k&k learn french 37 -
se faire un sang d'encre
One of Katia's superpowers is worrying, and in show 37 we take a look at different ways of talking about that in French : "se faire un sang d'encre".
Listen to our explanation of the phrase :
Literal translation
To make yourself a blood of ink
English equivalent
To worry excessively
To worry to bits
To be worried stiff
To be worried to death
To be beside oneself with worry
To fret
To get in a state
To worry oneself sick
French equivalent
S'inquièter beaucoup
Se ronger les sangs
Se ronger les foies
Frog's phrase
Oh là là là... oh... oh, j'attends les resultats de mon examen. Oh, je ne sais pas si j'ai reussi. Oh, je me fais un sang d'encre. Oh là là...
Translation
Oh gosh... oh... oh, I'm waiting for my exam results. Oh, I don't know if I passed. Oh, I'm worried sick. Ohhhh dear.
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My guess it means you get blood as dark as ink.
It probably comes back from times when the emotions where linked to humour (in a medical sense).
You could also say
"se faire de la bile"
OK, maybe I got slightly carried away in the drama of the last example.