TOMBER DANS LES POMMES
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Literally: to fall in the apples
Meaning: to faint
Best equivalent: ?
Yet another French expression that takes roots in the Middle Ages. The earliest version was Tomber dans les pâmes, from the verb Se pâmer, which still means to faint. Pâmes slowly morphed to pommes (apples in French) in this expression. Se pâmer is now more often used in a figurative way of speech.
Se pâmer for someone or something means to fall for someone or something extremely great. It implies a strong feeling of admiration close to fainting.
When the expression Tomber dans les Pommes is still very current, se pâmer is old fashioned and carries a note of irony.
See you tomorrow for the letter S, part of the A to Z challenge!
Evelyne Holingue 
My mom always said things could make her “faint dead away” – I think I’d rather fall into the apples.
Me too!
Only six letters left, Dan. You won the prize of the most loyal supporter of this challenge. Now we’ll see for the French test that follows 🙂
Oh no!
Ah, so se pâmer is equivalent to our “swoon.” As in, “That actor is so handsome, he makes me swoon.”
Yep, Marian that’s about right 🙂
Thank you for another visit as I am heading toward the very last stretch of the challenge.
I fell out of an apple tree once, Evelyne. Does that count? 🙂 And a couple of years ago I went out to gather apples from an old orchard. The ground was covered with huge mounds of bear scat, and I almost fainted. But that might have been messy. –Curt
Of course, you would have one or two stories to add to a French expression:)
I stopped counting the number of times I fell, from a tree or not. When I was a kid I played outside more than inside and I loved it. It didn’t come without a few falls. Mostly from my bike, in fact. I loved speed back then. Since I grew up in Normandy, the land of apples, I’ve also seen my share of apple trees. Gorgeous when they are in full bloom. But I only spotted bear scat when I moved to California. They tend to avoid Normandy and Paris. Thank you, Curt for another fun visit.
Bears don’t have much of a taste for French food. 🙂 I’ve noted you were something of a ‘Tomboy.’ –Curt
I was, although my sister is the one who got all the injuries:)
Sounds like Marshall and me. 🙂
Absolutely:)
Not sure I’d want to faint into the apples but I suppose there are worse places to land. Weekends In Maine
They are definitely worse places. Apples being hard that would hurt, but at least they are edible. Thank you for stopping by as we are both reaching the final line.
Amazing how language changes. Falling into apples may be a bit more pleasant than right onto the floor 😉
And apples taste better:)
c’est vrais 😉
I think that’s correct….??! Lol
Even more simple: C’est vrai 🙂
Haha. That extra ‘s’. Thanks!