Rester Sur Sa Faim
Rester sur sa faim literally translates to "remaining on one's hunger. " It means to feel unsatisfied or unfulfilled, often after an experience that promised more than it delivered. This expression is used when someone expects a certain outcome or level of satisfaction but ends up feeling disappointed.
Imagine you go to a concert because you’re a huge fan of the band, and there's this one song that really gets you going. Three hours later, they play everything... except your favorite song. You sit there, slowly turning into the human version of a deflated balloon. You might say, "Je suis resté sur ma faim," which roughly translates to "I’m still hungry," but really it means, “I came for the song, and instead, you served me a lot of filler and a side of disappointment.” You're left hanging, like someone forgot the punchline to a joke you were really excited to hear.
Origin
The origin of the phrase is all about hunger - both the kind that makes your stomach growl and the kind that leaves your soul feeling a bit empty. Just like when you're waiting for your dinner and all you get is a sad little appetizer, you can feel that same gnawing lack of satisfaction in life. It’s like binge-watching the first season of a show, completely hooked, and then - bam! - you hit the final episode. You’re all set for the next season, but - plot twist - it’s not out yet. You’re left staring at the screen, craving more, with nothing but a looming void where your excitement used to be. It’s the ultimate cliffhanger, but without the drama. It’s as if the universe just shrugged and said, "Sorry, that's all for today!"
Examples
J'ai commencé une nouvelle série télé mais il n'y a qu'une saison et je suis restée sur ma faim.
I started a new TV show, but there’s only one season, and I was left hanging.
Nous sommes allés au musée mais plusieurs salles étaient fermées et nous sommes restés sur notre faim.
We went to the museum, but several rooms were closed to the public, and we were left wanting more.