French idioms about money and luck

1. Pour des cacahuètes

   lit. ‘for peanuts’

   For a very small amount of money.

   Elsewhere

   • EN For peanuts
   • DE Für ’n Appel und ’n Ei
   • ES Por cuatro perras
   • IT Per un tozzo di pane
   • JA 雀の涙

2. Coûter les yeux de la tête

   lit. ‘cost the eyes of your head’

   To cost a huge amount of money.

   Elsewhere

   • EN Cost an arm and a leg
   • DE Eine Stange Geld kosten
   • ES Costar un ojo de la cara
   • IT Costare un occhio della testa
   • JA 目の玉が飛び出るほど高い

3. Acheter chat en poche

   lit. ‘buy a cat in a pocket’

   To buy or agree to something without checking it first.

   Elsewhere

   • EN Buy a pig in a poke
   • DE Die Katze im Sack kaufen
   • ES Dar gato por liebre
   • IT Comprare a scatola chiusa

4. Avoir de la veine

   lit. ‘have vein’

   To be lucky, often by pure chance.

   Elsewhere

   • EN Hit the jackpot
   • DE Schwein haben
   • ES Tener potra
   • IT Nascere con la camicia
   • JA 棚からぼたもち

5. Croiser les doigts

   To hope that things turn out well.

   Elsewhere

   • EN Keep your fingers crossed
   • DE Die Daumen drücken
   • ES Cruzar los dedos
   • IT Incrociare le dita

6. Vendre la peau de l’ours avant de l’avoir tué

   lit. ‘sell the bear’s skin before killing it’

   Don't count on a good result before it has actually happened.

   Elsewhere

   • EN Don’t count your chickens before they hatch
   • DE Man soll den Tag nicht vor dem Abend loben
   • ES No vender la piel del oso antes de cazarlo
   • IT Non dire gatto se non ce l’hai nel sacco
   • JA 捕らぬ狸の皮算用

7. Quand les poules auront des dents

   lit. ‘when hens have teeth’

   It will never happen.

   Elsewhere

   • EN When pigs fly
   • DE Wenn Ostern und Pfingsten auf einen Tag fallen
   • ES Cuando las ranas críen pelo
   • IT Quando gli asini voleranno
   • JA 太陽が西から昇っても

Phrases in bold with a red marker are written up. The rest are waiting for their own page and a check by a native speaker.