A1 Idiom ニュートラル

Mettre la main sur

To find, lay hands on

意味

To locate or acquire something after searching for it.

🌍

文化的背景

In French administration, 'mettre la main sur un dossier' is a common phrase used by civil servants when they finally locate a physical file in the archives. In Quebec, the phrase is used identically to France, but you might also hear 'mettre la patte sur' (to put the paw on) in very informal contexts. The phrase is frequently used in 'Faits Divers' (crime news) in newspapers across the French-speaking world.

💡

Use it for the 'Aha!' moment

Use this phrase when you want to sound relieved or successful about finding something.

⚠️

Don't forget the 'la'

It is always 'la main' (singular), never 'les mains' (plural) in this idiom.

意味

To locate or acquire something after searching for it.

💡

Use it for the 'Aha!' moment

Use this phrase when you want to sound relieved or successful about finding something.

⚠️

Don't forget the 'la'

It is always 'la main' (singular), never 'les mains' (plural) in this idiom.

自分をテスト

Fill in the missing verb in the correct form (Passé Composé).

Hier, j'ai enfin ___ la main sur mon vieux journal.

✓ 正解! ✗ おしい! 正解: mis

The past participle of 'mettre' is 'mis'.

Which sentence means 'I found my keys'?

Choose the correct option:

✓ 正解! ✗ おしい! 正解: J'ai mis la main sur mes clés.

The idiom always uses the preposition 'sur'.

Match the situation to the sentence.

The police caught the thief.

✓ 正解! ✗ おしい! 正解: La police a mis la main sur le voleur.

The idiom is used for apprehending people as well as finding objects.

Complete the dialogue.

A: Tu as trouvé un appartement ? B: Oui, j'ai enfin ___ !

✓ 正解! ✗ おしい! 正解: mis la main dessus

When the object is already known, we use 'dessus' instead of 'sur [objet]'.

🎉 スコア: /4

ビジュアル学習ツール

What can you 'mettre la main sur'?

📦

Objects

  • Clés
  • Livre
  • Téléphone
👤

People

  • Voleur
  • Suspect
  • Ami perdu

練習問題バンク

4 問題
Fill in the missing verb in the correct form (Passé Composé). Fill Blank A1

Hier, j'ai enfin ___ la main sur mon vieux journal.

✓ 正解! ✗ おしい! 正解: mis

The past participle of 'mettre' is 'mis'.

Which sentence means 'I found my keys'? Choose A1

Choose the correct option:

✓ 正解! ✗ おしい! 正解: J'ai mis la main sur mes clés.

The idiom always uses the preposition 'sur'.

Match the situation to the sentence. situation_matching A2

The police caught the thief.

✓ 正解! ✗ おしい! 正解: La police a mis la main sur le voleur.

The idiom is used for apprehending people as well as finding objects.

Complete the dialogue. dialogue_completion B1

A: Tu as trouvé un appartement ? B: Oui, j'ai enfin ___ !

✓ 正解! ✗ おしい! 正解: mis la main dessus

When the object is already known, we use 'dessus' instead of 'sur [objet]'.

🎉 スコア: /4

よくある質問

3 問

Yes, but it usually implies you were looking for them or they were trying to hide (like a suspect or a busy boss).

No, it is perfectly polite and neutral.

No, the idiom uses the definite article 'la' regardless of whose hand it is.

関連フレーズ

🔗

Mettre le grappin sur

similar

To catch or seize someone/something.

🔗

Donner un coup de main

contrast

To help someone.

🔗

Faire main basse sur

specialized form

To steal or grab everything greedily.

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