Learning French
When and why do we say le moral dans les chaussettes?
We explore this useful expression that describes low spirits
Use this French expression to say that you are feeling glum or down in the dumps
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What does avoir le moral dans les chaussettes mean?
Word for word, avoir le moral dans les chaussettes means: to have morale in your socks.
Far from feeling positive, to avoir le moral dans les chaussettes means that you are down in the dumps, or in low spirits, and lacking motivation.
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.
A similar sad French expression is: avoir le cafard (literally, to have the cockroach).
What are the origins of avoir le moral dans les chaussettes?
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.
When do you say avoir le moral dans les chaussettes?
Say it when you are feeling blue:
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