Every language has its idioms, or phrases/sayings that mean something other than the words used in them. Probably the most common English-language idiom (it could just be American English) is “it’s raining cats & dogs,” which means it’s raining very hard. (I don’t believe that internet stuff about cats & dogs living in thatched roofs.) In 8th-grade French class I learned that the equivalent French idiom is “il pleut des cordes,” or “it's raining ropes,” which is visually more accurate than the American idiom.
One I’ve heard before and that I particularly like is the French idiom “entre chien et loup,” or “between dog and wolf.” It means “twilight,” when the quality of light is such that you can’t tell the difference between a dog and a wolf. Just another example of how much more expressive other languages besides English can be, at least IMO.
So, what are some idioms you like or find particularly expressive/poetic?
Phil
“The biggest problem people have is they don’t think they’re supposed to have problems.” - Hayes Barnard
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We haven't had measurable rain in nearly four months. It's drier than a pop-corn fart around here.
4H_V-man
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Only one I know is "Laissez les bons temps rouler" (Lay say lay bohn tohn roo lay), I have it written across one of my nicer t-shirts. "Let the good times roll."
Recently learned that "La Petite Coquette" means "The Little Flirt" (lingerie boutique), I thought maybe it had something to do with croissants (ap-petite).
EDIT: Looked up "idiom", scratch that.
Last edited by MarkG; 02/10/1805:17 PM.
The rusty wire that holds the cork that keeps the anger in Gives way and suddenly it’s day again The sun is in the east Even though the day is done Two suns in the sunset, hmph Could be the human race is run
Hold your horses = be patient. Enjoying my old stomping grounds = enjoying where I use to hang out a long time ago.
The rusty wire that holds the cork that keeps the anger in Gives way and suddenly it’s day again The sun is in the east Even though the day is done Two suns in the sunset, hmph Could be the human race is run
I've heard similar: dumb as a bag of hammers. Also dumb as a box of rocks.
"In the vast library of socialist books, there’s not a single volume on how to create wealth, only how to take and “redistribute” it.” - David Horowitz
My German Oma used to say, "Du gehst mir aufs Knerzel." This means basically the same as "You get on my nerves," except it transliterates to "You get on my bread heel" where the heel of a bread loaf is your rear end. Of course, Germans also say, "Du gehst mir auf die Nerven" which actually means "You get on my nerves."
Here's another German one - "Du hast wohl nicht alle Tassen im Schrank." It means "You don't have all your cups in the cupboard." In other words, you ain't right in the head. It was used for this short cartoon featuring the monkey and the horse (when I was growing up they would show them in little clips between commercials).