Learning French

Guess the French phrase behind this photo clue...

Can you work out which idiomatic expression is depicted below?

Discover this mystery sweet-themed French saying

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Published Monday 23 February 2026 - 07:00 Modified Friday 20 March 2026 - 14:56

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The French love using idioms in everyday conversations, however these unique sayings can sound completely bizarre when translated literally into English.

It is useful to understand their figurative meaning to avoid confusion when chatting with locals.

This particular example featuring a sugared almond illustrates an expression that you might say when asserting authority.

Can you guess the French phrase?

Click to show answer

A) Tenir la dragée haute (literally: to hold the sugared almond high)

Take a look at our handy language guide to find out exactly what this idiom means and how to use it when speaking French.

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Guess the French phrase behind this photo clue...

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