Au pif

Expression: Au pif

Pronunciation: [o peef]

Meaning: at a rough guess, at random, using guesswork

Literal translation: at the nose

Register: familiar

Notes: Pif is a familiar and somewhat rude word meaning "big nose," and by extension just "nose." Equivalents in American and British English, respectively, are "schnoz" and "conk."

So au pif literally means "in the nose," which makes some sense: letting one's nose provide guidance. But the more idiomatic equivalents of this expression are "at a rough guess" or "at random."

Examples

   Il y a une dizaine de livres au pif.
   There are roughly ten books, I'd say there are about ten books.

   Il ne faut pas choisir tes cours au pif.
   You shouldn't pick your classes at random.

Synonym: à peu près

More French expressions:

   avoir du pif - to have a funny feeling; to have flair

   avoir quelqu'un dans le pif - to hate someone

   faire quelque chose au pif - to do something by guesswork


More

• Expressions with à
• Most common French phrases