French Phrase
Des fois, si c'est un gros match.
Meaning
Literally, 'Sometimes, if it's a big match.' The speaker is saying that they might do something (e.g., go out, watch TV) only on the occasion of an important sports game.
When to use
Use this informal phrase when talking about sports events, planning activities, or expressing that a certain behavior only happens on the occasion of a major match.
✦Grammar Breakdown
Desfois,sic'estungrosmatch.
Des fois
An informal adverbial phrase meaning 'sometimes' or 'occasionally'.
si
A conjunction meaning 'if' that introduces a condition.
c'est
Contraction of 'ce' + 'est', used to say 'it is' or 'that is'.
un gros match
'gros' (big) modifies 'match' (a sports game). 'Match' is masculine, so the article is 'un'.
🗨In Conversation
Tu viens au bar ce soir ?
Are you coming to the bar tonight?
Des fois, si c'est un gros match.
Sometimes, if it's a big match.
✕Common Mistakes
Des fois, si c'est un gros match.
While understandable, native speakers more often say 'grand match' when referring to the importance of a game.
Des fois, si c'est un gros match.
In formal contexts, replace with 'Parfois' to avoid sounding too colloquial.
Des fois, si il est un gros match.
Do not use 'il est' here; 'c'est' is required because the subject is a concept ('un gros match').
↔Alternatives
Parfois, si c'est un grand match.
Sometimes, if it's a great match.
Il arrive que, si c'est un match important, je vienne.
It happens that, if it's an important match, I come.
Quand c'est un gros match, je viens parfois.
When it's a big match, I sometimes come.
Cultural Tip
In French, the word 'match' is borrowed from English and is used for most team sports (football, rugby, tennis, etc.). 'Gros match' emphasizes the size or importance of the game, but many speakers prefer 'grand match' for the nuance of importance. 'Des fois' is colloquial; in formal writing you would use 'parfois'.