péter un câble
What does péter un câble mean? péter un câble is a French moderate that translates to “to lose it, to snap, to go nuts” in English.
Literal Translation
to blow a cable
Meaning & Usage
"to lose it, to snap, to go nuts"
To completely lose your temper or your mind — the French equivalent of 'blowing a fuse.' The image is of an electrical cable snapping under too much voltage. It can describe a single outburst or a complete mental breakdown, depending on context.
Examples in the Wild
'Mon patron a pété un câble quand il a vu les chiffres' — my boss lost it when he saw the numbers. 'Je vais péter un câble si ça continue' — I'm going to snap if this keeps up.
When to Use It
Context
- Casual conversations with friends
- Informal settings where profanity is accepted
- As a spontaneous exclamation
Avoid
- Professional or formal settings
- Job interviews, meetings, or customer-facing situations
Cultural Context
One of French's most common expressions for losing control. 'Il a pété un câble' is how you describe your coworker's meltdown in the meeting. It's vivid, immediate, and universally understood. The related 'péter un plomb' (to blow a fuse) means exactly the same thing — French loves its electrical metaphors for rage.
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