Are you an expert in French expressions by now? We hope so, because today’s entry from Expressions bien de chez nous is a test. Do you know the expression connaître quelque chose comme sa poche? Keep reading to find out.

What does it mean?

Let’s break the expression down. First comes the verb connaître, which means “to know”. Then we have the indefinite pronouns quelque chose (something) or quelqu’un (someone). Finally, we have comme (like) and the key word: poche (pocket).

Put it all together and you get: to know something like your own pocket. The meaning is exactly what that image suggests: to have a perfect, thorough knowledge of something, to know every single detail, every corner, every secret. When you know a subject from top to bottom, inside and out, you know it comme ta poche.

Here are two examples to make it click:

“Il veut retourner au pays qu’il connaît comme sa poche.”
He wants to go back to the country he knows like the back of his hand.

“Après 11 ans passés à l’Opéra de Paris, je connais comme ma poche tous les recoins du plateau.”
After 11 years at the Paris Opera, I know every corner of the stage like the back of my hand.

Where does it come from?

Is there anything we know better than our own pockets? We carry them everywhere we go. We slide things into them without looking: keys, coins, little secrets. We know exactly what is in there and precisely where everything sits.

There is no dramatic historical episode behind this one. The expression simply draws on that intimate familiarity we have with our pockets, something we have had with us almost constantly since pockets first appeared in clothing. The saying is believed to date from the 18th century, and its meaning has remained perfectly stable ever since: to know something or someone with great depth and precision.

How to use it in context

Imagine you are an architect and one of the buildings you designed is threatened by an earthquake. Firefighters need to enter urgently to rescue people trapped inside, but all the main entrances are blocked. They call you hoping there is a hidden access point. You do not hesitate for a second:

“J’arrive, je connais ce bâtiment comme ma poche.”
I’m on my way, I know this building inside out.

You can use this expression in many situations: a guide who knows every street of their city, a teacher who has mastered their subject for decades, a local who grew up in a neighbourhood and knows every shortcut. Whenever you want to express deep, detailed, unshakeable knowledge, connaître comme sa poche is the phrase you need.

Keep exploring French expressions

Connaître comme sa poche is a beautifully simple expression: no dramatic origin story, no complicated grammar, just a clear and vivid image that anyone can remember. And once you know it, you will start hearing it everywhere in French conversation.

Do you know a similar expression in your own language? French is full of these little gems. Discover more in our French expressions from Bordeaux series. And if you want to practise using them with native speakers, our French language courses in Bordeaux are the perfect opportunity. You can also test yourself with our online quizzes on French expressions.

After a few weeks in Bordeaux, you will know the city comme ta poche. Come and find out through our cultural activities in Bordeaux.

Channel Trotters: French in Bordeaux