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ORIGINATING IN MIDDLE FRENCH, GUEULE IS A TERM THAT OFTEN APPEARS IN FRENCH SLANG The word gueule has origins in Middle French and was originally used to describe an animal's mouth or

throat.  Over time, it came to be used in colloquial French to describe a person's mouth, especially in informal or crude contexts, and has also come to mean face in some situations. 

Nowadays it is often used in French slang, including in a number of popular expressions.  As you will see with the following phrases, gueule is often used in emotionally charged exchanges as

it carries more impact than bouche or visage.  It is a very informal word that you are more likely to hear in TV series or amongst friends rather than in more professional or academic

settings.  GUEULE DE BOIS - HANGOVER  After a few too many verres de vin you may well have a gueule de bois - a hangover. A typical example of French imagery, gueule de bois translates

literally to wooden mouth or face, a fairly recognisable feeling after too much alcohol. EN PLEINE GUEULE - RIGHT IN THE FACE/SMACK IN THE FACE  En pleine gueule can be used in both the

literal and figurative sense and is colloquial. For example, we could say il a pris un coup en pleine gueule pendant la bagarre (he took a punch right in the face during the fight).  If we

are using it figuratively, we could say quand il a appris la vérité, ça lui a fait l'effet d'un coup en pleine gueule (when he learnt the truth, it was like a smack in the face.)

Meanwhile, if you hear renvoyer quelque chose en pleine gueule it means to throw something back in someone’s face. FAIRE LA GUEULE - TO SULK/BE IN A HUFF  If someone says that tu fais la

gueule, it means that you look sulky or huffy. If you are in a mood with someone in particular, we use faire la gueule à quelqu’un.  ARRACHER LA GUEULE - TO BE TOO SPICY/TO BLOW YOUR MOUTH

OFF  Arracher can mean to pull off or tear off, so literally this translates as to tear your mouth off.  It is effective imagery that can be used to describe tastes that are overwhelmingly

strong or spicy, usually with food. However it could also describe something with a very strong or distinctive taste such as vodka - ça arrache la gueule cette vodka ! (that vodka burns!) As

well as being used in literal sense, it can be employed in a figurative way as well, such as hyperbole to describe an experience that particularly stands out.  Read more: Tips for getting a

(French) word in edgeways FERME TA GUEULE - SHUT UP  One we have probably all heard at some point, and which is certainly not polite! Ferme ta gueule is a more extreme version of 'shut

up' in English.  Literally it translates to shut your mouth or shut your face, and is only really appropriate with people you know really well as some people could take offence.  It is

often shortened to ta gueule.  COUP DE GUEULE - ROAR/SHOUT/RANT Depending on the context, a coup de gueule can mean a few different things but is typically a strong expression of discontent

or indignation.  It's used when someone voices their anger or frustration loudly and forcefully, typically about a situation they find unjust or irritating. For example, elle a poussé

un coup de gueule contre les prix élevés (she let her feelings be known about the high prices). QUE DE LA GUEULE - IT’S ALL TALK  Que de la gueule is the English equivalent of all talk and

no action, suggesting there is no substance behind the words being said.  Read more: What is the difference between bilingual and fluent  AVOIR DE LA GUEULE - TO BE VERY IMPRESSIVE  Avoir de

la gueule means to look impressive or to have style and charisma.  It can be used to describe objects, people or events that are particularly standout, for example l’acteur dans ce nouveau

film a vraiment de la gueule (the actor in this new film really has a lot of charisma) or leur mariage avait de la gueule (their wedding was stunning).  SE FENDRE LA GUEULE - TO SPLIT YOUR

SIDES LAUGHING  If you are sharing un fou rire with a friend, you could also say you se fendre la gueule (to split your sides laughing).  Se fendre means to split so this literally

translates to splitting your mouth.