ne faire que

Meanings

Verb

1. For non-idiomatic uses: see faire (“do”) and ne...que (“nothing but”)

2. only, merely, just (before an infinitive verb)

3. indicates a continued or repeated action, especially if excessive or undesirable: keep (before an infinitive verb, informal)

Examples4

J'ai l'impression de ne faire que travailler, j'ai besoin de vacances.

I feel like all I do is work; I need a vacation.

Tom a tendance à ne faire que ce qu'on lui dit de faire.

Tom tends to only do what he's told to do.

ne faire que le strict minimum

to only do the bare minimum

Quel dommage de ne faire que supporter la vie plutôt que d'en jouir !

What a shame to just endure life rather than enjoying it.