French Expression · Advanced
Il y a anguille sous roche
Something fishy is going on / There's something suspicious
Pronunciation: eel ee ah ahn-GHEEY soo ROHSH
Meaning
To suggest that there is a hidden problem, a secret, or something suspicious about a situation.
Example
Il est parti sans un mot. Il y a anguille sous roche, je pense.
He left without a word. I think something fishy is going on.
Common mistakes & tips
- Practice Il y a anguille sous roche out loud — read the pronunciation guide above and repeat.
- Use it in your own sentence today; reuse beats rereading.
- Pay attention to context: this is a advanced-level French expression.