Getting Your Point Across at Work in France
French expressions for presenting clearly, keeping a meeting on track and handing over smoothly.
French meetings value a clear structure: announce your plan, get to the point and sum up (« bref », « en gros »). Colleagues usually tu each other in most offices, but you address a whole group or a senior manager with vous. Idioms like « tourner autour du pot » or « noyer le poisson » are everyday office French, not just literary.
- 1
Allons droit au but.
Let's get straight to the point.
- 2
En gros, les ventes ont augmenté de 10 %.
In a nutshell, sales went up by 10%.
- 3
Autrement dit, il nous faut plus de temps.
In other words, we need more time.
- 4
Vous voyez ce que je veux dire ?
Do you see what I mean? (to a group)
- 5
Ne tournons pas autour du pot.
Let's not beat around the bush.
- 6
Je vais faire court.
I'll keep it short.
- 7
Tu as mis le doigt dessus.
You've hit the nail on the head. (to a colleague)
- 8
J'ai eu un blanc.
My mind went blank.
- 9
Raconte une blague pour briser la glace.
Tell a joke to break the ice.
- 10
Tu as mis le public dans ta poche.
You won the audience over.
- 11
Bref, ça vaut le coup.
Basically, it's worth it.
- 12
Je passe la parole à Inès.
I'll hand over to Inès.
- 13
Si vous me permettez, j'ajouterais une chose.
If I may, I'd like to add one thing.
- 14
Si vous avez des questions, n'hésitez pas.
If you have any questions, don't hesitate.
- 15
C'est en forgeant qu'on devient forgeron.
Practice makes perfect.
Tip: A proverb about a craftsman at his anvil.
- 16
Entrons dans le vif du sujet.
Let's get down to the heart of the matter.
- 17
J'ai perdu le fil.
I lost my train of thought.
- 18
Ne noie pas le poisson.
Don't dodge the issue.
Tip: To a colleague. An image about drowning a fish.
- 19
On est sur la même longueur d'onde.
We're on the same wavelength.
- 20
Parle haut et fort.
Speak loud and clear.