arriver at C1 — refined & idiomatic
On this page
Success, and one blunt insult.
The idioms
Arriver à ses fins means to get one’s way, to achieve one’s aims — often with a hint that the methods were not admirable.
Arriver comme un cheveu sur la soupe — to arrive like a hair on the soup — means to turn up at exactly the wrong moment. And il n’arrive pas à la cheville de means he isn’t fit to hold a candle to someone.
💡 Focus at this level: Idiomatic — arriver à ses fins
👨🏫 How to use « arriver » at this level
1. « Arriver à ses fins » often implies cunning.
2. « Comme un cheveu sur la soupe » is vivid and common.
3. « À la cheville de » is a comparison of worth.
Il est arrivé à ses fins.He got his way.
Tu arrives comme un cheveu sur la soupe.You’ve turned up at the worst moment.
Il ne lui arrive pas à la cheville.He can’t hold a candle to her.
On y arrivera.We’ll get there.
🎮 Practise « arriver »
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