Have you ever had a conversation with a native Romanian speaker and heard a weird expression that you didn’t quite understand but it seemed to be funny? Here are 20 of them:

1.    A-și lua nasul la purtare 

Proper translation:  ” to take the nose to the behavior” 

Real meaning:   to have a bad behavior

2.    A călca pe bec 

Proper translation:   ”to step on the lightbulb” 

Real meaning:   to break a rule/ to make a mistake/ to do something wrong

3.    A lua de-a gata 

Proper translation: ”to take it ready” 

Real meaning: to take for granted / to make conclusions too quickly

4.    A o face de-a oaia 

Proper translation: ”to make it sheepy / in a sheepy way / like a sheep” 

Real meaning: to make a mistake / to do something just for the sake of doing it, without properly working on it / to do something at a low quality level

5.    A fi prins cu mâța-n sac 

Proper translation: ”to be caught with the cat in the sack” 

Real meaning: to be caught doing something bad (cheating, lying, stealing, etc.)

6.    A face *pe cineva* cu ou și cu oțet 

Proper translation: ”to make *someone* with eggs and vinegar” 

Real meaning: to criticize someone

7.    A trage nădejde 

Proper translation: ”to pull the hope” 

Real meaning: to hope

8.    A băga mâna în foc (pentru cineva/ceva) 

Proper translation: ”to put the hand in the fire(for someone/something)” 

Real meaning: to guarantee something

9.    A face haz de necaz 

Proper translation: ”to make fun out of trouble” 

Real meaning: to laugh about something inappropriate/ to laugh on someone’s unsuccess / to have an unserious attitude

10. A-i lipsi o doagă 

Proper translation: ”to be out of a stave” 

Real meaning: to be crazy

11. A avea o piatră pe inimă 

Proper translation: ”to have a stone on the heart” 

Real meaning: to have something that bothers very much (to be worried)

12. A ieși uscat din apă 

Proper translation: ”to get dry out of the water” 

Real meaning: to get out of something without being blamed for it

13.  Când pisica nu-i acasă, șoarecii joacă pe masă! 

Proper translation: ”when the cat is not at home, the mice are playing on the table” 

Real meaning: a popular old saying which means that when someone(ex.the parents, the boss at work, etc.) is absent, the others (ex.kids, employees) start to do whatever they want.

14.  A se uita ca boul la poarta nouă 

Proper translation: ”to stare like the ox(buffalo) at the new gate” 

Real meaning: to stare at someone or something

15.  A freca menta 

Proper translation: ”to rub the mint” 

Real meaning: to waste time

16.  A se simți cu musca pe căciulă 

Proper translation:” to feel like being with the fly on its cap/hat” 

Real meaning: to feel guilty for something, to have the ”impostor syndrome”

17.  A lua țeapă 

Proper translation: ”to take a spike” 

Real meaning: to be scammed – this is a Romanian saying coming from the very old times of Dracula in Transylvania (a real historical personality) who is also known as Vlad the Impaler – as the impalement was his favorite method of execution.

18.  A scoate din pepeni 

Proper translation:  ”to take *someone* out of his watermelons” 

Real meaning:  to irritate someone, to drive someone nuts

19.  A-i pica fața 

Proper translation:  ”to have his/her face fallen off” 

Real meaning:  to be surprised, to be shocked

20.  A face din țânțar armăsar

Proper translation:  ”to make a horse out of a mosquito” 

Real meaning:  to exaggerate

If you have questions about learning Romanian or need a native speaker to clarify some things you don’t understand – you can always contact me on my teacher profile!