See also:
👉 Faire conjugation charts (with audio) »
👉 Faire usage examples »
Published April 23, 2020 · Updated March 7, 2026 — Lesson written by French teacher David Issokson for students who want to learn French online, with native audio by Marie Assel Cambier, a voice artist from France.
The verb faire (to do, to make) appears in hundreds of everyday French expressions. In this lesson you’ll learn 70 common French expressions with faire, covering daily activities, hobbies, sports, household tasks, and idiomatic expressions used in real conversation.
Instead of translating directly, faire often combines with a noun to create a specific meaning, similar to English expressions like “to take a walk” or “to make a decision.” For example:
- faire la cuisine — to cook
- faire du sport — to play sports / exercise
- faire la queue — to wait in line
These expressions appear constantly in spoken French. Learning them will help you understand everyday conversations and express actions more naturally.
Below you’ll find the expressions grouped by category to make them easier to learn and remember.
🧑🍳 Everyday actions
faire la cuisine — to cook
faire la vaisselle — to do the dishes
faire le ménage — to clean the house
faire la lessive — to do the laundry
faire le lit — to make the bed
faire les courses — to go grocery shopping
faire les magasins — to go shopping
faire la queue — to wait in line
faire une promenade — to take a walk
faire un voyage — to take a trip
🏡 Household tasks
faire les carreaux — to clean the windows
faire le plein — to fill the gas tank
faire des achats — to make purchases
faire des économies — to save money
faire des réparations — to make repairs
🎨 Hobbies and leisure
faire de la musique — to make/play music
faire de la danse — to dance
faire de la photo — to do photography
faire de la couture — to sew
faire du jardinage — to garden
faire de la lecture — to read
faire de la peinture — to paint
faire du bénévolat — to volunteer
⚽ Sports and physical activities
faire du sport — to exercise / play sports
faire du vélo — to ride a bike
faire du ski — to ski
faire de la natation — to swim
faire de la randonnée — to hike
faire du jogging — to jog
faire du yoga — to do yoga
faire de la gymnastique — to do gymnastics
💬 Social and everyday interactions
faire des amis — to make friends
faire la connaissance de quelqu’un — to meet somebody
faire la fête — to party
faire la bise — to kiss on the cheek (French greeting)
faire une promesse — to make a promise
faire une suggestion — to make a suggestion
💡 Common idiomatic expressions
faire semblant — to pretend
faire attention — to pay attention
faire exprès — to do something on purpose
faire confiance à quelqu’un — to trust someone
faire face à — to face / confront something
faire peur — to frighten
faire mal — to hurt
faire du bien — to feel good / do good
faire des progrès — to make progress
faire une erreur — to make a mistake
🗣️ Colorful idioms
faire la tête — to sulk
faire la grasse matinée — to sleep in
faire long feu — to fizzle out
faire une réponse de Normand — to not say yes or no
faire une croix sur quelque’chose — to kiss something good-bye
faire des pieds et des mains — to move heaven and earth
faire la fine bouche — to be finicky
faire la pluie et le beau temps — to call the shots
ne pas faire un pli — to be sure
se faire la malle — to get packing, to take off
se faire tirer l’oreille — to scold somebody severely
se faire un sang d’encre — to be worried sick
faire la mouche du coche — to be a busybody
faire des gorges chaudes — to mock
faire l’école buissonnière — to play hooky
faire un tabac — to be a big hit
faire d’une pierre deux coups — to kill two birds with one stone
faire chou blanc — to come up empty-handed
faire la sourde oreille — to turn a deaf ear
faire la moue — to pout / sulk
en faire tout un fromage — to make a big deal out of something
faire les quatre cents coups — to live wildly / get into trouble
See also:
👉 Faire conjugation charts (with audio) »
👉 Faire usage examples »
Where to go next?
👉 Common French Expressions »
👉 French vocabulary hub (150 lists) »
👉 Word of the Day lessons »
Faire Expressions — Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
What are faire expressions in French?
Faire expressions are phrases that combine the verb faire (to do or make) with a noun to create a specific meaning. Examples include faire la cuisine (to cook), faire du sport (to exercise), and faire la queue (to wait in line).
Why do French use “faire” in so many expressions?
French often uses the verb faire with nouns to describe activities. Instead of using many different verbs, French groups actions into expressions such as faire du vélo (to ride a bike) or faire la cuisine (to cook).
Are faire expressions common in everyday French?
Yes. Many daily activities are expressed with faire, especially hobbies, sports, and household tasks. Learners encounter these expressions early when studying basic vocabulary.
How many faire expressions exist in French?
There are hundreds of expressions using faire. Some describe activities (faire du sport), while others are idioms (faire semblant — to pretend).
Are faire expressions difficult to learn?
Not usually. Most follow simple patterns such as faire + de + activity or faire + la/le + task. Once you learn the structure, they become easy to recognize and use.
