What does c'est fort de café mean and when should it be used?

France is well known for its bustling cafés and coffee shop culture.

We look at a thematic phrase that you can use while chatting with French friends over a café au lait. 

What does c'est fort de café mean?

It literally translates as: it is as strong as coffee. 

People in France use this expression to say that a particular situation is exaggerated, excessive, ridiculous, or unacceptable. 

Similar phrases include:

• That's going too far! - Ça va trop loin

• That's a step too far! - Ça dépasse les bornes

• That's pushing it! - C’est trop

• That’s completely over the top - C’est abusé

What are the origins of c'est fort de café?

The origins of this phrase can be traced back to the 17th Century when the expression was simply: c’est trop fort.

The addition of coffee stems from its strong and sometimes overpowering taste and smell – mirroring an overwhelming or exaggerated situation.

French lexicographer, Lucien Rigaud, wrote about the saying in his Dictionnaire du jargon parisien (1878), deeming it a “wretched pun, the sort of which were so common a few years ago.”

When do you say c'est fort de café?

It is often used as a reaction to someone who describes a ridiculous or exaggerated scenario:

• Statement: J'ai renversé mon verre d'eau au restaurant et le serveur m'a demandé de partir. - I knocked over my glass of water in the restaurant and the waiter asked me to leave.

• Response: Quoi ? C'est fort de café ! - What? That is a bit excessive. 

To whom do you say c'est fort de café?

It is considered casual language that is most commonly used with friends and family.

There is no risk of causing offense with this phrase however it could come across as being a bit informal in certain contexts. 

If you would like us to explain a particular word or expression, or if you have any other Learning French suggestions, let us know at: feedback@connexionfrance.com