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Prendre - French Expressions with Prendre

Idiomatic French expressions

By Laura K. Lawless, About.com Guide

The French verb prendre literally means "to take" and is also used in many idiomatic expressions. Learn how to make a decision, get a breath of fresh air, catch someone red-handed, and more with this list of expressions with prendre.

Possible meanings of prendre
  • to take
  • to pick up/fetch
  • to catch
  • to dupe
  • to get (gas/petrol, a train ticket, etc.)
  • to set (cement, gelatin)

Expressions with prendre

passer prendre qqun
to go pick someone up

prendre l'air
to get a breath of fresh air

prendre bien la chose
to take something well

prendre une décision
to make a decision

prendre l'eau
to leak; to founder

prendre feu
to catch fire

prendre fin
to come to an end

prendre le frais
to get a breath of fresh air

prendre froid
to catch a cold

prendre garde
to be careful, watch out

prendre à gauche/droit
to turn left/right

prendre goût à qqun
to take a liking to something

prendre mal la chose
to take something poorly

prendre au pied de la lettre
to take literally

prendre du poids
to gain weight

prendre un pot (informal)
to have a drink

prendre qqch à qqun
to buy/get something for someone

prendre qqun en grippe
to take a disliking to someone

prendre qqun la main dans le sac
to catch someone red-handed

prendre qqun par son point faible
to take advantage of someone's weak spot

prendre rendez-vous avec
to make an appointment with

prendre des risques
to take chances

prendre un rhume
to catch a cold

prendre sa retraite
to retire (from work)

prendre au sérieux
to take seriously

prendre ses jambes à son cou
to run off

prendre son courage à deux mains
to get up one's courage

prendre un verre
to have a drink


être pris
to be tied up/busy

être pris de vertige/remords/panique
to get struck by vertigo/remorse/panic

un parti pris
prejudice, preconceived notion


Avec moi, ça ne prends pas.
That won't work/wash with me.

Ça me prend la tête !
That drives me crazy!

C'est à prendre ou à laisser.
Take it or leave it, That's my final offer.

Je t'y prends !
I've got you!

On m'a pris pour ...
They thought I was ... / I was taken for ...

On ne sait jamais par quel bout le prendre  
You never know how to take him.

Prends-ça du bon côté.
Look on the bright side.

Qu'est-ce qui t'a pris ?
What's gotten into you?

Que je t'y prenne ! Si je t'y prends encore !
If I ever catch you doing that again...!


s'y prendre 
to go about doing something

s'en prendre à qqun
to pick on someone

s'y prendre bien/mal
to do a good/bad job

Il se prennent pour des intellectuels.
They think they're intellectuals.

Pour qui te prends-tu ?
Who do you think you are?


Prendre conjugations

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