French Idiom · Native
prendre un râteau
to get rejected (romantically)
Pronunciation: prahn-druh un rah-TO
Meaning
To be rejected by someone you are romantically interested in.
Example
Il a essayé de l'inviter, mais il a pris un râteau.
He tried to ask her out, but he got rejected.
Common mistakes & tips
- Practice prendre un râteau 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 native-level French idiom.