20 Hilarious Idioms From All Over the World
All around the world you have idioms that are very specific to certain languages, and these can be very funny when translated. Often, even in 2 countries that speak the same language, there are a multitude of different idioms and it can make for some funny encounters. For example, I, as a French speaker, have already had a few confusing conversations with my Belgian neighbours. Here are a few examples of sayings from different countries that, when translated into English, sound really weird and/or hilarious.
1. Italy: A dog in church = An unwanted guest or an an intruder
2. Puerto Rico: Like a crocodile in a wallet factory = To be very nervous
3. Germany and France: Pull worms out of your nose = To make someone confess the truth
4. Sweden: There’s no cow on the ice = There is no need to worry
5. France: To give your tongue to the cat = To give up when you don’t know an answer to a question
6. Ireland: To run around like a blue-arsed fly = To be very busy
7. France: To have your bottom in between 2 chairs = To be caught in a dilemma
8. Thailand: To eat a wasps’ nest = To be irritable
9. Chile: To be a duck = To be out of money
10. Spain: To lick your moustache = When a dish is really good
11. Peru: You’re such a pineapple! = You don’t have much luck!
12. Croatia and France: To talk about the wolf = Speak of the Devil
13. Japan: Dumplings instead of flowers = Choosing something useful over something pretty
14. The Netherlands: You can’t pluck feathers off a bald chicken = When something will never happen
15. Poland: Not my circus, not my monkey! = Not my problem!
16. Indonesia: A germ can be seen across the sea, an elephant on the eyelid can’t
= It’s easy to see other people’s mistakes, but it’s harder to recognise your own errors
= It’s easy to see other people’s mistakes, but it’s harder to recognise your own errors
17. Spain: To give someone pumpkins = To reject somebody
18. Ireland: To be away with the fairies = To be a little bit crazy or to be very absent-minded
19. Denmark: To have a stick in your ear = When a person is intentionally not listening
20. France: When hens will have teeth = It will never happen
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