Il y a quelque chose qui cloche

Expression: Il y a quelque chose qui cloche

Pronunciation: [ee l(ee) ya kel keu shoz kee klush]

Meaning: Something's amiss, something isn't right

Register: informal

Notes: I really like the French expression il y a quelque chose qui cloche. The verb clocher means "to be wrong," which is logical enough in this expression, but clocher also used to mean "to limp," which makes an interesting visual image. When I hear il y a quelque chose qui cloche dans ce qu'il dit, for example, I get an image of that person's words limping around because they're illogical or untrue or whatever.

In addition, clocher can mean "to ring, toll" (as in a church bell), which I imagine as a great clanging "bong!" when something is amiss.

Making a mental connection to either of these meanings makes it very easy to remember the French expression.

Example

   Ça ne va pas marcher - il y a quelque chose qui cloche.
   It's not going to work - there's something wrong.

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Most common French phrases