This French expression doesn't have anything to do with the size of your mouth.
Why do I need to know faire la fine bouche?
If you've ever turned down a dish or been a little too picky about your food, don't be surprised if a French person tells you you're en train de faire la fine bouche.
What does it mean?
The expression faire la fine bouche, roughly pronounced fair lah feen boosh (listen here), literally translates to "have a delicate mouth". But in reality, it means "to be fussy" or "to be picky".
The expression emerged during the Renaissance, when food and dining habits became important markers of social status in French courts. Faire la fine bouche was used to describe nobles who rejected foods they considered too ordinary, often suggesting snobbery.
From the 17th century onwards, the expression spread beyond the aristocracy and gradually took on a broader meaning. By the 19th century, it had entered everyday French and could describe anyone being overly choosy or difficult to please, not just when it came to food. Today, it is often used humorously or ironically to describe someone who turns their nose up at something.
Use it like this
Arrête de faire la fine bouche et goûte ! - Stop being fussy and try it!
Il a refusé plusieurs offres d'emploi. Il fait un peu la fine bouche. - He turned down several job offers. He's being a bit too picky.
Avec la pénurie de logements, mieux vaut ne pas faire la fine bouche. - With the housing shortage, it's best not to be too picky.
