Learn French
with Audio Stories

Try for Free

HOME > FRENCH IDIOMS

All about the French expression "On marche sur la tête"

Ready to find out all the things you need to know about the basic French idiom "On marche sur la tête !"? This include a full guide of what it is and how you can use it in everyday life with an audio example. Plus, we also added some super useful stuff like slow pronunciation audio, dialogue example, literal meaning and more!


Translation in English

  • Translation : It's nonsense!

  • Literal meaning : We walk on the head

  • Register : Informal - Basic

Pronunciation

Slow

Normal

  • IPA : / ɔ̃ maʁʃə syʁ la tɛt ! /

aesthetic french quote marcher sur la tete

Learn French
with Audio Stories

Try for Free

What does it mean exactly?

Definition

You will probably agree that walking on your feet and thinking with your head is a very basic human feature, right?

Then doing the exact opposite would be a huge nonsense, an illogical behavior, right?

That's precisely why, when someone is acting illogically or more generally when some things are nonsense, we have the expression: "Marcher sur la tête".

It means " It's as logical as walking on the head". Ouch.

How to use it

People tend to use it when they are furious toward someone or something.

In the first case, if someone acts illogically, and this is pissing you off: "Mais tu marches sur la tête ou quoi ?!" (But are you walking on your head or what?!)

For the second scenario, let's imagine you are pissed by a nonsense situation and you want to highlight how crazy this is. For example, your friend asks for your opinion about the world's ecological situation, then you might say: "On marche sur la tête".

Here, "On" (It) refers to "People / The world / Humanity" more globally, without targeting one precise person. The situation as a whole is as logical as walking on the head.

↓ Example in a story with translation ↓

Finally, let's see an example in a parallel story with slow audio.

Les signes du zodiaque

Zodiac Signs

KarineAlors, comment c'était ce repas avec ta soeur ?
So, how was that meal with your sister?
RémiBien, mais elle ne veut toujours pas quitter son copain.
Fine, but she still doesn't want to leave her boyfriend.
KarineLaisse-la décider elle-même.
Let her decide for herself.
RémiMais je ne veux pas qu'elle le regrette des années après.
But I don't want her to regret it years later.
KarineJe comprends...
I understand...
RémiElle n'écoute rien... Elle est tellement têtue !
She doesn't listen to anything... She's so stubborn!
KarineC'est parce qu'elle est taureau.
It's because she's taurus
RémiOh non, ne recommence pas avec l'astrologie !
Oh no, don't start again with astrology!
KarinePourquoi ? L'astrologie fonctionne toujours !
Why? Astrology always works!

10%

The story just started!

Get full access to 365 texts and quizzes, including this one.

Discover more

Already a member? Full story and quiz here.

← PREVIOUS

Je suis aux anges !

BACK

To vocabulary list

NEXT →

J'en ai ras le bol

Go to previous text Go to previous phrase
Play or pause audio
Go to next phrase Go to next text

x1

Speed

MANUAL

Mode

SHOW

Translation