Meaning
Be entirely wrong about something.
Cultural Background
In France, this idiom is often accompanied by a physical gesture: pulling down the lower eyelid with one finger. This means 'I don't believe you' or 'You're wrong.' Quebecers might use 'se fourrer' instead of 'se mettre'. While 'se fourrer' can be vulgar in France, in Quebec it often just means 'to make a mistake.' Usage is identical to France, but Belgians might use it more frequently in political satire in newspapers like 'Le Soir'. In Romandy (French-speaking Switzerland), the phrase is common but Swiss speakers might prefer more literal terms in professional settings to maintain 'la réserve suisse'.
Add 'jusqu'au cou'
If you want to sound like a native, always add 'jusqu'au cou'. It shows you understand the hyperbolic nature of French idioms.
Watch the Reflexive
Don't forget the 'se'. 'Mettre le doigt dans l'œil' sounds like a physical threat!
Meaning
Be entirely wrong about something.
Add 'jusqu'au cou'
If you want to sound like a native, always add 'jusqu'au cou'. It shows you understand the hyperbolic nature of French idioms.
Watch the Reflexive
Don't forget the 'se'. 'Mettre le doigt dans l'œil' sounds like a physical threat!
The Gesture
If you say this, you can pull down your lower eyelid to be extra French.
Test Yourself
Complete the sentence with the correct reflexive pronoun and verb form.
Si tu penses que c'est gratuit, tu ___ ___ le doigt dans l'œil.
The subject is 'tu', so the reflexive pronoun must be 'te'.
Which phrase means 'to be completely and utterly wrong'?
Quelle expression est la plus forte ?
'Jusqu'au cou' (up to the neck) adds maximum emphasis.
Match the response to the situation.
Situation: Votre ami pense qu'il peut apprendre le japonais en deux jours.
Learning Japanese in two days is an unrealistic expectation.
Complete the dialogue.
A: Je crois que le prof a oublié l'examen. B: ________, je l'ai vu avec les copies !
Speaker B is correcting Speaker A.
🎉 Score: /4
Visual Learning Aids
Formal vs Informal
Practice Bank
4 exercisesSi tu penses que c'est gratuit, tu ___ ___ le doigt dans l'œil.
The subject is 'tu', so the reflexive pronoun must be 'te'.
Quelle expression est la plus forte ?
'Jusqu'au cou' (up to the neck) adds maximum emphasis.
Situation: Votre ami pense qu'il peut apprendre le japonais en deux jours.
Learning Japanese in two days is an unrealistic expectation.
A: Je crois que le prof a oublié l'examen. B: ________, je l'ai vu avec les copies !
Speaker B is correcting Speaker A.
🎉 Score: /4
Frequently Asked Questions
10 questionsIt's informal, but not necessarily rude among friends. It's a blunt way of saying 'you're wrong.'
Yes: 'Je me suis mis le doigt dans l'œil.' Remember to use 'être'.
It means 'up to the neck.' It's used for emphasis.
Yes, use 'Vous faites fausse route' or 'Vous vous trompez'.
Usually, it's for a significant mistake or a total misunderstanding.
Because being wrong is compared to being blind to the truth.
No, because 'doigt' is the direct object and it comes after the verb.
Only with colleagues you know very well. Never with clients.
Much more common in speaking.
No, that's not an idiom. People will just be confused.
Related Phrases
Se tromper
synonymTo make a mistake
Faire fausse route
similarTo be on the wrong track
Avoir tout faux
synonymTo be completely wrong
Prendre des vessies pour des lanternes
similarTo be utterly deluded
