15초 만에
- Used to describe someone who is extremely lazy or work-shy.
- Literally means having a hair growing in your palm.
- Best used in casual settings with friends, family, or peers.
뜻
This phrase describes someone who is incredibly lazy. It suggests they are so idle that a hair has actually managed to grow out of their palm because they never use their hands to work.
주요 예문
3 / 6Complaining about a roommate
Mon coloc a vraiment un poil dans la main, il ne fait jamais la vaisselle.
My roommate is so lazy, he never does the dishes.
Teasing a friend on the couch
Allez, lève-toi ! Tu as un poil dans la main ou quoi ?
Come on, get up! Are you bone idle or what?
Discussing a lazy colleague with a work-friend
N'attends pas d'aide de sa part, il a un poil dans la main.
Don't expect any help from him, he's incredibly lazy.
문화적 배경
Originating in the 1800s, this phrase highlights the French disdain for those who avoid manual or helpful tasks. It is deeply embedded in the national vocabulary, often used in comic strips and classic cinema to portray the 'lovable slacker' archetype. While other cultures might say 'bone idle,' the French version is uniquely anatomical and humorous.
The Bamboo Upgrade
If someone is beyond lazy, tell them they have 'un bambou dans la main'. It implies the hair has grown into a giant tree!
Watch the Tone
While funny, this can be insulting if said with a mean tone. Use it with a smile unless you really want to start a fight.
15초 만에
- Used to describe someone who is extremely lazy or work-shy.
- Literally means having a hair growing in your palm.
- Best used in casual settings with friends, family, or peers.
What It Means
Imagine someone so still that nature starts reclaiming them. That is the essence of avoir un poil dans la main. It implies a deep-seated, almost chronic laziness. You aren't just having a slow day. You are actively avoiding any form of effort. It is a vivid way to call someone a slacker.
How To Use It
You use it just like a regular verb. The verb avoir (to have) conjugates normally. For example, il a un poil dans la main. You can even exaggerate it. Some people say someone has a bambou (bamboo) in their hand. This means they are beyond lazy. They are legendary for doing nothing.
When To Use It
Use this with friends or family. It is perfect for teasing a sibling who won't help with dishes. You can use it at work with close colleagues. It fits when discussing someone who always avoids their chores. It is a classic 'water cooler' expression. It adds a bit of flavor to a complaint about a lazy roommate.
When NOT To Use It
Do not use this with your boss. Even if they are actually lazy, it is too cheeky. Avoid it in very formal ceremonies or legal settings. It is a colorful idiom, not a professional critique. If you are meeting someone for the first time, stick to paresseux. You don't want to sound too judgmental too soon.
Cultural Background
This phrase dates back to the early 19th century. In French culture, manual labor was the standard for 'real work'. If you don't use your hands, they stay soft. If they stay soft and still, a hair could grow. It reflects a society that values being 'handy' and active. It is one of the most famous idioms in France.
Common Variations
As mentioned, avoir un bambou dans la main is the extreme version. You might also hear poil au creux de la main. Sometimes people just gesture by pointing to their palm. Everyone knows what it means without saying a word. It is a very visual piece of French slang.
사용 참고사항
This is a quintessential informal idiom. It is perfect for casual conversation but should be avoided in professional or respectful contexts where 'paresseux' is safer.
The Bamboo Upgrade
If someone is beyond lazy, tell them they have 'un bambou dans la main'. It implies the hair has grown into a giant tree!
Watch the Tone
While funny, this can be insulting if said with a mean tone. Use it with a smile unless you really want to start a fight.
The Silent Gesture
In France, you can simply stroke the palm of your hand while looking at someone to imply they are lazy without saying a word.
예시
6Mon coloc a vraiment un poil dans la main, il ne fait jamais la vaisselle.
My roommate is so lazy, he never does the dishes.
A very common domestic use of the phrase.
Allez, lève-toi ! Tu as un poil dans la main ou quoi ?
Come on, get up! Are you bone idle or what?
Used as a rhetorical question to provoke action.
N'attends pas d'aide de sa part, il a un poil dans la main.
Don't expect any help from him, he's incredibly lazy.
Professional but informal venting between peers.
Si tu n'avais pas ce poil dans la main, ta chambre serait propre.
If you weren't so lazy, your room would be clean.
Expressing frustration through a common idiom.
J'ai la flemme aujourd'hui... j'ai un gros poil dans la main.
I'm feeling lazy today... I really don't want to do anything.
Self-deprecating use in a text message.
Le protagoniste est attachant mais il a un poil dans la main.
The protagonist is likable but he is bone idle.
Descriptive use in a literary or review context.
셀프 테스트
Complete the sentence with the correct verb form.
Ils sont très paresseux, ils ___ un poil dans la main.
The subject is 'Ils' (plural), so the verb 'avoir' must be conjugated as 'ont'.
Which body part is mentioned in this idiom?
Elle a un poil dans la ___.
The idiom specifically refers to the 'main' (hand) where the hair supposedly grows from lack of use.
🎉 점수: /2
시각 학습 자료
Formality Spectrum
Using 'paresseux' or 'manque de diligence'.
Il est peu travailleur.
Standard everyday language.
Il est très paresseux.
Using the 'poil dans la main' idiom.
Il a un poil dans la main.
Hyperbolic variations.
Il a un bambou dans la main.
When to use 'Avoir un poil dans la main'
Chores
Roommate avoiding the trash.
Office
Colleague dodging a project.
Family
Sibling refusing to help.
Self
Admitting you're being lazy.
연습 문제 은행
2 연습 문제Ils sont très paresseux, ils ___ un poil dans la main.
The subject is 'Ils' (plural), so the verb 'avoir' must be conjugated as 'ont'.
Elle a un poil dans la ___.
The idiom specifically refers to the 'main' (hand) where the hair supposedly grows from lack of use.
🎉 점수: /2
자주 묻는 질문
10 질문It is informal and critical, but not necessarily 'rude' among friends. However, saying tu as un poil dans la main to a stranger would be considered very impolite.
Yes! It’s a common way to jokingly admit you're being lazy, like saying J'ai un petit poil dans la main aujourd'hui.
It literally translates to 'to have a hair in the hand'. The idea is that you haven't used your hand for work in so long that a hair grew there.
In a formal setting, you should use être paresseux (to be lazy) or manquer de motivation (to lack motivation).
Usually, it refers to physical tasks or general effort, but you can use it for anyone avoiding any kind of work.
Yes, it is widely understood in France, Belgium, Switzerland, and Quebec, though regional slang for laziness may also exist.
No, it is too informal for a standard business email. Stick to more neutral descriptions of productivity.
You only conjugate the verb avoir. For example: nous avons un poil dans la main or elle avait un poil dans la main.
It is an exaggerated version of the phrase. It means the person is so lazy that the 'hair' has grown into a thick piece of bamboo.
Not at all. While it's an old idiom, it is still used daily by all generations in France.
관련 표현
être paresseux
to be lazy (standard)
avoir la flemme
to can't be bothered (very common slang)
buller
to idle or do nothing (literally: to blow bubbles)
se tourner les pouces
to twiddle one's thumbs
