The French saying “être dans la lune” translates literally to “to be in the moon” and is used to mean “to have your head in the clouds”, “to be miles away”, “to be in a dream”, to be lost in your thoughts” or “to be daydreaming”.
être dans la lune
to have your head in the clouds
Expression origin
The expression appeared for the first time in Mirabeau’s novel, Empire of the Moon. The article suggest that the moon has long been associated with dreams and anybody busy staring at it is detached from reality on the ground.
French-to-French definitions include être distrait or absorbé (to be distracted or absorbed in one’s own thoughts).
Example sentences
Il est perdu dans ses pensées. On dirait qu’il est dans la lune.
He’s lost in his thoughts. One might say he’s got his head in the clouds.
Pardon, je pensais à autre chose. J’étais dans la lune.
Sorry. I was thinking of something else. I was daydreaming.
Faites attention! Vous êtes dans la lune ou quoi?
Watch out! Do you have your head in the clouds or something?
References
French expressions | Lessons by David Issokson
