compter les étoiles

ByFast French

“Compter les étoiles” is a French saying that means “to count the stars,” literally. But what does it really mean? It means to undertake an impossible action, or to try to accomplish something that is virtually impossible to achieve.

The idiom in French dates back to the year 1531, but it comes originally from the Bible, the book of Genesis, chapter 15 verse 5 to be precise. In that section, God tells Abraham to look at the stars and count them, because that is how many descendants he will have. The point is that his descendants will be so numerous as to be uncountable, because attempting to count stars is a task doomed to failure.

Equivalent English expressions are varied and include “to count the stars,” “to bite off more than you can chew,” “to build castles in the air” and “to be in over your head.” None of these, other than the first one, match the sense of the French saying very closely.

Don’t miss out on new posts – subscribe now!

Don’t miss new articles!

Get 1 email a week with new articles about French

We don’t spam! Read more in our privacy policy

Similar Posts

  • gagner ses éperons

    ByFast French

    “gagner ses éperons” is a French saying meaning “to gain one’s spurs.” It means to get a promotion, to rise in rank, or to accede to a higher social status. Similar English expressions include “to earn one’s stripes” or “to win one’s spurs.” The French idiom only appeared in the 19th century, but makes a…

  • que dalle

    ByFast French

    “que dalle” is a French saying that means “nothing” or “nothing at all.” In modern French, “une dalle” is a paving stone, but this has nothing to do with “que dalle.” The origins of this expression are unclear, with a few theories in existence. One is that it comes from the word for a five franc…

  • think

    ByFast French

    There are a few different ways to say “to think” in French. You can use verbs like “penser,” “songer,” “réfléchir,” “croire,” or “considérer.” penser Penser means “to think.” It is related to the English word “pensive,” someone who is thoughtful or in deep thought. It can be used with “à” to mean “to have in…

  • manger sur le pouce

    ByFast French

    The French saying “manger sur le pouce” translates literally as “to eat on the thumb.” Figuratively, however, it means “to eat quickly,” “to eat rapidly,” or “to eat hastily.” It dates back to the 19th century. People like factory workers and soldiers often ate on the spot, with one hand holding a piece of bread…