B2 Idiom Neutral

Se creuser les méninges.

Rack one's brains.

Bedeutung

To think very hard and intensely about a problem.

🌍

Kultureller Hintergrund

In France, intellectual debate is a national pastime. This phrase is often used in academic or intellectual circles to show that one is taking a problem seriously. The phrase is used identically in Quebec, though you might hear 'se casser la tête' slightly more often in very casual speech. Belgian French speakers use this phrase in the same way as in France, often in professional contexts. Swiss French speakers use this phrase in both formal and informal settings, reflecting the standard French usage.

💡

Use it for effort

Only use this when you are really struggling to find an answer. Don't use it for simple tasks.

💬

Avoid medical confusion

Don't use this in a medical context, as 'méninges' are real body parts.

Bedeutung

To think very hard and intensely about a problem.

💡

Use it for effort

Only use this when you are really struggling to find an answer. Don't use it for simple tasks.

💬

Avoid medical confusion

Don't use this in a medical context, as 'méninges' are real body parts.

Teste dich selbst

Fill in the blank with the correct reflexive pronoun.

Il ___ creuse les méninges pour ce projet.

✓ Richtig! ✗ Nicht ganz. Richtige Antwort: se

The subject is 'Il', so the reflexive pronoun must be 'se'.

Which of these is the correct way to say 'I am racking my brain'?

Choose the correct sentence:

✓ Richtig! ✗ Nicht ganz. Richtige Antwort: Je me creuse les méninges.

This is the standard idiomatic form.

🎉 Ergebnis: /2

Visuelle Lernhilfen

Aufgabensammlung

2 Aufgaben
Fill in the blank with the correct reflexive pronoun. Fill Blank A2

Il ___ creuse les méninges pour ce projet.

✓ Richtig! ✗ Nicht ganz. Richtige Antwort: se

The subject is 'Il', so the reflexive pronoun must be 'se'.

Which of these is the correct way to say 'I am racking my brain'? Choose B1

Choose the correct sentence:

✓ Richtig! ✗ Nicht ganz. Richtige Antwort: Je me creuse les méninges.

This is the standard idiomatic form.

🎉 Ergebnis: /2

Häufig gestellte Fragen

2 Fragen

Yes, it shows you are a dedicated problem-solver.

No, it is perfectly polite.

Verwandte Redewendungen

🔄

Se casser la tête

synonym

To break one's head

🔗

Réfléchir intensément

similar

To think intensely

🔗

Se triturer les méninges

similar

To wring one's brain

🔄

Se creuser la cervelle

synonym

To dig into one's brain

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