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

Synonyms

furieux en rage exaspéré

Antonyms

calme serein

Related Phrases

au septième cielidiom

on cloud nine

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

to the

preposition

plafond

ceiling

noun

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