Why do I need know courir sur le haricot?
If someone tells you this, it’s probably not a good sign.
What does it mean?
The expression courir sur le haricot, roughly pronounced koo-reer sur luh ah-ree-koh (listen here) literally translates to “run on the bean”. In reality it means “to get on someone’s nerves”. This informal expression is often used to convey mild to moderate annoyance.
The origins of the expression can be traced back several centuries. In the 16th century, courir quelqu’un (to run someone) meant to pester someone. This sense survives in modern expressions such as il me court sur le système (he gets on my nerves) and il me court sur les nerfs (he gets under my skin).
In the 19th century, the verb haricoter entered everyday French. Rather than referring to beans, it described someone who irritated others by nitpicking or endlessly arguing over minor details, especially during negotiations.
Then, in early 20th-century slang, haricot became a humorous nickname for a person’s toes. So if someone court sur le haricot, they are figuratively running over your toes – a rather annoying feeling. The image eventually gave rise to the modern meaning of the expression: to get on someone’s nerves.
Use it like this
Il me court sur le haricot avec ses remarques. – His comments are getting on my nerves.
Tu me cours sur le haricot ! – You’re really annoying me!
Ce bruit commence à me courir sur le haricot. – This noise is starting to irritate me.
