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Se fourrer le doigt dans l'œil

French expressions analyzed and explained

By Laura K. Lawless, About.com Guide

Expression: Se fourrer le doigt dans l'œil

Pronunciation: [seu foo ray leu dwa da(n) leuy]

Meaning: To be kidding oneself, to be wrong

Literal translation: To stick one's finger in one's eye

Register: informal

Synonym: se mettre le doigt dans l'œil (normal register)

Notes: The French expression se fourrer le doigt dans l'œil offers a great visual image, but the logic behind it is less clear. Does the finger you've accidentally stuck in your eye make you unable to see the mistake you're making (because the finger is obscuring your vision), or is the finger actually damaging your eye, which would impair your eyesight permanently? And is the speaking claiming that you don't know your finger is there, and therefore that you're kidding yourself in thinking that what you see with your obscured vision is the whole picture?

What do you think? Post your comments on my French blog - just hit "comments" at the bottom of the post.

Example:
   Si tu penses vraiment qu'il va le faire, tu te fourres le doigt dans l'œil !
   If you really think he's going to do it, you're kidding yourself!
 

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