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Post by QuizzyBunny on Jun 16, 2017 13:31:00 GMT
I love how all languages and cultures develop their own unique idioms, and now I'm curious to learn new ones. Do you have any unique or funny idioms in your language? Do they make sense, or do they sound like pure nonsense? I will contribute a couple of Swedish ones to start of:
When the cat is away the mice dance on the table - when someone with authority is not present people will do as they please.
I sense that there are owls in the bog - when you suspect something fishy is going on.
To slide in on a shrimp sandwich - when you achieve success without any effort on your part.
In the realm of the blind the one-eyed man is king - even though you may lack talent you can shine if the group as a whole has even less talent.
It should be noted that these may all for all I know originate from another language, but today they are all fairly commonly used in Sweden.
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Post by Lavochkin on Jun 16, 2017 13:47:33 GMT
Here's a spanish one: El que no oye consejo no llega a viejo
"He who doesn't hear council(advice) will not reach old age"
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Post by Gileadan on Jun 16, 2017 13:54:25 GMT
Oh, I have a few. Believe it or not, German has quite a few idioms that are ass related. Something that is "for the ass" is totally useless. If something "goes past your ass", you don't care about it at all. Something that "fits like an ass on the bucket" is a pretty good match. When you've "drawn the ass card", you're really unlucky. And something not related to one's hindquarters: Someone who's "wearing the cardboard nose" has done something obviously stupid. Similarly, "shooting a goat" means messing up badly.
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Post by QuizzyBunny on Jun 16, 2017 13:59:38 GMT
Gileadan We have that fascination in Sweden as well! We have sayings such as "taste is like your ass, divided" or "wherever you turn the ass will always be at the back". Yours seem to be a lot more fun though!
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Post by KrrKs on Jun 16, 2017 14:33:39 GMT
A couple non-ass related german Idioms: "To provide so. a Bear service": To do a disservice/ (unintentional) harmful action against so. "Pulling so. over the table": ripping so. off during negotiations or similar
and back to ass related ones: "To shit so.": To cheat so.
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Post by QuizzyBunny on Jun 16, 2017 14:42:59 GMT
KrrKs We also have the idiom about bear service, the expression was probably brought here by all the German merchants that came here in the 15th century.
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Post by nanotm on Jun 16, 2017 15:38:25 GMT
people in glass houses shouldn't throw stones
let him without sin cast the first stone
they both mean the same thing but one is more contextual whilst the other is more widely applicable...
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Inactive Moderator
α¦ The Untitled
Just here for the cosplay
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Post by mousestalker on Jun 16, 2017 15:48:45 GMT
I do not have a dog in that fight. I have no interest in that subject
Bless your heart. This can be sincere, but it usually means 'that's so stupid, I do not know what else to say'.
Not in a month of Sundays. Never
A word to the wise is sufficient. You have made your point. That's enough already
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Post by Gilli on Jun 16, 2017 16:37:07 GMT
Another german one "Das ist mir Wurst" - That is sausage to me = I don't care And some swiss ones: "LΓ€ck du mir am TschΓΆpli" - Lick on my jacket "Rutsch du mir dΓ€ Buggel ab" - Slide down my back "Blas du mir id Schueh" - Blow into my shoes I'd say, you'd say all those three if someone's annoying you and you want them to basically "Get lost", or if an idea is really stupid like... A: We could make a shop about Unicorns! :dumb: B: Oh blow into my shoes, with your unicorns. :srs:
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Post by Lady Artifice on Jun 16, 2017 16:52:18 GMT
I learned recently that "pull yourself up by your bootstraps" is usually used incorrectly. It's commonly used to indicate doing something on your own with hard work and determination, but there's actually a reason it doesn't make sense. It was designed to be nonsense, and to indicate trying to do an impossible or fruitless thing.
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Post by nanotm on Jun 16, 2017 17:57:38 GMT
I learned recently that "pull yourself up by your bootstraps" is usually used incorrectly. It's commonly used to indicate doing something on your own with hard work and determination, but there's actually a reason it doesn't make sense. It was designed to be nonsense, and to indicate trying to do an impossible or fruitless thing. its a saying from the cavalry, bootstraps are another name for stirrups and the phrase refers to someone who was unhorsed during action that manages to get themselves into a standing position despite being wounded or exhausted and continue to fight on.... and it was used as a pisstake about a certain officer who made an official report to the king that was a magnificent work of fiction.... and ever since every exaggeration has utilised said line, I don't have the particular book I read it in but it was a king George that was on the throne at the time ....so wasn't that long ago
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Post by Deleted on Jun 16, 2017 18:38:05 GMT
"If it looks like a duck, swims like a duck, and quacks like a duck, then it probably is a duck"
Behavior says more about intentions than claims and denials.
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Post by Deleted on Jun 16, 2017 20:36:29 GMT
Here's some finnish idioms: TyhmÀstÀ pÀÀstÀ kÀrsii koko ruumis = Stupid head makes the whole body suffer. Doesn't really need explanation.
Some with the ass since it seems to be a global thing: VedetÀÀn perseet olalle = pull ass onto the shoulders ie. get piss drunk.
Perseaukinen = open from the ass ie. out of money.
And last but not least: Kaikkeen tottuu paitsi jÀÀpuikkoon perseessÀ koska se sulaa ennen kuin siihen tottuu. = you can get used to everything except an icicle in your arse bc it melts before you get used to it.
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Post by Gilli on Jun 17, 2017 16:08:58 GMT
Another german one:
"Wasser in den Rhein tragen" - Carry water to the Rhine = doing something redundant
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Post by QuizzyBunny on Jun 17, 2017 19:45:27 GMT
My mother always says that "What you don't have in your head you have to have in your legs", meaning if you are forgetful or just not paying attention you usually have to do more work later. Needless to say I heard it a lot growing up...
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Post by Arijon van Goyen on Jun 17, 2017 19:54:56 GMT
Another german one: "Wasser in den Rhein tragen" - Carry water to the Rhine = doing something redundant "Zire be Kerman bordan" - To carry caraway to Kerman = doing something redundant/useless
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Post by cheeseandonion on Jun 17, 2017 19:59:16 GMT
Well I'm not sure if this is an idiom, but we would say 'and the pope's a prod' if someone is talking rubbish or blatantly lying to you.
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Post by nanotm on Jun 17, 2017 20:26:23 GMT
"talk to the hand cos the face aint interested" ~ do one dickhead
"at least when I bend my elbow it has a point"~ means fuckoff you pointless twat....
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Post by Deleted on Jun 17, 2017 22:22:35 GMT
Shines like a diamond in a goat's ass ... something really obvious.
You're pulling my leg ... someone is telling you an untruth.
Side note, in HS physics class, Swedish exchange student was told he was pulling someone's leg, he angrily retorted that he was not touching their leg ... he was my tablemate and lab partner, after the class laughed, I told him what it meant, he then gave me some examples of Swedish idiomatic expressions ... none of which made sense to me in the English translation, nor which do I remember.
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Post by Deleted on Jun 18, 2017 8:45:30 GMT
give them enough rope to hang themselves - give people enough freedom that through their hubris and habits they destroy themselves.
Go piss up a rope - rudely telling someone to go away.
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Post by QuizzyBunny on Jun 18, 2017 9:30:33 GMT
Here are a couple of other Swedish idioms (those of you who play Overwatch may recognize some of them as TorbjΓΆrn's voicelines). Don't buy the pig in the sack - do your research before making a decision (who knows, it might not actually be a pig in the sack).
Don't make a hen out of a feather - don't make a small thing become bigger than it needs to be, don't make a fuss over a small thing.
I will get you for old cheese - you want revenge.
Having something end up between two chairs - something gets forgotten/ignored because it's not clear who's responsible for it.
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Post by Sifr on Jun 18, 2017 20:44:02 GMT
A few that I know I've used on here before;
"It's all swings and roundabouts" - When the pros/cons of something end up even.
"Not a sausage" - Nothing at all.
"Bit of a doddle" - Something easy to do.
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Post by Chlorite on Jun 18, 2017 23:03:01 GMT
A very interesting topic! We get a glimpse of different mindset through choice of words and references! The ones I can think of and use from time to time: Idiom: "Faute de grives on mange des merles" Literal translation: when there is no thrushes, we eat blackbirds Idiomatic translation/meaning: beggars can't be choosers (I guess thrushes taste better than blackbirds? I've never eaten blackbird.) Idiom: "Appeler un chat un chat" Literal translation: to call a cat a cat Idiomatic translation/meaning: to call a spade a spade (I guess we prefer housepets over gardening? that's a bit random) Idiom: "Γ§a ne tient pas debout" Literal translation: it doesn't stand upright Idiomatic translation/meaning: what you are saying, or the theory you are talking about, is not making any sense / lacking in logic Idiom: "c'est pas la mort du petit cheval" Literal translation: it's not the death of the little horse Idiomatic translation/meaning: the problem you're facing is not that bad nor difficult Not exactly and idiom but a bit tricky if you're being told that (plus I'm not sure, but it might be a local thing) : "Il/elle est brave" Literal translation: (s)he's brave. Idiomatic translation/meaning: Here, 'brave' is used more to talk about kindness than courage. Except this is said in a tone that highlights the perceived naivety that is supposed to originate from kindness. In a nutshell, the subject is considered to be a bit idiotic however well intentioned, in a condescending way. That one is cold. But I know I only use it to tease friends while bickering/joking.
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Post by Sifr on Jun 20, 2017 19:34:04 GMT
Some more oddities from the UK;
"Not my cup of tea" - Something you don't particularly want/like.
"Sound as a pound" - Something that can be relied upon (ie. the relative stability of the Pound Sterling)
"A right old knees up" - A rather lively party.
"Bob's your uncle" - And there you have it. (Similar to "Voila or "Eureka")
"Pissed to the gills" - Used to describe someone who has gotten ludicrously drunk.
"Up the wooden hill" - Something you might say when going upstairs / going to bed.
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Post by Giant Ambush Beetle on Jun 20, 2017 19:45:52 GMT
Eine ruhige Kugel schieben.
Direct translation from German to English: to push a calm ball.
It means taking things slow and easy at work.
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