casse-toi
The French phrase for "sod off" is casse-toi.
The phrase is used to tell someone to go away. It is a blunt and direct way to command someone to leave, similar to saying "get lost".
Meaning: go away (verb)
Which one should you use?
While casse-toi is a direct and blunt way to tell someone to leave, it is much more aggressive than the polite partez.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
The phrase is highly informal and can be perceived as rude or aggressive. Other informal alternatives include Fiche-moi la paix! (Leave me alone!) and Dégage! (Get lost!).
How does it change in a sentence?
casse-toi is the imperative singular form used when addressing one person informally. To tell a group of people or a single person formally to go away, use the form cassez-vous.
Did you know?
- In 2011, French President Nicolas Sarkozy caused a national scandal by telling a journalist casse-toi during a fair. This moment is frequently cited as a rare instance of a French head of state using such blunt slang in public.
- The verb casser literally means 'to break'. In the context of casse-toi, it implies 'breaking' oneself away from a location or breaking the current social bond.
- The variation Fiche-moi la paix is much safer for a learner. It uses the verb ficher, which is a milder, almost 'sanitized' version of the much more vulgar verb foutre.
Examples in context
- Casse-toi de ma vue !Get out of my sight!
- Laisse-moi tranquille, casse-toi !Leave me alone, sod off!
- Il m'a dit : « Casse-toi ! »He told me, "Sod off!"
Example conversation
Léa and Lucas are having an argument in a park.
- LéaArrête de m'énerver, Lucas.Stop annoying me, Lucas.
- LucasPourquoi tu es si en colère ?Why are you so angry?
- LéaCasse-toi maintenant !Sod off now!
- LucasD'accord, je m'en vais.Fine, I'm leaving.
