Three fun fromage phrases for France’s national cheese day
Today (Thursday, March 27) is la journée nationale du fromage
Celebrate all things fromage with these popular cheesy expressions
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March 27 marks national cheese day in France (la journée nationale du fromage). It was created in 2001 with the goal of celebrating and raising awareness of French raw milk cheese as a “theme of national importance”.
More generally, it promotes traditional cheese-making skills and expertise in various regions.
Le Guide du Fromage website states: “Much more than a food product, [cheese] symbolises our culture, our know-how, the diversity and colour of our land, the variety of animal breeds that have shaped the landscape, and our gastronomic reputation throughout the world.”
Considering how important cheese is in French cuisine and culture, it should come as no surprise that it also features in a host of expressions.
We take a look at some popular fromage-related phrases that you could use to celebrate France’s national cheese day 2025.
Read also: Learning French: helpful vocabulary around cheese
En faire tout un fromage
The literal translation is: making a whole cheese of it.
A more accurate translation, however, would be: to kick up a fuss.
If you have ever complained about something insignificant in front of a no-nonsense French person, they will undoubtedly have told you:
Similarly, you may hear it if a student is fixating on an unimportant detail and the teacher wants to move on:
The expression stems from the complicated cheese-making process which really only requires a simple ingredient, milk.
Read also: Learning French: on va pas chercher midi à quatorze heures
Camembert
Toddlers and young children can sometimes be heard saying camembert as a way of telling someone to be quiet.
This term comes from the older expression: ferme ta boîte à camembert, (tu l’ouvriras pour le dessert).
It literally translates as: close your camembert box, you will open it for dessert.
It is said that the reference to camembert acts as a metaphor for smelly breath, therefore suggesting that someone should keep their mouth shut and stop talking rubbish:
Another variation is: pouet pouet camembert. Pouet is an onomatopoeic reference to the noise of a trumpet or a squeak made by a toy.
Read also: Know your cheeses and their seasons: which to eat in France in March
C’est fromage et dessert
It literally translates as: it is cheese and dessert.
This French expression is similar to the English sayings: it is the full Monty, or it is the whole shebang. In the US you might even hear: it is the whole enchilada.
It is used to imply that someone has pulled out all the stops to do or create something to the best of their ability:
Ma mère a tricoté une tenue complète pour le bébé, avec des pompons et même un petit ours en peluche. C'était fromage et désert ! - My mum knitted a full outfit for the baby, complete with pompoms and even a tiny teddy bear - the whole shebang!
The phrase stems from a reference to French mealtime rituals. After eating a starter (entrée) followed by a main course (plat principal), you could then be served a selection of cheese or a sweet dessert - or sometimes even both!
Read also: Eating faux-pas: habits to avoid when dining in France
