il n’y pas de quoi fouetter un chat

The French expression “il n’y pas de quoi fouetter un chat” translates directly to “there’s nothing to whip the cat about”.

English meanings:

  • there’s nothing to get worked up about
  • it’s only trifle
  • it’s nothing to make a fuss about

French meanings:

  • ce n’est pas si graveit’s not such a big deal
  • avoir d’autres choses à faire – to have other things to do

Example sentence:

  • Hier j’ai oublié de faire la vaisselle et mon colocataire m’a grondé. Je lui ai dit «Ecoute, il n’y pas de quoi fouetter un chat!» Yesterday I forgot to do the dishes and my roommate scolded me. I told him, “Listen, there’s nothing to get worked up about!

Synonyms and related language:

  • avoir d’autres chats à fouetterhave better things to do, other fish to fry
  • être énervé to be worked up
  • être sur les nerfs – to be worked up

more French expressions

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