir d'autres chats à fouetter", "back": "to have bigger fish to fry (literally: to have other cats to whip)", "level": "C1", "tags": ["idioms"], "example_front": "Je n'ai pas le temps, j'ai d'autres chats à fouetter.", "example_back": "I don't have time, I've got bigger fish to fry."},
    {"front": "mettre les pieds dans le plat", "back": "to put one's foot in it / raise an awkward subject bluntly (literally: to put one's feet in the dish)", "level": "C1", "tags": ["idioms"], "example_front": "Il a encore mis les pieds dans le plat devant tout le monde.", "example_back": "He put his foot in it again in front of everyone."},
    {"front": "être dans de beaux draps", "back": "to be in a real mess (literally: to be in beautiful sheets)", "level": "C1", "tags": ["idioms"], "example_front": "Avec cette dette, nous sommes dans de beaux draps.", "example_back": "With this debt, we're in a real mess."},
    {"front": "en avoir ras le bol", "back": "to be fed up (literally: to have a bowlful of it)", "level": "C1", "tags": ["idioms"], "example_front": "J'en ai ras le bol de ces embouteillages.", "example_back": "I'm so fed up with this traffic."},
    {"front": "avoir un poil dans la main", "back": "to be extremely lazy (literally: to have a hair in one's hand)", "level": "C1", "tags": ["idioms"], "example_front": "Il a un poil dans la main, il ne fait jamais rien.", "example_back": "He's incredibly lazy, he never does anything."},
    {"front": "mettre la charrue avant les bœufs", "back": "to put the cart before the horse (literally: to put the plow before the oxen)", "level": "C1", "tags": ["idioms"], "example_front": "Signer avant de négocier, c'est mettre la charrue avant les bœufs.", "example_back": "Signing before negotiating is putting the cart before the horse."},
    {"front": "chercher midi à quatorze heures", "back": "to overcomplicate things (literally: to look for noon at 2pm)", "level": "C1", "tags": ["idioms"], "example_front": "Ne cherche pas midi à quatorze heures, la solution est simple.", "example_back": "Don't overcomplicate it, the solution is simple."},
    {"front": "avoir la pêche", "back": "to feel great / full of energy (literally: to have the peach)", "level": "C1", "tags": ["idioms"], "example_front": "Ce matin, j'ai vraiment la pêche.", "example_back": "This morning I feel really full of energy."},
    {"front": "raconter des salades", "back": "to tell tall tales / lies (literally: to tell salads)", "level": "C1", "tags": ["idioms"], "example_front": "Arrête de raconter des salades, on ne te croit pas.", "example_back": "Stop telling tall tales, no one believes you."},
    {"front": "avoir le bras long", "back": "to have connections / influence (literally: to have a long arm)", "level": "C1", "tags": ["idioms"], "example_front": "Il a le bras long dans ce ministère.", "example_back": "He has a lot of connections in that ministry."},
    {"front": "noyer le poisson", "back": "to muddy the waters / dodge the issue (literally: to drown the fish)", "level": "C1", "tags": ["idioms"], "example_front": "Le ministre a noyé le poisson pendant toute l'interview.", "example_back": "The minister dodged the issue throughout the interview."},
    {"front": "avoir le cœur sur la main", "back": "to be generous / big-hearted (literally: to have the heart on the hand)", "level": "C1", "tags": ["idioms"], "example_front": "Elle a le cœur sur la main, elle aide tout le monde.", "example_back": "She's big-hearted, she helps everyone."},
    {"front": "faire d'une pierre deux coups", "back": "to kill two birds with one stone (literally: to make two hits with one stone)", "level": "C1", "tags": ["idioms"], "example_front": "En allant à ce rendez-vous, j'ai fait d'une pierre deux coups.", "example_back": "By going to that appointment, I killed two birds with one stone."},
    {"front": "être blanc comme neige", "back": "to be completely innocent (literally: to be white as snow)", "level": "C1", "tags": ["idioms"], "example_front": "Il jure qu'il est blanc comme neige dans cette affaire.", "example_back": "He swears he's completely innocent in this affair."},
    {"front": "revenir à ses moutons", "back": "to get back to the subject at hand (literally: to return to one's sheep)", "level": "C1", "tags": ["idioms"], "example_front": "Bon, revenons à nos moutons.", "example_back": "Right, let's get back to the subject at hand."},
    {"front": "tirer les vers du nez à quelqu'un", "back": "to worm information out of someone (literally: to pull the worms from someone's nose)", "level": "C1", "tags": ["idioms"], "example_front": "J'ai réussi à lui tirer les vers du nez.", "example_back": "I managed to worm the information out of him."},
    {"front": "avoir un chat dans la langue", "back": "to be tongue-tied / mumble", "level": "C1", "tags": ["idioms"], "example_front": "Il avait un chat dans la langue devant le jury.", "example_back": "He was tongue-tied in front of the panel."},
    {"front": "faire la sourde oreille", "back": "to turn a deaf ear", "level": "C1", "tags": ["idioms"], "example_front": "Le gouvernement fait la sourde oreille aux critiques.", "example_back": "The government is turning a deaf ear to the criticism."},
    {"front": "avoir une dent contre quelqu'un", "back": "to hold a grudge against someone (literally: to have a tooth against someone)", "level": "C1", "tags": ["idioms"], "example_front": "Je crois qu'elle a une dent contre moi depuis l'an dernier.", "example_back": "I think she's held a grudge against me since last year."},
    {"front": "mettre du beurre dans les épinards", "back": "to make ends meet more comfortably (literally: to put butter in the spinach)", "level": "C1", "tags": ["idioms"], "example_front": "Ce petit boulot met du beurre dans les épinards.", "example_back": "This side job helps make ends meet a bit more comfortably."},
    {"front": "avoir la moutarde qui monte au nez", "back": "to start losing one's temper (literally: to have mustard rising to one's nose)", "level": "C1", "tags": ["idioms"], "example_front": "J'ai senti la moutarde me monter au nez.", "example_back": "I felt myself starting to lose my temper."},
    {"front": "être au four et au moulin", "back": "to be run off one's feet / doing everything at once (literally: to be at the oven and the mill)", "level": "C1", "tags": ["idioms"], "example_front": "Elle est toujours au four et au moulin avec ses trois emplois.", "example_back": "She's always run off her feet with her three jobs."},
    {"front": "jeter l'éponge", "back": "to throw in the towel (literally: to throw the sponge)", "level": "C1", "tags": ["idioms"], "example_front": "Après trois échecs, il a fini par jeter l'éponge.", "example_back": "After three failures, he finally threw in the towel."},
    {"front": "avoir un fil à la patte", "back": "to be tied down (relationship/obligation) (literally: to have a thread on one's paw)", "level": "C1", "tags": ["idioms"], "example_front": "Depuis qu'il est marié, il a un fil à la patte.", "example_back": "Since he got married, he's tied down."},
    {"front": "prendre quelqu'un la main dans le sac", "back": "to catch someone red-handed (literally: to catch someone with their hand in the bag)", "level": "C1", "tags": ["idioms"], "example_front": "On l'a pris la main dans le sac en train de tricher.", "example_back": "They caught him red-handed cheating."},
    {"front": "avoir la tête dans les nuages", "back": "to have one's head in the clouds", "level": "C1", "tags": ["idioms"], "example_front": "Elle a toujours la tête dans les nuages en cours.", "example_back": "She always has her head in the clouds during class."},
    {"front": "passer du coq à l'âne", "back": "to jump from one topic to another (literally: to go from the rooster to the donkey)", "level": "C1", "tags": ["idioms"], "example_front": "Il passe sans arrêt du coq à l'âne pendant les réunions.", "example_back": "He constantly jumps from one topic to another in meetings."},
    {"front": "avoir un coup de foudre", "back": "to fall in love at first sight (literally: to have a lightning strike)", "level": "C1", "tags": ["idioms"], "example_front": "Ils ont eu un coup de foudre dès leur première rencontre.", "example_back": "They fell in love at first sight."},
    {"front": "mettre la main à la pâte", "back": "to pitch in / get involved hands-on (literally: to put one's hand in the dough)", "level": "C1", "tags": ["idioms"], "example_front": "Tout le monde a mis la main à la pâte pour ce projet.", "example_back": "Everyone pitched in for this project."},
    {"front": "avoir le vent en poupe", "back": "to be riding high / thriving (literally: to have the wind in one's sails)", "level": "C1", "tags": ["idioms"], "example_front": "L'entreprise a le vent en poupe depuis deux ans.", "example_back": "The company has been thriving for two years."},
    {"front": "être pris entre le marteau et l'enclume", "back": "to be caught between a rock and a hard place (literally: between the hammer and the anvil)", "level": "C1", "tags": ["idioms"], "example_front": "Il se sent pris entre le marteau et l'enclume dans ce conflit.", "example_back": "He feels caught between a rock and a hard place in this conflict."},
    {"front": "en faire tout un fromage", "back": "to make a big deal out of nothing (literally: to make a whole cheese out of it)", "level": "C1", "tags": ["idioms"], "example_front": "Ce n'est qu'une petite erreur, n'en fais pas tout un fromage.", "example_back": "It's just a small mistake, don't make a big deal out of it."},
    {"front": "avoir un pied dans la tombe", "back": "to have one foot in the grave", "level": "C1", "tags": ["idioms"], "example_front": "Selon lui, ce vieux système a déjà un pied dans la tombe.", "example_back": "According to him, that old system already has one foot in the grave."},
    {"front": "renvoyer la balle", "back": "to deflect / turn the tables in an argument (literally: to send back the ball)", "level": "C1", "tags": ["idioms"], "example_front": "Chaque fois qu'on le critique, il renvoie la balle.", "example_back": "Every time he's criticized, he deflects it back."},
    {"front": "prendre une décision", "back": "to make a decision", "level": "C1", "tags": ["collocations"], "example_front": "Le conseil doit prendre une décision avant vendredi.", "example_back": "The board must make a decision by Friday."},
    {"front": "tirer des conclusions", "back": "to draw conclusions", "level": "C1", "tags": ["collocations"], "example_front": "Il est trop tôt pour tirer des conclusions.", "example_back": "It's too early to draw conclusions."},
    {"front": "soulever une question", "back": "to raise a question", "level": "C1", "tags": ["collocations"], "example_front": "Cette étude soulève une question intéressante.", "example_back": "This study raises an interesting question."},
    {"front": "porter atteinte à", "back": "to undermine / infringe upon", "level": "C1", "tags": ["collocations"], "example_front": "Cette loi porte atteinte aux libertés individuelles.", "example_back": "This law undermines individual freedoms."},
    {"front": "remettre en cause", "back": "to call into question", "level": "C1", "tags": ["collocations"], "example_front": "Les nouveaux résultats remettent en cause la théorie.", "example_back": "The new results call the theory into question."},
    {"front": "tenir compte de", "back": "to take into account", "level": "C1", "tags": ["collocations"], "example_front": "Il faut tenir compte du contexte historique.", "example_back": "We need to take the historical context into account."},
    {"front": "jouer un rôle (clé)", "back": "to play a (key) role", "level": "C1", "tags": ["collocations"], "example_front": "Le hasard a joué un rôle clé dans cette découverte.", "example_back": "Chance played a key role in this discovery."},
    {"front": "faire face à", "back": "to face / cope with", "level": "C1", "tags": ["collocations"], "example_front": "L'entreprise doit faire face à une concurrence féroce.", "example_back": "The company has to face fierce competition."},
    {"front": "susciter la controverse", "back": "to spark controversy", "level": "C1", "tags": ["collocations"], "example_front": "Le projet a suscité la controverse dès son annonce.", "example_back": "The project sparked controversy as soon as it was announced."},
    {"front": "mener une enquête", "back": "to conduct an investigation", "level": "C1", "tags": ["collocations"], "example_front": "La police mène une enquête depuis trois semaines.", "example_back": "The police have been conducting an investigation for three weeks."},
    {"front": "établir un lien", "back": "to establish a link", "level": "C1", "tags": ["collocations"], "example_front": "Les scientifiques ont établi un lien entre les deux phénomènes.", "example_back": "Scientists established a link between the two phenomena."},
    {"front": "prendre du recul", "back": "to step back / gain perspective", "level": "C1", "tags": ["collocations"], "example_front": "Il faut prendre du recul avant de réagir.", "example_back": "You need to step back before reacting."},
    {"front": "peser le pour et le contre", "back": "to weigh the pros and cons", "level": "C1", "tags": ["collocations"], "example_front": "Nous avons pesé le pour et le contre pendant des semaines.", "example_back": "We weighed the pros and cons for weeks."},
    {"front": "aller de pair avec", "back": "to go hand in hand with", "level": "C1", "tags": ["collocations"], "example_front": "La croissance va de pair avec l'innovation.", "example_back": "Growth goes hand in hand with innovation."},
    {"front": "avoir des répercussions", "back": "to have repercussions", "level": "C1", "tags": ["collocations"], "example_front": "La décision aura des répercussions sur toute l'industrie.", "example_back": "The decision will have repercussions across the whole industry."},
    {"front": "franchir une étape", "back": "to cross a milestone / take a step forward", "level": "C1", "tags": ["collocations"], "example_front": "Le pays a franchi une étape historique cette semaine.", "example_back": "The country crossed a historic milestone this week."},
    {"front": "combler un vide", "back": "to fill a gap / void", "level": "C1", "tags": ["collocations"], "example_front": "Ce texte de loi vient combler un vide juridique.", "example_back": "This piece of legislation fills a legal void."},
    {"front": "dresser un bilan", "back": "to draw up an assessment", "level": "C1", "tags": ["collocations"], "example_front": "Le gouvernement doit dresser un bilan de son mandat.", "example_back": "The government must draw up an assessment of its term."},
    {"front": "prendre ses distances avec", "back": "to distance oneself from", "level": "C1", "tags": ["collocations"], "example_front": "Le parti a pris ses distances avec cette déclaration.", "example_back": "The party distanced itself from that statement."},
    {"front": "faire preuve de", "back": "to demonstrate / show (a quality)", "level": "C1", "tags": ["collocations"], "example_front": "Elle a fait preuve d'un grand sang-froid.", "example_back": "She showed great composure."},
    {"front": "avoir gain de cause", "back": "to win one's case / be vindicated", "level": "C1", "tags": ["idioms"], "example_front": "Après un long procès, il a finalement eu gain de cause.", "example_back": "After a long trial, he was finally vindicated."},
    {"front": "être au bout du rouleau", "back": "to be at the end of one's rope / exhausted (literally: to be at the end of the roll)", "level": "C1", "tags": ["idioms"], "example_front": "Après ce marathon de travail, elle est au bout du rouleau.", "example_back": "After that marathon of work, she's at the end of her rope."},
    {"front": "avoir maille à partir avec quelqu'un", "back": "to have a run-in / dispute with someone", "level": "C1", "tags": ["idioms"], "example_front": "Il a eu maille à partir avec ses voisins l'an dernier.", "example_back": "He had a run-in with his neighbors last year."},
    {"front": "battre son plein", "back": "to be in full swing", "level": "C1", "tags": ["idioms"], "example_front": "Le festival bat son plein depuis samedi.", "example_back": "The festival has been in full swing since Saturday."},
    {"front": "avoir maigre", "back": "colloquial for slim outcome — see \"maigre consolation\" (thin comfort)", "level": "C1", "tags": ["collocations"], "example_front": "C'est une maigre consolation face à une telle perte.", "example_back": "It's thin comfort in the face of such a loss."},
    {"front": "tomber à l'eau", "back": "to fall through (a plan) (literally: to fall into the water)", "level": "C1", "tags": ["idioms"], "example_front": "Nos projets de vacances sont tombés à l'eau.", "example_back": "Our vacation plans fell through."},
    {"front": "brûler les étapes", "back": "to rush / skip steps (literally: to burn the stages)", "level": "C1", "tags": ["idioms"], "example_front": "Ne brûlons pas les étapes, réfléchissons d'abord.", "example_back": "Let's not rush ahead, let's think it through first."},
    {"front": "mettre la clé sous la porte", "back": "to shut down / go out of business (literally: to put the key under the door)", "level": "C1", "tags": ["idioms"], "example_front": "Le petit commerce a dû mettre la clé sous la porte.", "example_back": "The small shop had to shut down."},
    {"front": "avoir carte blanche", "back": "to have free rein (literally: to have a blank card)", "level": "C1", "tags": ["idioms"], "example_front": "Le directeur artistique a carte blanche pour ce projet.", "example_back": "The artistic director has free rein for this project."},
    {"front": "en venir aux mains", "back": "to come to blows", "level": "C1", "tags": ["idioms"], "example_front": "La discussion a failli en venir aux mains.", "example_back": "The discussion almost came to blows."},
    {"front": "prendre les devants", "back": "to take the initiative / get ahead of things", "level": "C1", "tags": ["collocations"], "example_front": "Elle a préféré prendre les devants avant que la situation ne s'aggrave.", "example_back": "She preferred to take the initiative before things got worse."},
    {"front": "faire l'unanimité", "back": "to win unanimous approval", "level": "C1", "tags": ["collocations"], "example_front": "Le projet a fait l'unanimité au sein du conseil.", "example_back": "The project won unanimous approval from the board."},
    {"front": "prêter à confusion", "back": "to lend itself to confusion / be misleading", "level": "C1", "tags": ["collocations"], "example_front": "La formulation prête à confusion.", "example_back": "The wording lends itself to confusion."},
    {"front": "faire figure de", "back": "to be regarded as / stand out as", "level": "C1", "tags": ["collocations"], "example_front": "Cette start-up fait figure de pionnière dans le secteur.", "example_back": "This start-up stands out as a pioneer in the sector."},
    {"front": "faire des vagues", "back": "to make waves / cause a stir", "level": "C1", "tags": ["idioms"], "example_front": "Sa déclaration a fait des vagues dans la presse.", "example_back": "His statement made waves in the press."},
    {"front": "aller droit au but", "back": "to get straight to the point (literally: to go straight to the goal)", "level": "C1", "tags": ["idioms"], "example_front": "Elle préfère toujours aller droit au but.", "example_back": "She always prefers to get straight to the point."},
    {"front": "prendre à cœur", "back": "to take to heart", "level": "C1", "tags": ["collocations"], "example_front": "Il a pris cette critique à cœur.", "example_back": "He took that criticism to heart."},
    {"front": "tirer la sonnette d'alarme", "back": "to sound the alarm", "level": "C1", "tags": ["idioms"], "example_front": "Les scientifiques tirent la sonnette d'alarme depuis des années.", "example_back": "Scientists have been sounding the alarm for years."},
    {"front": "avoir l'embarras du choix", "back": "to be spoiled for choice", "level": "C1", "tags": ["idioms"], "example_front": "Avec autant de candidats, le jury a l'embarras du choix.", "example_back": "With so many candidates, the jury is spoiled for choice."},
    {"front": "mettre en garde", "back": "to warn / caution", "level": "C1", "tags": ["collocations"], "example_front": "Les experts ont mis en garde contre les risques du projet.", "example_back": "Experts warned against the project's risks."},
    {"front": "prendre le taureau par les cornes", "back": "to take the bull by the horns", "level": "C1", "tags": ["idioms"], "example_front": "Il est temps de prendre le taureau par les cornes.", "example_back": "It's time to take the bull by the horns."},
    {"front": "donner le ton", "back": "to set the tone", "level": "C1", "tags": ["collocations"], "example_front": "Son discours a donné le ton de toute la conférence.", "example_back": "His speech set the tone for the whole conference."},
    {"front": "faire mouche", "back": "to hit the mark / hit home (literally: to make fly, as in shooting)", "level": "C1", "tags": ["idioms"], "example_front": "Sa remarque a fait mouche auprès du public.", "example_back": "His remark hit home with the audience."},
    {"front": "s'en tenir à", "back": "to stick to / stand by", "level": "C1", "tags": ["collocations"], "example_front": "Je m'en tiens à ma décision initiale.", "example_back": "I'm sticking to my original decision."}
  ]
}