French Phrase
Arrête-toi, jette-toi par terre et roule tout de suite !
Meaning
A frantic command telling someone to stop, throw themselves on the ground, and start rolling immediately, often used in emergency or comedic contexts.
When to use
Used in high‑energy situations like a sudden obstacle, a playful skit, or when directing someone to perform a quick, dramatic maneuver.
✦Grammar Breakdown
Arrête‑toi,jette‑toiparterreetrouletoutdesuite!
Imperative with reflexive pronoun
When giving a command to one person, attach ‑toi to the verb (e.g., ‘Arrête‑toi’).
Comma usage in French imperatives
Commas separate multiple commands, making the sequence clear.
‘Par terre’ vs ‘sur le sol’
‘Par terre’ is the common colloquial expression for ‘on the ground’.
‘Tout de suite’
Means ‘right away’; placed at the end for emphasis.
🗨In Conversation
Arrête‑toi, jette‑toi par terre et roule tout de suite !
Stop, throw yourself on the ground and roll right away!
D’accord, je le fais !
Okay, I’ll do it!
✕Common Mistakes
Arrête‑vous, jette‑vous par terre et roulez tout de suite !
Use the singular reflexive ‑toi because you’re addressing one person.
Arrête‑toi, jette‑toi sur le sol et roule tout de suite !
‘Par terre’ is the idiomatic way; ‘sur le sol’ sounds overly formal.
↔Alternatives
Stoppe‑toi, jette‑toi à terre et roule immédiatement !
Stop, throw yourself to the ground and roll immediately!
Arrête‑toi, mets‑toi à plat et roule tout de suite !
Stop, lie flat and roll right away!
Cultural Tip
The imperative with the reflexive pronoun (‑toi) adds urgency and a personal touch. In French, using multiple imperatives in a row is dramatic and often heard in movies, theater, or sports coaching.