Around the World in Idioms

Idiom: A group of words established by usage as having a meaning not obvious from those of the individual words. Common idioms in English include

• Raining cats and dogs – heavy rain
• To have a monkey on one’s back – a bad habit or something else you cannot get rid of
• Have a frog in your throat – be hoarse or unable to speak clearly
• It’s a piece of cake – It’s easy
• Cry over spilt milk – Fret over something you cannot change
• Cost an arm and a leg – Be expensive

Some of the idioms from around the world have English translations that are pretty silly. Here are some idioms from other countries:

POLISH

“Not my circus, not my monkeys” – It’s not my problem.

SWEDISH

“Swallowing camels while straining at gnats” – Worrying about tiny things, but ignoring big ones

“To slide in on a shrimp sandwich” – Refers to a spoiled person who has it too easy

“There is no cow on the ice” – Everything is fine; there is no need to worry.

GERMAN

“To have tomatoes on your eyes” – Not seeing what is right in front of you

“To buy a cat in a sack” – Being tricked into buying something you cannot see

“I only understand train station” –  I don’t understand anything (our “It’s Greek to me.”)

SPANISH

“To give someone pumpkins” –  To reject someone romantically

ARABIC

“To have long hands” – Describes a thief or someone who takes what isn’t theirs

FRENCH

“To jump from the rooster to the donkey” –  To change the subject abruptly in a conversation

“When the chickens have teeth” –  Something impossible, like our “when pigs fly”

“To hit a rake” – To get rejected, usually romantically

“The carrots are cooked” – The situation cannot be changed.

RUSSIAN

“As clear as dumpling broth” – Something confusing or murky like our “clear as mud”

“You can sharpen with an ax on top of this head” – Describes someone who is very stubborn

LATVIAN

“To blow little ducks” –  To talk nonsense

AUSTRALIA

“To have a face like a dropped pie” – Describes someone who is not conventionally attractive

CHINESE

“Village of fish and rice” – A prosperous area or land of plenty

PORTUGUESE

“He who doesn’t have a dog hunts with a cat” – To make the most of what you have

JAPANESE

“The cat’s jump” – A short distance or a quick little detour

FINNISH

“To ride as if you stole it” – Doing something recklessly fast

CHILEAN

“Look how far the peanut jumped” – Mind your own business

THAI

The hen sees the snake’s feet and the snake sees the hen’s boobs” – Refers to two people who know each other’s secrets

 

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