Significado
Have a bruised area around the eye.
Contexto cultural
The 'steak on the eye' (un steak sur l'œil) is a traditional French home remedy for a black eye, believed to reduce swelling, similar to the cold compress in other cultures. Beurre noir was a classic sauce made with browned butter, vinegar, and capers. It is now rarely served because burnt butter is considered carcinogenic, but the idiom remains. In Quebec, the expression is well-understood, but you might also hear 'avoir un œil au beurre noir' used interchangeably with more English-influenced terms in very informal settings. 19th-century authors like Émile Zola used such idioms to ground their characters in the working-class reality of Paris.
Remember the 'au'
Always use 'au' (à + le). Using 'dans' or 'de' is a common mistake for English speakers.
Plural change
If you have two black eyes, remember that 'œil' becomes 'yeux'. 'Des yeux au beurre noir'.
Significado
Have a bruised area around the eye.
Remember the 'au'
Always use 'au' (à + le). Using 'dans' or 'de' is a common mistake for English speakers.
Plural change
If you have two black eyes, remember that 'œil' becomes 'yeux'. 'Des yeux au beurre noir'.
Use 'coquard' for street cred
If you want to sound like a native in a casual setting, use 'un coquard' instead.
Ponte a prueba
Complete the sentence with the correct words.
Après être tombé de vélo, Marc a un œil ___ beurre ___.
The standard idiom is 'au beurre noir'.
What does 'avoir un œil au beurre noir' mean?
Si quelqu'un a un œil au beurre noir, qu'est-ce que cela signifie ?
It's the idiomatic way to say someone has a black eye.
Match the register with the correct sentence.
Registers and sentences
Each sentence corresponds to a different level of formality.
Fill in the missing part of the dialogue.
A: Pourquoi portes-tu des lunettes de soleil à l'intérieur ? B: Parce que j'ai un ___.
The full phrase is 'œil au beurre noir'.
🎉 Puntuación: /4
Ayudas visuales
Banco de ejercicios
4 ejerciciosAprès être tombé de vélo, Marc a un œil ___ beurre ___.
The standard idiom is 'au beurre noir'.
Si quelqu'un a un œil au beurre noir, qu'est-ce que cela signifie ?
It's the idiomatic way to say someone has a black eye.
Empareja cada elemento de la izquierda con su par de la derecha:
Each sentence corresponds to a different level of formality.
A: Pourquoi portes-tu des lunettes de soleil à l'intérieur ? B: Parce que j'ai un ___.
The full phrase is 'œil au beurre noir'.
🎉 Puntuación: /4
Preguntas frecuentes
5 preguntasNo, it's a standard descriptive idiom. However, be sensitive to how they got it!
No, this is strictly for the eye. For the arm, just say 'un bleu'.
Rarely. It's mostly replaced by 'beurre noisette' in modern cooking for health reasons.
'Œil noir' is the color of the iris or an angry look. 'Œil au beurre noir' is a bruise.
You say 'faire un œil au beurre noir à quelqu'un'.
Frases relacionadas
Avoir un coquard
synonymTo have a black eye (slang).
Avoir un bleu
similarTo have a bruise.
Avoir un œil en compote
builds onTo have a badly beaten/swollen eye.
Se faire un sang d'encre
similarTo worry excessively.
