Mon Ã…il French Expression Explained

The familiar French expression mon ​œil! (pronounced ​[mo(n) neuy]) is used to express either incredulous/ironic disbelief, like the English expressions my foot! or yeah, right!, or an almost indignant refusal, as in no way! or aint gonna happen! It literally  translates to my eye! In high school French class, you might only learn the first meaning (along with the accompanying gesture), but the second makes sense too—theres a certain logic in using the same expression for disbelief that something has happened as for a refusal to make something happen. Example Il ma dit de me rà ©veiller à   5h00 pour commencer le projet et jai dit  «Ã‚  mon Å“il  !  Ã‚ »He told me to wake up at 5 am to start the project and I said, yeah, right! Related expression: Pas plus que (dans) mon Å“il - Not at all, not in the slightest