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

Difficulty

33% - Beginner to Intermediate

Formality

80% - Casual, but widely accepted

Usage Context

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

French:

Quand elle a vu le prix du sac Chanel, elle est tombée dans les pommes.

English:

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!

Very informal / slang

Je suis tombé dans les pommes.

I fainted.

Casual / common use

Je me suis évanoui(e).

I lost consciousness.

Semi-formal / formal

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!

Explore Our Free E-Books

Find this expression and many more inside the free e-books here.

0 CommentsClose Comments

Leave a comment

Learn One New Expression per day.
Subscribe to the Newsletter.

Floating Widgets
Follow Us on Instagram

French Expressions © Copyright 2025 – Privacy Policy

Newsletter Sign-up

Learn and discover new French expressions in a fun way

Your data is protected. We do not sell or share your information.