tomber dans le panneau

The French expression “tomber dans le panneau” translates literally to ‘to fall into the net’. English meanings include:

• to fall into the trap
• to fall for it
• to get taken for a ride

Normally “peanneau” means sign as in road sign. However, here it means trap. Here’s an example sentence:

Oh là là, je me suis fait avoir! Il m’a vendu la voiture pour un prix trop élevé! Je suis tombé dans le panneau encore une fois! Oh, I was had! He sold me the car for a price that was too high. I fell into the trap yet again!

Here are some related expressions:

• se faire rouler dans la farine – to get ripped off
• mener en bateau – to take somebody for a ride
• être le dindon de la farce – to be taken for a ride

more French expressions