-
Learning French: les carottes sont cuites and 10 other food idioms
Salads, carrots, apples, and onions are all used in common phrases. How many do you know?
-
Learning French: what does être à l'ouest mean and when should it be used?
Say this when someone zones out of a conversation
-
Learning French: enhance your language and cooking skills with TV shows
How watching French cookery shows can improve your vocabulary and culinary techniques at the same time
‘Le moral dans les chaussettes’ - French phrase for when you feel down
We explore this useful expression that describes low spirits

Word for word, avoir le moral dans les chaussettes means to have morale in your socks.
This 20th century expression brings to mind a vertical scale of happiness running from high to low.
If you’re feeling good, your mood is located towards the top of the scale and you could be said to avoir le moral – or to be in high spirits.
At the opposite end of the scale are the socks on your feet; the closest you can possibly get to the ground.
Read more: Covid France and mental health: 4 platforms with support in English
Read more: Mental health appointments to be made more affordable in France
Far from feeling positive, to avoir le moral dans les chaussettes means that you are down in the dumps, or in low spirits.
In English we might even say our morale has hit ‘rock bottom’.
This kind of feeling can be brought on by bad luck, bad news, or disappointment.
Related articles
‘Casse-tête’: this French phrase is a conundrum or head-scratcher
‘Usine à gaz’: this French phrase describes a big, complicated system
‘Montrer patte blanche’: French fairytale phrase for trustworthiness