arriver les chose

Using this correctly requires a little bit of grammar teamwork. You can’t just say je arrive les choses (that sounds like you are literally arriving at the things). Instead, you need the word faire (to make/to do). The structure is faire + arriver + les choses. You conjugate faire to match whoever is doing the "making." For example, Je fais arriver les choses (I make things happen). You can use it when talking about your career goals, your manifesting habits, or even just getting your friends to finally agree on a restaurant. It’s a very versatile "power phrase" that works in professional settings and casual pep talks alike. Think of it as your verbal "Just Do It" button. Just don't use it for things that happen naturally, like the rain—unless you’re a weather god, of course.

Imagine you're on a Zoom call and your boss is impressed with a project you finished early. You might say, J'aime faire arriver les choses rapidement (I like to make things happen quickly). Or maybe you’re texting a friend who is procrastinating on their Tinder profile: Il faut faire arriver les choses, sinon tu resteras seul ! (You have to make things happen, otherwise you'll stay alone!). You’ll see this phrase a lot in LinkedIn-style motivational posts or in the captions of French entrepreneurs. It’s also common in sports commentary when a player creates a goal out of nowhere. Basically, anywhere there is action, this phrase is lurking nearby. It’s the soundtrack to a productive Tuesday.

This is your go-to phrase for job interviews. When they ask about your strengths, tell them you are someone who fait arriver les choses. It shows leadership. It’s also perfect for personal growth talk. If you’re discussing your New Year's resolutions or a new fitness routine, this phrase adds a layer of serious commitment. In a social context, use it when you are the one who finally booked the Airbnb for the group trip—you are the hero who made it happen. It’s a great way to express that you are proactive. It also works well when you're giving a pep talk to a teammate or a friend who needs a little nudge. It’s encouraging, empowering, and just a little bit edgy.

Avoid using this for accidental events. If you accidentally dropped your phone, you didn't faire arriver that; it was just a chose qui arrive (a thing that happens). Using the "making happen" version implies intent. Also, don't use it in very somber or tragic situations. If something bad happens to someone, saying "I made things happen" would sound like you’re a villain in a movie. It’s generally a positive or neutral phrase focused on achievement. Also, be careful in very hierarchical settings; telling your superior je vais faire arriver les choses might sound like you’re trying to take their job. Tone it down to aider à faire arriver les choses (help make things happen) if you want to be more humble.

The most common error for beginners is forgetting the faire. If you say ✗ j'arrive les choses, a native speaker will look at you like you just tried to walk through a wall. You aren't "arriving the things"; you are "making them arrive." Another mistake is using the singular ✗ faire arriver la chose. While grammatically okay, the plural les choses is the standard idiomatic way to express the general concept of events or life. Also, watch out for the preposition à. While arriver à means "to manage to," faire arriver les choses does not use it. ✗ Faire arriver à les choses is a big no-no. It's like trying to put pineapple on a traditional Neapolitan pizza—some people might forgive you, but the purists will be hurt.

If you want to mix it up, you can use provoquer le destin (to provoke destiny), which is a more poetic way of saying you’re taking charge. For a more business-oriented vibe, try concrétiser des projets (to make projects concrete). In a very casual setting, you might hear se bouger (to move oneself/get moving), which is the less polite version of making things happen. Another great one is prendre les choses en main (to take things in hand), which is almost a direct synonym. If things are happening on their own, you’d say laisser couler (to let it flow), which is the exact opposite vibe. Choose your fighter based on how much coffee you've had that morning.

Depending on the context, you might see faire arriver quelque chose de bien (to make something good happen). You can also switch the object: faire arriver le changement (to make change happen). In a more passive sense, you’ll hear les choses arrivent pour une raison (things happen for a reason)—the classic consolation prize of phrases. Another variation is the reflexive ça arrive (it happens), which is what you say when someone spills wine on your carpet. But remember, faire arriver is always active. You can even use it in the negative: Rien ne va arriver si tu ne fais rien (Nothing is going to happen if you do nothing). It’s the ultimate reality check.

Is this phrase formal? It’s neutral! You can use it with your grandma or your CEO without any issues. Does it only apply to work? Not at all. You can "make things happen" in your dating life, your hobbies, or even your kitchen. Can I use it for bad things? Technically yes, but it usually implies a positive achievement. If you make a disaster happen, people will just call it a mistake! Is it common? Extremely. It’s one of those "growth mindset" phrases that is everywhere in modern French culture. Can I say it without 'faire'? Only if you want to say "Things are happening" (les choses arrivent), but that loses the cool "boss" meaning we've been talking about.