Learning French
The origins and meaning of lever le coude
We look at how and why French speakers talk about their elbows when inviting their friends for a drink
It is one of France’s many expressions linked to drinking alcohol
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What does lever le coude mean?
It literally translates as: to raise your elbow.
People in France use this phrase as a casual way of describing the act of drinking alcohol, and can sometimes imply getting drunk.
Several expressions involving the verb lever exist in French. Watch out for their different meanings:
Lever le bras (raise your arm) - to put your hand in the air, usually when volunteering or asking a question
Lever les yeux (raise your eyes) - to look to the sky or to roll your eyes
Lever la patte (raise the leg) - to refer to a urinating animal, usually a dog
Lever le pied (raise your foot) - to slow down, usually when in a vehicle
Sans lever le petit doigt (without raising a pinky finger) - to achieve something without making any effort
Se lever du bon/mauvais pied (to get up on the right/wrong foot) - to be in a good/bad mood, usually in the morning
Remember that when se appears before lever the focus shifts from raising an object or thing to raising one’s self.
Lever le coude should also not be confused with se serrer les coudes (to tighten elbows), which refers to the idea of showing solidarity and sticking together via the image of linked arms.
What are the origins of lever le coude?
It is thought that this expression has evolved over time, with the verb changing from plier (to fold) to hausser (to elevate) and then lever around the mid 1700s.
If you imagine the movement that your arm makes when raising a glass to your mouth, it is easy to understand how the saying came about.
When do you say lever le coude?
Say this as an informal way to suggest having a drink:
Ce soir, on va lever le coude avec des amis pour fêter nos fiançailles. - This evening, we are going to have a drink with friends to celebrate our engagement.
J'en ai assez de lever le coude tous les week-ends. Je vais rester sobre ce mois-ci. - I have had enough of drinking every weekend. I am going to go sober this month.
To whom do you say lever le coude?
It is informal language and can be used in casual situations with friends and close family members.
A more neutral way of expressing the same idea would be: prendre/boire un verre (literally: to take/drink a glass).
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
