French Phrase
Il est de très mauvais poil.
Meaning
This idiomatic expression literally translates to 'he is of very bad hair.' It is a common way to say someone is grumpy, irritable, or in a foul mood. The phrase emphasizes a temporary state of irritability rather than a permanent personality trait.
When to use
Use this phrase in casual settings with friends or family when observing that someone is acting cranky. It is informal but widely understood across French-speaking regions.
✦Grammar Breakdown
Ilestdetrèsmauvaispoil
Être de
In French, many expressions describing a state of being use 'être de' followed by a noun phrase.
Mauvais
This adjective usually precedes the noun it modifies, especially in fixed idiomatic expressions.
🗨In Conversation
Pourquoi est-ce que Marc crie sur tout le monde ?
Why is Marc yelling at everyone?
Ne fais pas attention, il est de très mauvais poil aujourd'hui.
Don't pay attention, he's in a very bad mood today.
✕Common Mistakes
Il est de très mauvais cheveux.
Use 'poil' for this idiom, as 'cheveux' refers specifically to the hair on a human head.
Il a de très mauvais poil.
The expression uses the verb 'être' (to be), not 'avoir' (to have).
↔Alternatives
Il est de mauvaise humeur.
He is in a bad mood.
Il est mal luné.
He is in a bad mood (literally: badly mooned).
Cultural Tip
The expression dates back to the 19th century and refers to the 'poil' (fur) of an animal. Just as a cat's fur stands up when it is angry or threatened, a person 'de mauvais poil' is showing signs of agitation. It is a colorful alternative to the more standard 'mauvaise humeur'.