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Lily von Wielligh
What is the craziest IDIOM in your language?
As a professional teacher, I sometimes focus on idioms with my students. They find that English and Russian Idioms are extremely funny! One that makes everyone laugh is "to put noodles on one's ears" (Russian). It means to lie to someone with the purpose of personal benefit. For example, "This job ad says I will work in Hawaii, get paid 50 000$ and live in a 5 star hotel!" - "Pfsh! They are just putting noodles on your ears!" :D Give your best idiom wit an example of usage ;)
Jul 9, 2020 6:46 PM
Comments · 13
6
Dutch has a lot of funny idioms! I will name a few:
Zo gek als een deur.
Literally translated: As crazy as a door.
We use this to say that someone is really crazy (he is as crazy as a door). I don't know the origin of this idiom however (maybe according to the Dutch, doors are really weird...?)
Nu komt de aap uit de mouw.
Literally translated: Now the monkey comes out of your sleeve.
We say this when we figure out the truth about something.
Lachen als een boer met kiespijn.
Literally translated: Laughing like a farmer with a toothache.
This is the case when someone makes a joke and you don't get it, or you don't find it funny, but still you try to laugh along. Then you would be laughing like a farmer with a toothache :)
Buiten westen raken.
Literally translated: Getting out of the west.
This is when for some reason you went knock out, you lost consciousness. Then we say that you were getting out of the west XD
Balen als een stekker.
Literally translated: Being as fed up as a plug.
When something happens and you're really disappointed about it, then you're being as fed up as a plug :)
Das andere koek.
Literally translated: That's a different cookie.
We say this to indicate that something is totally different. For instance when you're having a conversation about languages and all out of the sudden one starts talking about mathematics, then the Dutch would say: "That's a different cookie."
Alsof er een engeltje over je tong piest.
Literally translated: As if an angel is peeing over your tongue.
This means that something is actually really delicious!
Tegen de lamp lopen.
Literally translated: To bump into the lampshade.
This is when someone is being caught in the act when committing a crime or some other kind of misdeed.
There are many more but I could spend a lifetime writing them all down :)
July 9, 2020
4
<ul><li>If you are accepting the monkey for his money, the money goes and the monkey stays the way he is!</li></ul>
<ul><li>Turn the jar on its face, and the daughter will grow up to be like her mother!</li></ul>
<ul><li>When salt blossoms!</li></ul>
<ul><li>A dog's tail is inclined!</li></ul>
يا ماخذ القرد على ماله بروح المال وبظل القرد على حاله
It talks about gold diggers who marry men only for their money.
اقلب الجرّة على فمها، بتطلع البنت لأمها
This one indicates that girls will turn to be exactly like their mothers.
لما ينوّر الملح
This indicates that something isn't going to happen because it's impossible.
ذنب الكلب أعوج
This one indicates that some people would never change!
July 10, 2020
4
Freci menta – You are rubbing the mint: you are wasting time. We also use another expression for this: Tai frunză la caini – You are cutting leaves for the dogs. Both of them basically mean 'doing nothing'.
Umbli cu cioara vopsită – You are walking around with the painted crow: you are trying to fool somebody, or you are telling a lie.
A fi prins cu mâța-n sac – To be caught with the cat in the bag: used when trying to say that somebody was caught lying or cheating; similar to the expression 'to be caught red handed'.
Am eu ac de cojocul tau – I have the needle for your coat: we know exactly what to do to get back at somebody, to take revenge.
Te duce cu preșul – He carries you with the rug: somebody is not being honest with you, they are trying to fool you.
A bagă mâna-n foc pentru cineva – To put your hand in the fire for somebody: you vouch for somebody.
Mi-a picat fisa – My coin dropped: I finally got it, I finally understood something.
La Pastele cailor – At the horses’ Easter: used when you want to say that something will happen very far in the future, or most likely never.
Ma scoți din pepeni – You take me out of the watermelons: we are getting really angry.
A vinde gogosi – Selling donuts: I believe you are lying.
Esti dus cu pluta – You’re gone on a raft: I believe you are crazy, that you’ve lost your mind.
Vinzi castraveti gradinarului – You’re selling cucumbers to the gardener: you are trying to lie to somebody who knows the truth, or to explain something to somebody who already knows more about the issue.
Mi-a ajuns cutitul la os – The knife has reached my bone: I can’t take it any more.
(source: Romania-insider)
July 9, 2020
3
Some funny Australian idioms:
A dog's breakfast - something messy or disorganised
A face like a smashed crab - to describe someone who is ugly
To have a few kangaroos loose in the top paddock - to be crazy
I'm not here to f*** spiders - a response when somebody asks you something where the answer is already obvious. For example if you were at a football stadium and somebody asked you "Are you here to watch the football?" you could reply "Well I'm not here to f*** spiders."
Going off like a frog in a sock - when something (eg a party) is very exciting or crazy but in a good way
Budgie smugglers - a term for men's swimming briefs
Better than a poke in the eye with a burnt stick - the situation could be worse
July 10, 2020
3
When you think about it, "wrap your head around it" is a funny idiom. It's usually used in the negative..."I can't wrap my head around it" means "I can't understand it, it's too complicated". Some problems are so complicated that you just have to guess at the solution, but then you're usually "barking up the wrong tree". What a funny expression. How insulting! :) To be compared to a dog who doesn't know which tree the squirrel climbed up! All this dog can hope for is a kind owner who is willing to "spill the beans" and point him to the correct tree. "Spill the beans" means to let someone know a secret. How did this come about? Did people hid their secrets in sacks of beans in the good ol' days? I think I read that somewhere, but they could have been "pulling my leg". When you think about it, it would be much easier to tell when people were just kidding if they actually DID pull your leg when they were doing it. Don't you think? Perhaps that's a "bridge too far".
July 9, 2020
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Lily von Wielligh
Language Skills
Afrikaans, English, French, Italian, Other, Russian
Learning Language
Other
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