Learning French

Guess the French phrase behind this photo clue...

Can you work out which idiomatic expression is depicted below?

Man standing at the edge of a swimming pool with arms raised and a towel over his shoulder.

What is this pool-themed phrase?

Shutterstock/AI generated

Published Monday 06 July 2026 - 11:00 Modified Monday 27 July 2026 - 17:08

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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.

French-speakers use this pool-themed expression when they are unavailable to make plans.

Can you guess the French phrase?

Click to show answer

A) J’peux pas, j’ai piscine. This literally translates as: I can’t, I’ve got swimming.

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

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