In the literal sense, raconter des salades would mean talking about salads, as if one were describing vegetables or a recipe. Word for word, raconter + des salades does not form a logical image in everyday life. This formula is not used to talk about food, and the literal sense is not what you understand in conversation. For other figurative expressions of the same type, you find this mismatch in Tomber dans les pommes or Être Dans La Lune.

tomatesaladiersaladelaituemélangerassaisonnercroquantconcombre

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La laitue est une feuille verte que l on met souvent dans une salade. Elle apporte du volume et de la fraîcheurCroquant décrit une texture qui fait du bruit sous la dent. C est la joie des dentsUne tomate est un fruit rouge ou jaune que l on utilise souvent en cuisine. Elle donne une saveur juteuseMélanger veut dire réunir plusieurs ingrédients dans un même tout. C est la danse des aliments dans le saladierAssaisonner veut dire ajouter ce qu il faut pour donner du goût. On cherche la bonne doseUn saladier est un grand récipient pour préparer ou servir une salade. Il sert de maison provisoire aux ingrédientsUn concombre est un légume long et frais. Il apporte une texture croquanteUne salade est un mélange d aliments frais que l on mange souvent froid. La partie comestible est généralement croquante et légère

Vocabulary of the literal meaning of salad

Word	Definition
salade	A salade is a mixture of fresh foods that is often eaten cold. The edible part is generally crunchy and light.
laitue	The laitue is a green leaf that is often put in a salad. It adds volume and freshness.
tomate	A tomate is a red or yellow fruit that is often used in cooking. It provides a juicy flavor.
concombre	A concombre is a long, fresh vegetable. It provides a crunchy texture.
assaisonner	Assaisonner means to add what is needed to give flavor. We look for the right amount.
mélanger	Mélanger means to bring together several ingredients into one. It is the dance of the foods in the bowl.
saladier	A saladier is a large container for preparing or serving a salad. It serves as a temporary home for the ingredients.
croquant	Croquant describes a texture that makes noise when bitten. It is the joy of teeth.

Scramble

In common usage, raconter des salades means lying, making up stories or saying false things. The person is not talking about salads at all: they manufacture a narrative to deceive someone, justify themselves or impress. It can be used when an explanation seems invented from scratch, or when someone mixes a little truth with a lot of falsehood. For example: Arrête de raconter des salades, je sais très bien que tu n’étais pas au travail.

inventerexagérerraconter des saladesbaratinmentirbobardn importe quoibluffer

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Le baratin est un discours qui embrouille ou qui convainc mal. On entend beaucoup de mots et peu de véritéBluffer veut dire faire croire qu on sait ou qu on a plus qu on n a vraiment. On impressionne les autres avec du ventMentir signifie ne pas dire la vérité volontairement. On cache ou on transforme les faitsInventer veut dire fabriquer une histoire dans sa tête. Le récit n existe pas dans la réalitéL expression n importe quoi sert à dire qu un discours est absurde ou sans logique. Elle marque le rejetCette expression veut dire dire des choses fausses ou inventées. On l emploie pour un discours peu crédibleUn bobard est une petite mensonge raconté pour tromper ou amuser. Le mot est familierExagérer signifie rendre quelque chose beaucoup plus grand ou plus fort qu il ne l est. Le but est souvent d impressionner

Figurative meaning of raconter des salades

Word	Definition
raconter des salades	This expression means telling false or invented things. It is used for a discourse that is not credible.
mentir	Mentir means not telling the truth intentionally. Facts are hidden or distorted.
inventer	Inventer means to make up a story in one’s head. The tale does not exist in reality.
bluffer	Bluffer means to make others believe that you know more or have more than you really do. You impress others with nothing.
exagérer	Exagérer means to make something much bigger or stronger than it is. The aim is often to impress.
n importe quoi	The expression n importe quoi is used to say that a discourse is absurd or illogical. It signals rejection.
bobard	A bobard is a little lie told to deceive or amuse. The word is informal.
baratin	The baratin is a speech that confuses or convinces poorly. You hear many words and little truth.

Scramble

The expression is very informal. It is said mainly in speech, in direct conversation, and it often sounds mocking, skeptical or annoyed. We use it when we don’t believe the person or when we want to make them understand that we see through their game. In a more neutral register, one would rather say mentir or inventer. In contexts more light or familiar, one can also hear phrases close like Poser un Lapin or Mettre Les Pieds, which also keep a very oral tone.

Casual register and tone of the expression

Usage	Explanation
Casual register	This expression is used in a very familiar language and never in an official situation.
Mocking tone	It is often used to gently tease someone who exaggerates or improvises.
Annoyed tone	It is also used when you are tired of a doubtful or too long speech.
Spontaneous spoken	The expression is mainly natural in speech, in a lively and direct discussion.

People often say Tu racontes des salades or Il nous raconte des salades when someone gives a dubious excuse, exaggerates their abilities or tells an unreliable version of the facts. The expression serves to denounce a bluff, an invented excuse, a hollow promise or a story too good to be true. Example: Il m’a dit qu’il connaissait le patron, mais franchement, il raconte des salades. It is also used when an explanation keeps changing and you sense that the person is improvising.

Situations where the expression is used

Idea
It is used when you think someone is lying openly.
It is used when someone adds unbelievable details to their story.
It is used when a person gives themselves importance without proof.
It is used when a discourse seems unreliable or cobbled together.
It is often used to cut short a doubtful chatter.

The expression is mainly known in France and part of familiar French. It is closer to mentir and to raconter n’importe quoi, but it adds a more expressive and more oral nuance. Mentir describes the act of telling the false. Raconter n’importe quoi emphasizes the absurdity or lack of seriousness of the discourse. Raconter des salades often blends the two ideas, with in addition a tone of reproach or mockery. It can be used without referring to a big organized lie, simply to signal that a discourse is not credible.

mentirraconter n importe quoiraconter des saladesbaratiner

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Ce verbe est plus neutre et plus général que l expression familièreCette expression est très courante en français familier pour dire qu une personne ment ou inventeCe verbe est plus oral et plus rusé et met l accent sur le discours qui embrouilleCette formule est proche en sens et insiste sur l idée d absurdité ou de parole sans logique

Proximity to other French formulations

Region	Variant	Definition	Example
France	raconter des salades	This expression is very common in colloquial French for saying that a person is lying or making things up.	En France, on dit qu il raconte des salades quand son histoire paraît farfelue.In France, people say that he raconter des salades when his story seems far-fetched.
France	raconter n importe quoi	This expression is close in meaning and emphasizes the idea of absurdity or illogical speech.	Tu raconte n importe quoi quand tu parles d un taxi sur la lune.You say anything when you talk about a taxi on the moon.
France	mentir	This verb is more neutral and more general than the colloquial expression.	Il ment au lieu de raconter des salades.He lies instead of raconter des salades.
France	baratiner	This verb is more oral and craftier and emphasizes speech that confuses people.	Il baratine le voisin avec son faux diplôme de pirate.He sweet-talks the neighbor with his fake pirate diploma.

Scramble