se casser
What does se casser mean? se casser is a French moderate that translates to “to get out, to bail, to scram” in English.
Literal Translation
to break oneself (reflexive)
Meaning & Usage
"to get out, to bail, to scram"
The crude way to say 'to leave' — implying urgency or disrespect. 'Casse-toi' (get lost) became nationally famous when President Sarkozy said it to a citizen in 2008. 'Je me casse' means 'I'm out of here' with attitude. It's leaving, but rudely.
Examples in the Wild
'Casse-toi!' — get lost! 'Je me casse de cette soirée' — I'm bailing on this party. 'Il s'est cassé sans prévenir' — he left without warning.
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
The Sarkozy incident at the 2008 Salon de l'Agriculture — where he told a man who refused to shake his hand 'Casse-toi alors, pauv' con' (get lost then, poor idiot) — made this expression internationally famous. It became a political scandal precisely because a president shouldn't talk like that. The phrase was already common; Sarkozy just put it on the front page.
More in French 🇫🇷
View all →garce
“bitch / slut”
Female dog; used as insult toward women.
se barrer
“to get out, to bolt, to take off”
Another crude way to say 'to leave,' slightly less aggressive than 'se casser.' 'Barre-toi' is 'get out of here.' 'Je me barre' is 'I'm leaving.' The word implies leaving quickly, sometimes covertly — sneaking out of a boring party or fleeing a bad situation.
con / conne
“stupid / idiot / asshole (fem: bitch)”
Originally vulgar slang for female genitalia (cunt), now primarily means 'stupid' or 'idiot' in France. The feminine 'conne' is more offensive than 'con'.
pute / putain
“whore / hooker”
Prostitute. 'Pute' is noun form, 'putain' is interjection or noun.
nom de Dieu
“for God's sake / goddamn”
Religious exclamation, mild blasphemy.
crade
“gross, filthy, nasty”
Slang contraction of 'crasseux' (filthy) that became its own word. It describes anything disgustingly dirty — a room, a person, a habit. Less intense than 'dégueulasse' but covers the same territory. The extended form 'cradingue' adds emphasis through its playful suffix.
raclure
“scum, lowlife, bottom-feeder”
What you scrape off the bottom of a pot — the residue, the dregs. Applied to a person, it means they're the lowest of the low, the scum of society. It's a creative insult that paints a vivid picture of worthlessness.
merde
“shit / crap”
Standard exclamation for frustration, disappointment, or surprise. Literally excrement.