French word

ras-le-bol

Pronunciation

IPA/ʁaləbɔl/

Meaning

  • masculine nounenough

Example

J'en ai ras-le-bol de ce travail.

I've had enough of this job.

Illustration for ras-le-bol (enough)

More examples

Je commence à avoir le ras-le-bol de ses mensonges.

I'm starting to get fed up with his lies.

Core concept

A bowl filled exactly to its rim, with no room left for another drop.

Common phrases

  • avoir le ras-le-bol

    to have had enough

  • en avoir ras-le-bol

    to be fed up with it

  • un ras-le-bol

    a fed-up feeling

Similar words

marre: A strong, informal feeling that no more can be tolerated.
colère: Intense anger or indignation.
frustration: Dissatisfaction caused by unmet hopes or expectations.

Definition in French

Désigne un sentiment d'exaspération ou de lassitude à l'égard de quelque chose, utilisé pour dire qu'on en a assez.

Word origin

The expression combines ras, meaning level with the rim, and bol, a bowl, so a brim-full bowl supplies its metaphor.

Usage tips

  • Ras-le-bol is colloquial and commonly occurs in J'en ai ras-le-bol de ..., while formal contexts call for a more neutral expression.

Other meanings

  • fed upadverb

Opposites

Word lists with this word