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Claquer - French Expressions with Claquer

Idiomatic French expressions

By Laura K. Lawless, About.com Guide

The French verb claquer literally means "to slap" or "to bang," and is also used in many idiomatic expressions. Learn how to snap your fingers, chatter your teeth, pull a muscle, and more with this list of expressions with claquer.

Possible meanings of claquer
  • to bang
  • to crack (whip)
  • to slam (door)
  • to slap
  • (inf) to exhaust, tire out
  • (fam) to die, kick the bucket
  • (fam) to conk out, stop working
  • (fam) to spend, blow money

Expressions with claquer

claquer des doigts
   to click/snap one's fingers

claquer des talons
   to click one's heels

claquer du bec (fam)
    to be famished

claquer un but (sports)
    to slam a ball, drive the ball home

claquer des dents
   to be chattering one's teeth

claquer la porte
   to slam the door
   (figurative) to storm out, leave in a huff

claquer la porte au nez à qqun
   to slam the door in someone's face
   (figurative) to refuse to listen to someone

faire claquer sa langue
   to click one's tongue

se claquer un muscle (inf)
    to pull a muscle


une claque
    slap

prendre une claque à qqchose (fig)
     to get a slap in the face from something

Il en a sa claque (inf)
     He's fed up; He's dead on his feet.


une claque
    opera hat

un claque (fam)
    brothel


le claquage
    pulling/straining of a muscle

claquant (inf)
     exhausting

claqué (inf)
     bushed, tired, beat

le claquement
    banging, slamming, clicking

la claquette
    tap-dancing; clapperboard

un claquoir
    clapper


Claquer conjugations

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