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On this page, we are going to explain you all the things you ever wanted to know about the funny idiom “C’est pas tes oignons”.
This include a complete definition of what it is and how you can use it in a normal conversation with an audio example. And also the useful things we sprinkled like synonym, slow pronunciation audio, dialogue example and more!
Oh and if you want, on this page you will find our others idioms tutorials plus the ultimate directory of all our French words pages on this page. Have fun!
Slow pronunciation
Normal pronunciation
The literal meaning is:
This French saying is a way to express “Mind your own business / It’s none of your business“. Because it’s informal, the closest expression in English would be “None of your beeswax“.
But what’s the link with onions?!
This expression comes from the 20th century, where the term “Oignon” (Onion) was slang for both the feet and the ass. It also referred to a mark of independence from women who had a piece of land to grow their onions and sell them.
So “C’est pas tes oignons” became a way to say “Mind your own business. My onion(s), my life“.
Use it like you would use “Mind your own business” in English, but beware that it’s familiar, so avoid using it in formal situations. For a formal version, I recommend you to use “Ça ne vous concerne pas” (It doesn’t concern you).
Dialogue audio
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