In 15 Seconds
- To sideline or exclude someone from a group or activity.
- Derived from sports, meaning to be sent to the touchline.
- Commonly used for office politics or social exclusion.
Meaning
Imagine a player being sent to the sidelines during a game. This phrase means to sideline someone, exclude them, or push them out of the action.
Key Examples
3 of 6Discussing office politics
Depuis l'arrivée du nouveau patron, Marc a été mis sur la touche.
Since the new boss arrived, Marc has been sidelined.
Feeling left out of a friend group
Je me sens un peu sur la touche depuis qu'ils sortent sans moi.
I feel a bit left out since they've been going out without me.
Texting about a project
Ils m'ont mis sur la touche pour le dossier Smith. Pas cool.
They sidelined me for the Smith file. Not cool.
Cultural Background
The 'mise au placard' is a recognized psychological phenomenon in French offices. It is often seen as a passive-aggressive way to force a resignation without paying severance. Football is the most popular sport in France. Most French people, even those who don't like sports, understand 'la touche' because of the massive cultural impact of the World Cup and Ligue 1. In Quebec, while 'mettre sur la touche' is understood, you might also hear 'mettre sur les lignes de côté' (a more direct translation of the English 'sidelines'). Political talk shows (like 'C dans l'air') frequently use this phrase to describe the 'traversée du désert' (crossing of the desert) of politicians who have lost their influence.
Use the Passive
In 80% of cases, you will hear this in the passive voice: 'Il a été mis sur la touche.' Practice this form first.
Gender Agreement
If you are talking about a woman, don't forget the 'e': 'Elle a été mise sur la touche.'
In 15 Seconds
- To sideline or exclude someone from a group or activity.
- Derived from sports, meaning to be sent to the touchline.
- Commonly used for office politics or social exclusion.
What It Means
Think about a soccer match. The touche is the sideline. If you are mis sur la touche, you are no longer in the game. You are watching from the edge. It means being sidelined or excluded from a project, a group, or a decision. You are effectively benched.
How To Use It
You use this when someone is being ignored. It often describes a professional or social exclusion. You can use it actively: Ils l'ont mis sur la touche (They sidelined him). Or passively: Je me sens sur la touche (I feel left out). It is a very visual way to describe feeling irrelevant.
When To Use It
Use it at work when a colleague is taken off a big project. Use it with friends if someone wasn't invited to the party. It works perfectly for office politics. It also fits when a veteran player is replaced by a younger one. If you feel like your opinion no longer counts, you are sur la touche.
When NOT To Use It
Don't use this for literal questioning or interrogation. Despite some translations, it is about exclusion, not an interview. Avoid it in very formal legal documents. It is too metaphorical for a police report. Also, don't use it if someone is just busy. They must be intentionally or systematically excluded.
Cultural Background
France is a nation of sports lovers, especially football (soccer). The term touche refers to the lines marking the sides of the pitch. In the 1960s, this sports metaphor moved into the workplace. It reflects a French sensitivity to social hierarchy and belonging. Being 'out' is a significant blow to one's professional identity in France.
Common Variations
You might hear rester sur la touche (to stay on the sidelines). Another is être mis au placard (to be put in the cupboard). That one is harsher and usually means being given a useless job. Mettre au ban is a more formal, old-fashioned version. Stick to sur la touche for everyday drama.
Usage Notes
The phrase is highly versatile and fits most social and professional contexts. It is more descriptive than 'excluded' because it carries the visual weight of a sports metaphor.
Use the Passive
In 80% of cases, you will hear this in the passive voice: 'Il a été mis sur la touche.' Practice this form first.
Gender Agreement
If you are talking about a woman, don't forget the 'e': 'Elle a été mise sur la touche.'
Professional Nuance
Use this phrase in job interviews to describe a challenge you overcame: 'J'ai été mis sur la touche, mais j'ai prouvé ma valeur.'
Sports Talk
Using this phrase makes you sound very natural to French natives because of their love for sports metaphors.
Examples
6Depuis l'arrivée du nouveau patron, Marc a été mis sur la touche.
Since the new boss arrived, Marc has been sidelined.
Describes a professional shift where someone loses influence.
Je me sens un peu sur la touche depuis qu'ils sortent sans moi.
I feel a bit left out since they've been going out without me.
Expresses social sadness or exclusion.
Ils m'ont mis sur la touche pour le dossier Smith. Pas cool.
They sidelined me for the Smith file. Not cool.
Short, direct, and perfect for a quick complaint.
À 40 ans, les jeunes me mettent déjà sur la touche !
At 40, the young kids are already benching me!
Uses the sports metaphor to joke about a generation gap.
Si vous ne progressez pas, la direction pourrait vous mettre sur la touche.
If you don't improve, management might sideline you.
A serious warning about career progression.
Tu me mets sur la touche quand tu prends des décisions seul.
You're sidelining me when you make decisions alone.
Used to express a lack of partnership.
Test Yourself
Complete the sentence with the correct form of the idiom.
Depuis qu'il a critiqué le patron, Marc a été ________ sur la ________.
The passive form 'a été mis' is required, and the noun is 'touche'.
Which situation best describes 'mettre sur la touche'?
Julie n'est plus invitée aux réunions de son équipe.
Exclusion from meetings is a classic example of being sidelined.
Match the register with the correct sentence.
Registers: 1. Formal, 2. Neutral, 3. Slang
'Écarter' is formal, 'sur la touche' is neutral, and 'placardiser' is slang/informal.
Fill in the missing line in this dialogue.
A: Pourquoi tu ne travailles plus sur le dossier Alpha ? B: Le nouveau manager ________.
The manager (subject) performed the action on 'me' (object).
Match the idiom to the correct context.
Context: A politician is no longer supported by their party.
Sidelining a politician is a very common use of this phrase.
🎉 Score: /5
Visual Learning Aids
Exclusion Levels
Practice Bank
5 exercisesDepuis qu'il a critiqué le patron, Marc a été ________ sur la ________.
The passive form 'a été mis' is required, and the noun is 'touche'.
Julie n'est plus invitée aux réunions de son équipe.
Exclusion from meetings is a classic example of being sidelined.
Match each item on the left with its pair on the right:
'Écarter' is formal, 'sur la touche' is neutral, and 'placardiser' is slang/informal.
A: Pourquoi tu ne travailles plus sur le dossier Alpha ? B: Le nouveau manager ________.
The manager (subject) performed the action on 'me' (object).
Context: A politician is no longer supported by their party.
Sidelining a politician is a very common use of this phrase.
🎉 Score: /5
Frequently Asked Questions
10 questionsNo, it's neutral. It describes a situation. However, the act of sidelining someone is usually seen as negative.
Generally no. Use 'mettre de côté' (to put aside) for objects like money or clothes.
'Mettre au placard' is much stronger and implies a deliberate attempt to make someone quit their job.
No, the correct preposition is always 'sur'.
Yes, it is universally understood in France, Belgium, Switzerland, and Canada.
You can say 'Je me sens mis sur la touche' or 'Je me sens exclu'.
Rarely. Sometimes it's used for protection (e.g., sidelining a player to prevent further injury), but it usually implies a loss of participation.
Yes, it is acceptable in a professional context to describe organizational changes.
There isn't a single idiom, but 'impliquer' (to involve) or 'mettre au centre du jeu' (to put at the center of the game) are good opposites.
Usually, yes. You are sidelined from a collective activity or group dynamic.
Related Phrases
Mettre au placard
similarTo sideline someone at work by giving them no tasks.
Laisser pour compte
similarTo neglect or abandon someone.
Écarter
synonymTo push aside or remove.
Faire banquette
similarTo sit on the bench (often at a dance or party).
Mettre hors jeu
similarTo put someone offside or out of the game.
