Summary
A lighthearted and very French way to say "I fainted" but literally about falling into apples! This idiom is perfect for beginner to intermediate learners who want to sound more natural in conversation.
Tomber dans les pommes
Difficulty & Formality
33% - Beginner to Intermediate
80% - Casual, but widely accepted
Daily conversation
Meaning
Literal translation:
To fall into the apples
Real meaning:
To faint or lose consciousness
This idiom paints a vivid picture, but rest assured no apples are actually involved when a French person says this.
Example
Quand elle a vu le prix du sac Chanel, elle est tombée dans les pommes.
When she saw the price of the Chanel bag, she fainted.
Origin / Fun Fact
This quirky phrase likely evolved from the 19th-century expression "tomber en pames" an old literary way of saying someone fainted (pame = swoon). Over time, pames morphed into pommes (apples), possibly due to mishearing or wordplay. The new version stuck and now it's deliciously confusing.
Variations Based on Formality
Phrase
Meaning
Formality Level
J'ai fini a l'hosto !
I ended up in the hospital!
Je suis tombé dans les pommes.
I fainted.
Je me suis évanoui(e).
I lost consciousness.
Your Turn
Have you ever fainted in an embarrassing situation? Or maybe you know someone who "fell into the apples" at the worst possible moment?
Share your story in the comments below we'd love to hear your French fainting tales!
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About Alexis
Alexis is the creator behind the popular Instagram accounts @french.expressions and @expresiones.francesas, where thousands of language learners discover French idioms through engaging visual content.
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