toucher le fond
To hit rock bottom in French is toucher le fond.
The phrase toucher le fond can be used literally, such as to touch the bottom of a container or figuratively to describe reaching the lowest possible point in an emotional state or a situation. For a colloquial way to say you are hitting rock bottom, you can use toucher le fond du trou.
Meaning: Translations (verb)
How does it change in a sentence?
To express the past tense 'hit rock bottom', use the auxiliary verb avoir with the past participle touché to form avoir touché le fond.
Did you know?
- If you are 'at the bottom' of something in a culinary sense, you are likely describing the 'fond de sauce', which is the flavorful brown bits left in a pan. This uses the same word for 'bottom' as the idiom.
- The verb toucher can also mean 'to earn' when talking about money, so 'toucher le fond' carries a strange, unintended linguistic link to 'earning the bottom' of a salary.
- The word toucher likely shares an ancestor with the Frankish word tukkōn, which meant 'to hit' or 'bump'.
Examples in context
- La société a touché le fond après la faillite de son fondateur.The company hit rock bottom after its founder's bankruptcy.
- Après son divorce, il a touché le fond du trou et a dû se reconstruire.After his divorce, he hit rock bottom and had to rebuild himself.
Example conversation
Gabriel is feeling very discouraged about his recent job loss.
- LéaTu as l'air vraiment triste aujourd'hui, Gabriel.You look really sad today, Gabriel.
- GabrielOui, j'ai l'impression de toucher le fond.Yes, I feel like I've hit rock bottom.
- LéaNe dis pas ça, tout va s'arranger.Don't say that, everything will work out.
- GabrielC'est difficile de rester optimiste pour l'instant.It is hard to stay optimistic right now.
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries fond, le, toucher, CC BY-SA 4.0.
