boire comme un trou
/bwaʁ kɔ.m‿œ̃ tʁu/
To drink like a fish in French is boire comme un trou.
This expression is used to describe someone who drinks alcohol heavily or excessively. While English speakers use the simile of a fish, French speakers use a different comparison to convey the same meaning.
Meaning: drink alcohol heavily (verb)
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase literally translates to to drink like a hole, referring to a hole that consumes or swallows things.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
boire comme un trou is a colloquial and informal expression. You should avoid using it in formal writing or professional contexts.
How does it change in a sentence?
To express that someone drank like a fish in the past tense using the passé composé, you would say il a bu comme un trou.
How do you pronounce it?
/bwaʁ kɔ.m‿œ̃ tʁu/
Did you know?
- Some historians suggest that trou may not be Celtic in origin, but could actually be a borrowing from the Ancient Greek word trûpa, meaning 'hole'.
- The verb boire is a distant relative of the English word 'beverage'.
- While the phrase is used for alcohol, the word trou is also used in the expression un trou de mémoire to describe a sudden memory lapse.
Examples in context
- Il boit comme un trou à chaque soirée.He drinks like a fish at every party.
- Il a vraiment la réputation de boire comme une éponge.He is truly known for drinking like a fish.
- Il aime bien se détendre en buvant un verre de vin, mais il ne boit pas comme un trou.He enjoys relaxing with a glass of wine, but he doesn't drink like a fish.
- Attention, il va boire comme un trou ce soir.Watch out, he is going to drink like a fish tonight.
- Mon oncle pouvait boire comme un trou sans tomber.My uncle could drink like a fish without falling over.
- Je ne veux pas boire comme un trou en vacances.I do not want to drink like a fish on vacation.
Example conversation
Chloé and Gabriel are talking about a mutual friend's behavior at a party.
- ChloéTu as vu Marc à la fête hier ?Did you see Marc at the party yesterday?
- GabrielOui, il a commencé à boire comme un trou.Yes, he started to drink like a fish.
- ChloéC'est vraiment dommage pour lui.That is really a shame for him.
- GabrielIl faut faire attention à sa santé.We must pay attention to his health.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “drink like a fish” translations and entries boire comme un trou, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries boire, boire comme un trou, comme, trou, un, CC BY-SA 4.0.
