coeur d’artichaut

ByFast French

“Coeur d’artichaut” is a French saying that translates literally as “heart of artichoke” or “artichoke heart.” What it really means is someone who falls in love easily, or it can also mean someone who is fickle in love.

An artichoke is a vegetable with tough leaves on the outside and a much softer centre. Comparing an artichoke to a person is to relate each leaf of the artichoke to someone that person falls in love with. It is someone who falls in love too easily and is not sufficiently reliable to remain in love with one person for the rest of their life.

The idiom dates back to the end of the 19th century. Its original form was the proverb “heart of artichoke, one leaf for everyone.”

Similar English expressions include “to be fickle” and “artichoke heart.”

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

  • faire une frite

    ByFast French

    The French expression “faire une frite” literally means “to make a fry” or “to make a French fry.” However it has nothing to do with cooking. Instead it means to use the backs of your fingers to whip someone’s bottom in a downwards direction. This action, often done by kids teasing each other, will leave…

  • Verb: Avoir

    ByFast French

    The French verb “avoir” is a fundamental verb that holds great importance in the French language. Translated as “to have” in English, “avoir” is an irregular verb that appears in various contexts and is used in a multitude of expressions. Let’s explore the verb “avoir” and its significance in French. Firstly, let’s look at its…

  • verb: se moquer de

    ByFast French

    Etymology of “Se Moquer De” The verb “se moquer de” finds its roots in Old French, where the word “mocquer” meant “to mock” or “to make fun of.” Over time, this verb evolved, and the reflexive form “se moquer de” emerged. Usage of “Se Moquer De”

  • il se peut que

    ByFast French

    The French phrase “il se peut que” is commonly used in everyday conversation to express possibility or uncertainty. In English, it translates to “it may be that” or “it is possible that.” This phrase is often followed by a verb in the subjunctive mood, which is used to convey doubt, possibility, or uncertainty. Breaking Down…

  • voir

    ByFast French

    The French verb “voir” primarily means “to see.” It can be used in various contexts and expressions, such as: Present Tense Pronoun Conjugation Je vois Tu vois Il/Elle voit Nous voyons Vous voyez Ils/Elles voient Passé Composé Pronoun Conjugation J’ ai vu Tu as vu Il/Elle a vu Nous avons vu Vous avez vu Ils/Elles…

  • pouvoir

    ByFast French

    The French verb “pouvoir” means “to be able to” or “can” in English. It is an irregular verb that is commonly used in everyday communication. Here is its conjugation in the present tense: “Pouvoir” is used to express ability, permission, or possibility in various contexts. Its conjugations may change depending on the subject pronoun and…