this post was submitted on 02 Mar 2024
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What are some (non-English) idioms, and what do they mean (both literally and in context)? Odd ones, your favorite ones - any and all are welcome. :)

For example, in English I might call someone a "good egg," meaning they're a nice person. Or, if it's raining heavily, I might say "it's raining cats and dogs."

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[โ€“] [email protected] 53 points 8 months ago* (last edited 8 months ago) (12 children)

In Swedish there is

"Now the boiled pork is fried", meaning sometging has gone too far

" be on the cinnamon", to be drunk

"Put the legs on your back", to run

"You are out biking", you are missing the point

"Pay[back] for old cheese", to get revenge

" bear-favour", is a favour that gives bad results

"Now you'll see other buns", things will get rough

" there are no children being made here", nothing is happening/its boring/lets go

"Satan and his aunt", all kinds of people/everyone

"Good day, axe-handle", something like saying "yeah, you dumbfuck" after getting a nonsense repley from someone

"In only the brass", to be naked

"Show where the cupboard will stand", to firmly make a decision

"You cupboard", miss the point, being stupid

" shit in the blue cupboard", to make a mistake

Edit: forgot a good one:

"Get your thumb out of your ass", to stop doing nothing and start doing something

[โ€“] [email protected] 2 points 8 months ago

Interestingly, English has the same exact expression ("get your thumb out of your ass").

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