Avoir les dents longues

English translation: To be ambitious.
Literal translation: To have long teeth.

Cherche une aiguille dans une meule de foin

English translation: To find a needle in a haystack
Literal translation: To find a needle in a haystack

Changer son fusil d'épaule

English translation: To change one's mind.
Literal translation: To change his shoulder rifle.

Avoir un poil dans la main

English translation: To be lazy.
Literal translation: To have a hair in your hand.

Etre comme un poisson dans l'eau !

English translation: To be like a fish in water.
Literal translation: To be like a fish in water.

Update on the Phrase Olympics

Current standings after one week of Model Office:

Andrea with 1
Jill with 11
Wade with 21.

The others (who will remain anonymous) are not yet on the board.

There appears to be a rumor floating around of basing the rankings on a new formula (total phrases used / number of presentation hours) - but that new scoring method (in the middle of the competition) has not been second person verified or approved by a legal or regulatory body.

Chercher midi à quatorze heures

English Translation: To nit pick
Literal Translation: To search from 12 to 14 hours

J'ai la dalle

English translation: I'm hungry
Literal translation: I have the flagstone

Etre remonté à bloc

English Translation: I'm ready to go !
Literal Translation: To have climbed the block

Mettre la puce à l'oreille

English translation: Put a bug in your ear
Literal translation: Put the flea to the ear

Prendre ses jambes à son cou !

English Translation: Run as fast as you can
Literal Translation: Take your legs to your neck

La Phrase du Jour Olympics

Sorry to interrupt our normally scheduled phrase of the day, but I needed to put in a post about our upcoming 'La Phrase du Jour' Olympics.

The team from the US is about to start two weeks of presentations with the French affiliate (don't ask, it's work related). Although most of the presentations will have to be in english (our french is still pretty bad), we have decided to see who can use the most phrases that we've learned in the past month during our presentations.

We don't want to get too complicated, but basically you get a point for each phrase you use in a presentation correctly - no repeating of the same phrase. In the event of a tie, we'll find some disinterested party to choose the winner with the better execution. And yes, not all phrases will be eligible for points (no sense in infuriating the business customers), so there will be no stepping on anyone's bean.

And since no one would voluntarily subject themselves to this game without some sort of incentive . . . the winner will win Wade's last bottle of Chateau Rieussec Sauterne 2001 - that even though it was made in France, it was brought from the US (that's another don't ask question). We figured it was an appropriate prize for all of us, since even if you don't appreciate a rare and great wine - you should at least be able to use it as a bargaining chip later in the year with your french colleagues (be it a particularly difficult business customer, french girlfriend, or policeman who has pulled you over for not coming to a complete stop - sorry, third and final don't ask question).

C'est clair comme de l'eau de roche !

English translation: It's very understandable.
Literal translation: It's as clear as water on the rock.

Ce n'est pas la mer à boire !

English translation: There's a lot to do, but it can be done.
Literal translation: It's not the sea we have to drink.

J'ai du pain sur la planche.

English translation: I have a lot on my plate OR I'm weeded (uncommon)
Literal translation: I have some bread on my plate.

Etre comme cul et chemise

English translation: To be best friends.
Literal translation: To be like a bottom and a shirt.

Il cherche la petite bête !

English translation: He's splitting hairs. He's nit-picking
Literal translation: He finds the small insect.

Chacun trouve son plaisir où il le prend

English translation: Each takes his pleasure where he gets it.
Liternal translation: Each takes his pleasure where he gets it.

Tirer à bout portant

English translation: To shoot point blank
Literal translation: Pull to the closest end

Je ne sais pas par quel bout commencer.

English translation: I don't know where to start.
Literal translation: I don't know by which end to start.

Boire cul-sec!

English translation: Bottom's up.
Literal translation: Drink the bottom dry.

Mettre la charue avant les boeufs

English translation: Don't put the cart before the horse
Literal translation: Put the farm tool before the beef