The French expression "Je tombe de haut" explained

You are in the right place to learn all the things you ever wanted to know about the basic idiom "Je tombe de haut". More precisely, this includes a full explanation of what it is and how you can use it in everyday life with an audio example. Plus, we also added some useful things like synonyms, slow pronunciation audio, dialogue example and more!

Translation in English

Translation : I am flabbergasted
Literal meaning : I fall from high
Register : Neutral - Basic

Pronunciation example

Slow

Normal

IPA : / ʒə tɔ̃b də o /

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What does it mean?

Definition

Tomber → To fall
de haut→ from high

Just like "Tomber des nues", this expression carries the feeling of being surprised by something. As surprising as suddenly falling from high altitude.

How to use

You can use this expression when you hear something very unexpected, like something shocking in the news. Or when something unexpected happens to you.

For example: someone just tells you extremely surprising news, then you would say: "Je tombe de haut !" (I'm flabbergasted!). Like if the surprise was so intense that you felt dizzy, like if you were free falling.

Synonyms

Tomber des nues. ("To fall from the clouds")
Tomber des nuages. ("To fall from the clouds")
Tomber de sa chaise. ("To fall from your chair")
Tomber du ciel. ("To fall from the sky")

Example in a dialogue

Dialogue

Ton ex vient de se marier

Your ex just got married

Sérieux ? Je tombe de haut !

Seriously? I fall from high!*

Sérieux !

Seriously!