15秒でわかる
- Used to express total, utter shock or disbelief.
- Literally means 'to fall from the clouds.'
- Perfect for when you are completely blindsided by news.
意味
Actually, the translation provided in your prompt is incorrect. 'Tomber des nues' means to be completely blindsided or utterly shocked by news you never saw coming.
主な例文
3 / 6Reacting to a surprise promotion
Quand il m'a annoncé ma promotion, je suis tombé des nues.
When he told me about my promotion, I was completely floored.
Hearing gossip about a breakup
Quoi ? Ils divorcent ? Je tombe des nues !
What? They're getting a divorce? I'm stunned!
Learning a secret at the office
Toute l'équipe est tombée des nues en apprenant la nouvelle.
The whole team was blindsided when they heard the news.
文化的背景
The phrase is a favorite of French journalists. You will see it in headlines for everything from sports upsets to political scandals. While used in Quebec, you might also hear 'tomber de sa chaise' (to fall off one's chair) for a similar level of surprise. Molière used this phrase to mock characters who were out of touch with reality, particularly in 'Les Femmes savantes'. On French TikTok or Twitter, the phrase is often used with 'littéralement' for emphasis, even though it's impossible.
Use 'En'
To sound more native, always use 'en' when the cause of surprise was just mentioned: 'J'en suis tombé des nues !'
Check your Auxiliary
Never use 'avoir'. It's always 'Je suis tombé', never 'J'ai tombé'.
15秒でわかる
- Used to express total, utter shock or disbelief.
- Literally means 'to fall from the clouds.'
- Perfect for when you are completely blindsided by news.
What It Means
Imagine you are floating peacefully in the sky. Suddenly, gravity kicks in. You fall straight to the hard ground. That is the essence of tomber des nues. It describes that specific moment of total, jaw-dropping disbelief. You aren't just surprised. You are stunned because you were living in a state of blissful ignorance. It is the French equivalent of saying 'you could have knocked me over with a feather.'
How To Use It
You use this phrase when someone drops a bombshell. It functions as a verb, so you conjugate tomber like any regular -er verb. Most of the time, you will use it in the past tense (je suis tombé(e) des nues). It perfectly captures the 'before' and 'after' of receiving shocking information. Use it to describe your own reaction or someone else's visible shock. It is a very visual way to say 'I had no idea.'
When To Use It
This phrase is perfect for those 'Wait, what?' moments in life.
- Use it when a friend reveals they are moving to Japan tomorrow.
- Use it at work if a project is suddenly canceled.
- Use it when you find out your quiet neighbor is a rock star.
- Use it in a text when gossip hits the group chat.
It fits anywhere you need to express that you were totally unprepared for the truth.
When NOT To Use It
Don't use this for minor surprises. If you find a five-euro bill in your pocket, you aren't 'falling from the clouds.' That is just a nice surprise. Also, avoid it in extremely tragic or somber situations. If the news is devastatingly sad, this idiom might feel a bit too 'dramatic' or colorful. Keep it for surprises that leave you stunned but not necessarily grieving. It is about the shock of the unknown, not the weight of a tragedy.
Cultural Background
This expression dates back to the 17th century. In classical theater, characters would sometimes arrive on stage via a machine from above. This was the 'deus ex machina.' When a character 'fell from the clouds,' they were entering a reality they knew nothing about. It implies that until that moment, you were 'in the clouds'—disconnected from the truth. The French love this imagery because it suggests a certain level of innocence or naivety that gets shattered by reality.
Common Variations
You might occasionally hear tomber de l'armoire (to fall out of the wardrobe). It means the exact same thing but feels a bit more modern and physical. Another similar vibe is ne pas en revenir. This means 'I can't get over it.' However, tomber des nues remains the gold standard for that 'deer in the headlights' feeling of total surprise.
使い方のコツ
This is a versatile, B2-level idiom that works in almost any social setting. It is slightly more sophisticated than basic 'surprised' synonyms but remains very common in daily speech.
Use 'En'
To sound more native, always use 'en' when the cause of surprise was just mentioned: 'J'en suis tombé des nues !'
Check your Auxiliary
Never use 'avoir'. It's always 'Je suis tombé', never 'J'ai tombé'.
Dramatic Effect
This is a great phrase for storytelling. It adds a bit of flair and drama to your anecdotes.
Agreement
If you are writing, don't forget the extra 'e' for feminine subjects: 'Elle est tombée'.
例文
6Quand il m'a annoncé ma promotion, je suis tombé des nues.
When he told me about my promotion, I was completely floored.
Shows a positive but total surprise.
Quoi ? Ils divorcent ? Je tombe des nues !
What? They're getting a divorce? I'm stunned!
Used in the present tense for immediate reaction.
Toute l'équipe est tombée des nues en apprenant la nouvelle.
The whole team was blindsided when they heard the news.
Professional context describing a collective shock.
J'en reviens pas, je tombe des nues là... 😱
I can't believe it, I'm totally shocked right now...
Very common in digital communication with emojis.
Elle est tombée des nues quand elle a vu le prix du café !
She was shocked when she saw the price of the coffee!
Slightly hyperbolic for a humorous effect.
Nous sommes tombés des nues face à de tels résultats.
We were utterly surprised by such results.
Maintains a polite but expressive tone.
自分をテスト
Conjugate the verb 'tomber' in the Passé Composé.
Quand elle a appris la nouvelle, elle ________ des nues.
We use 'être' and agree with the feminine subject 'elle'.
Which sentence uses the idiom correctly?
Select the natural French expression:
'Nues' must be plural and the auxiliary must be 'être'.
Match the reaction to the situation.
Your best friend, who hates exercise, just finished a marathon.
This is a situation of extreme surprise.
Complete the dialogue with the correct pronoun.
— Tu savais pour leur divorce ? — Non, j'____ suis tombé des nues !
'En' is used to refer back to the news of the divorce.
🎉 スコア： /4
ビジュアル学習ツール
Levels of Surprise
練習問題バンク
4 問題Quand elle a appris la nouvelle, elle ________ des nues.
We use 'être' and agree with the feminine subject 'elle'.
Select the natural French expression:
'Nues' must be plural and the auxiliary must be 'être'.
Your best friend, who hates exercise, just finished a marathon.
This is a situation of extreme surprise.
— Tu savais pour leur divorce ? — Non, j'____ suis tombé des nues !
'En' is used to refer back to the news of the divorce.
🎉 スコア： /4
よくある質問
10 問No, the idiom is fixed. Using 'nuages' will sound like a mistake.
It's neutral. You can use it with friends, but also in a business meeting or a newspaper article.
'Tomber des nues' is much stronger. It implies you were completely unaware and the news was a total shock.
Usually, it's for something unexpected, which is often negative or scandalous, but it can be used for a very big positive surprise too.
'Nue' is a noun meaning cloud. 'Nu' is an adjective meaning naked. They are different words!
Yes, it's a timeless idiom that hasn't gone out of style.
No, we don't use 'de toi'. We say 'Tu me fais tomber des nues' or 'Je tombe des nues en te voyant'.
Yes, 'être sur le cul' is the vulgar/slang equivalent.
It sounds exactly like 'nu' (naked). The 'es' is silent.
Yes: 'Tu vas tomber des nues quand tu sauras !'
関連フレーズ
n'en pas revenir
synonymTo not be able to get over something/to be shocked
être abasourdi
synonymTo be stunned
rester de marbre
contrastTo remain indifferent/unmoved
découvrir le pot aux roses
builds onTo discover the secret/scam
