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?
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).
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).
Some of my mother's terms of endearment for us as monstrous children were “tête de pioche,” or “hard-headed,” and “tête de cochon” - “pig-headed.” Often prefaced with “maudit” or “damned/cursed.”
Some of my mother's terms of endearment for us as monstrous children were “tête de pioche,” or “hard-headed,” and “tête de cochon” - “pig-headed.” Often prefaced with “maudit” or “damned/cursed.”
Oh wow, French. I heard my share of French because my mother is French, but I didn't always understand it.
Letterboy, my wife remembers Affle and Pferdel from when she was a kid. She was thrilled to see the cartoon clip. She wanted to know if you remember the Mainzelmännchen?
TychosElk; Interesting coincidence, my father was an ethnic Finn but my mother was from Wales. I never heard her use that phrase but she didn't really speak fluent Welsh Gaelic. She did use a few phrases in Welsh from time to time...
Brass monkey needs brazier (a brazier is a fire in a basket/drum used by outdoors workers especially to heat their shovels when working with tarmac - not seen them used in a really long while)
Was wondering who would pick up on it
Best thing since sliced bread
More Belgian ones: muggenzifter ( mosquito sorter) being too critical on the details
mieren neuker (ant f***er) similar as above, concentrating too much on the small detail
A few slices short of a loaf = not quite mentally there His elevator stops short of the top floor = same as above dumber than a box of rocks! = reread if you need an explanation missing a screw or two = seeing a pattern here? lost all your marbles = nuff said
Holy Sheep $hi+ Batman = astonished
Colder than a witch's titty = pretty dam cold
She's a Peach = Smokin Hot
Bad Ass = nothing to do with a donkey or an actual butt = one tough dude
Now out of favor, but often heard in my youth: wrong as two boys f*cking.
Also:
That dog won't hunt (you're telling a lie that nobody will fall for) Not worth a Yankee dime (self explanatory) Crazy as a June bug Touched in the head, or just "touched," is someone that just isn't right in the head. Bee's knees - something of extraordinary quality.
Now I will hear stuff like "I like to butter her biscuits' or the inverse "She'd knock a buzzard off a gut wagon"
To add to what Dart was saying, we use "Tetched" instead of "Touched" "That boy is so tetched in the head, that he went and bought hisself a whole pig for dinner."
If you like your steak really rare: Knock off it's horns, wipe it's a$$, and throw it on a plate. (Was really common around here until the movie 'The Cowboy Way'. Now you don't hear it much any more.
If you're really hungry: I could eat the south end of a north bound cow.
