au plafond

/o pla.fɔ̃/◆idiom
to the max

Il est énervé au plafond !

He's furious to the max!

◆ What It Really Means
extremely angry or upset
Literal Meaning
to the ceiling
Literal Breakdown
auto the+plafondceiling
◇ Mental Image
The image of emotions reaching the ceiling suggests an overwhelming, almost physical intensity.
◈ When to Use
Imagine someone slamming their fists on a table in anger—this idiom captures that level of fury.
◉ Cultural Note
In French culture, expressions involving physical spaces (like ceilings) are often used to describe intense emotions, reflecting a vivid, almost theatrical approach to emotional expression.
informal

extremely angry or upset

Après l'annonce du licenciement, il était au plafond.

After the layoff announcement, he was furious.

Elle était au plafond quand elle a appris la nouvelle.

She was livid when she heard the news.

Often used to describe intense emotional reactions, especially anger or frustration.

Collocations

être au plafondto be furiousmettre quelqu'un au plafondto infuriate someone

Antonyms

Related Phrases

monter au plafondphrasal verb
to skyrocket (prices)

Pro Tip

Emotional intensity

Use 'au plafond' to emphasize extreme anger or frustration, similar to 'to the max' or 'livid' in English.

Gold Rule

Context matters

This idiom is almost always negative. Avoid using it for positive emotions.

Word Origin

Literal meaning 'to the ceiling' (au plafond) metaphorically extends to extreme emotional states, as if emotions are so intense they reach the ceiling.

Usage Notes

Common in spoken French, particularly in informal contexts. Often used with verbs like 'être' or 'mettre'.

Word Breakdown

au
to the
preposition
+
plafond
ceiling
noun
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