Idioms are expressions that don't mean what they appear to mean. For example, when you say 'it's raining cats and dogs', you don't mean that cats and dogs are falling out of sky, but rather that it's raining heavily. Idioms provide interesting insights into languages and thought processes of their speakers.
Arabic, Armenian, Aromanian, Cheyenne, Chinese, Cornish, Czech, Dutch, Esperanto, Estonian, Finnish, French, German, Hebrew, Hindi, Indonesian, Irish (Gaelic), Italian, Japanese, Kashmiri, Klingon, Korean, Lithuanian, Maltese, Mongolian, Norwegian, Portuguese, Russian, Serbian, Spanish, Tibetan, Turkish, Ukrainian, Welsh, Yiddish
It's all Greek to me | It's raining cats and dogs | As easy as falling off a log | A sandwich short of a picnic | It's small world | When pigs fly | Out of sight, out of mind | Crystal-clear | Penny Pinching | Practice makes perfect | The grass is always greener | As Snug as a Bug in a Rug
Czech | French | Greek | Icelandic | Lithuanian | Manx | Russian | Slovak | Spanish | Swedish | Welsh
(laisa lii fiiha naqa wa la jamal) ليس لي فيها نقة ولا جمل
I don't have a camel in the caravan = this matter doesn't concern me
Գլուխս մի՛ արդուկեր: (Klookhys mee artooger)
Stop ironing my head! = Stop annoying me! (as in repetitively asking or talking about something)
Հիմա ծեծ մը կ'ուտես: (Heema dzedz muh goodes)
You're gonna eat a beating soon = You're gonna get a beating soon
sãndza apã nu s-featsi
blood cannot be made into water = blood is thicker than water
primuvearã nu s-adutsi mash c- unã lilici.
one flower doesn't make the spring = one sparrow does not make the spring
dupã ploai, multi tãmbãri!
after the rain many eaves! = everyone is a hero after the war
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Mónésó'táhoenôtse kosa?
Are you still riding the goat? = separated from your spouse
Énêhpoése ma'eno.
The turtle is shrouded = it's foggy.
Étaomêhótsenôhtóvenestse
napâhpóneehéhame.
My tapeworm can almost talk by itself = my stomach is growling.
一鼻孔出气
(yī bíkǒng chūqì /
yāt beihhúng chēuthei)
breathing through the same nostril = singing from the same hymn sheet
杯弓蛇影
(bēi gōng shé yǐng /
būi gōng sèh yíng)
seeing the reflection of a bow in a cup and thinking it's a snake
= worring about things that aren't there
yma nown bleyth dhymm
I've got the hunger of a wolf = I'm starving/very hungry
chodit kolem horké kaše
to walk around hot porridge = to beat about the bush
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Ik zweet peentjes
I sweat carrots = I'm sweating like a pig
IJsberen
'to polar bear' (i.e. to pace up and down)
Roken als een ketter
'smoke like a heretic' (smoke like a chimney - i.e. of one who smokes too much)
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Li en arbaro sidas kaj arbojn ne vidas
He sits in the forest and doesn't see trees =
he can't see the wood for the trees
Sääsest elevanti tegema
To make an elephant out of a gnat = to make a mountain out of a molehill
Kivi kotti
a stone into the bag - good luck
Selge nagu seebivesi
as clear as soapy water - as clear as crystal
Paras pähkel
quite a nut - tough question (exercise)
Puust ja punaseks ette tegema
to make something out of wood and paint it red - to make something really clear
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pitkin hampain
with long teeth - (to do something) unwillingly
vääntää rautalangasta
to twist from wire (to make a wireframe model) - to make something really clear
tehdä kärpäsestä härkänen
to make a bull out of a fly = to make a mountain out of a molehill
kiertää kuin kissa kuumaa puuroa
to pace around hot porridge like a cat = to beat about the bush
avoir les dents longues
to have long teeth = to be ambitious
avoir les dents qui rayent le parquet
to have teeth that scratch the floor = to be extemely ambitious
J'ai d'autres chats à fouetter !
I have other cats to whip! = I have other fish to fry! - I have other things to do.
pédaler dans la choucroute
to pedal in the sauerkraut = to spin your wheels - to go nowhere
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Ich werde dir die Daumen drücken /
Ich drücke dir die Daumen
I'll squeeze my thumbs for you = I'm keeping my fingers
crossed for you/I wish you luck
Ich kenne es wie meine Westentasche
I know it like my waistcoat pocket = I know it like the back of my hand
Man soll den Tag nicht vor dem Abend loben
Don't praise the day before evening = Don't count your chickens before they're hatched
Hals und Beinbruch!
Break a neck and leg = Break a leg (Good luck)
jemandem ein Ohr abkauen
to talk someone's ear off
klar wie Kloßbrühe
as clear potato dumpling water = as clear as crystal - easy to understand
originally meant difficult to understand (as clear as mud)
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(Sof ha'olam, smolah) סוף העולם שמאלה.
At the end of the world, turn left - It's in the middle of nowhere
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अंग-अंग ढीला होना
loosing of all body parts = to get very tired
अंगारे उगलना
to excrete embers - to get very angry
नौ दो ग्यारह होना
to be nine two eleven - to get away
खून सूखना
parching of blood = to become afraid
आँख का तारा
star/apple of one's eye = very fond of
अंत भला तो सब भला (annt bhala toh sab bhala)
All's well that ends well
एक अनार सौ बीमार (ek anar sau biimar)
One fruit, one hundred ill
जंगल मेँ मोर नाचा किसने देखा? (jangal mein mor naca kisne dekha)
Peacock danced in the forest, who saw?
बंदर क्या जाने अदरक का स्वाद? (bandar kya jane adrak ka swad?)
A monkey doesn't knows the taste of ginger
डूबते को तिनके का सहारा (doobte ko tinke ka sahara)
A straw supports a drowning man
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kuman di seberang lautan tampak, gajah di pelupuk mata tak tampak
the bacterium across the sea is seen, but the elephant on eyelid is not seen
ná tabhair ar chamán ná ar liathróid é!
don't take him to a hurling-stick or a ball = take precious care of him
tá sí mar a bheadh cág i measc péacóg
she's like a jackdaw among peacocks = she's like a fish out of water
mettere una pulce nell'orecchio
to put a flea in somebody's ear = to raise a doubt/suspicion
saltare la mosca al naso
a fly jumping on somebody's nose = to fly of the handle -
to become abruptly annoyed, lose one's temper.
avere gli occhi foderati di prociutto
to have one's eyes lined with ham = can't see the wood for the trees -
to be unable to see what is distinctly in sight
avere le orecchie foderate di prosciutto
to have one's ears lined with ham = to be unable to hear what can be clearly heard
avere una fame da lupo
to be as hungry as a wolf = to be very hungry/starving
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猿も木から落ちる (Saru mo ki kara ochiru)
Even monkeys fall from trees = even experts get it wrong.
門前の小僧は習わぬ経を読む (Monzen no kozō wa narawanu kei o yomu)
The boy before the gate recites the scriptures without learning -
people thoughtlessly parrot what they hear.
自業自得 (Jigō jitoku)
Work of self, obtainment of self = What goes around comes around.
穴があったら入りたい (Ana ga attara hairitai)
If there was a hole, I'd want to go in it - used when very embarrassed.
長い目で見る (Nagai me de miru)
To look at with long eyes = In the long run - not decide in the present and wait to see what happens.
口が軽い (Kuchi ga karui)
The mouth is light - someone who talks a lot and probably can't be trusted with secrets.
相槌を打つ (Aidzuchi wo utsu)
It is hard to beat the noise of comprehension; to beat out sounds of agreement - to agree with whatever the other person says.
尻が重い (Shiri ga omoi)
Heavy ass/arse - used for someone who is the opposite of a go-getter; a real slacker
ちりも積もれば山となる (Chirimi tsumireba yama to naru)
Piling up dust/garbage makes a mountain - many a mickle makes a muckle
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Virvin naaow to chirvin dél
a drifting boat with the bark peeling off = going to the dogs (often used to depreciate a defunct government facility/institution)
Heghlu'meH QaQ jajvam
this is a good day to die
당근이지! (dang-geun i-ji)
it's a carrot = of course / it's obvious
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Žodis – sidabras, tyla – auksas
The word is silver, the silence is gold = silence is golden
Šaukštai po pietų
spoons served after lunch = that ship has sailed / you've missed the boat = it's too late to do something
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Għajni marret bija
My eye went with me = I fell asleep
Iddur mal-lewża
Going round the almond = beat about the bush
бурхан оршоо
бутын чинээ
сахал урга
(burkhan orshoo butin chinee sakhal urga)
God bless you and may your moustache grow like brushwood
(said when someone sneezes)
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å gå som katta rundt den varme grauten
to pace around hot porridge like a cat = beat about the bush
å være midt i smørøyet (bokmål) /
å vere midt i smørauget (nynorsk)
to be in the middle of the butter melting in the porridge -
to be in a very favourable place or situation
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Agora é tarde; Inês é morta
It's too late; Inês is dead = The worst has already happened (or been done). Nothing else can be done to correct this.
Refers to Inês de Castro
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Вешать лапшу
на уши
(Vešat' lapšu na ušy)
To hang noodles on one's ears = to tell lies / talk nonsense
Очки втирать
(Očki vtiratʼ)
To smear eyeglasses = to pull the wool over someone's eyes (to tell lies, to try to sell something for what it isn't
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Nosom para oblake
He's ripping clouds with his nose = He's conceited, puffed up
me estoy comiendo el coco
I'm eating the head = I'm trying to think
no tener para un bocado
without a mouthful (to eat) = to be completely penniless
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chang.sa.rgyag
to put up a beer tent = to get married
Aç it fırın deler
A hungry dog will break through a bakery, i.e. starving person can do impossible things
Kafa ütüleme
Don't iron my head = Used when somebody repetitively talks about something.
Dayak yersin/ dayak yiyeceksin.
You are gonna eat a beating = You are gonna get beaten up.
Kurt gibi açım
I am hungry like a wolf = I am starving/very hungry.
Avcumun içi gibi biliyorum
I know it like the palm of my hand = I know it like the back of my hand.
Burnu havada
His nose is up in the air = He is conceited.
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Робота не
вовк, в ліс
не втіче!
(Robota ne vovk, v lis ne vtiče!)
Work is not a wolf, it doesn't run into the woods = I can get back to doing that later
Моя хата скраю
(Mija chata skraju)
My cottage is at the edge = I don't know anything / It's not my business
Там де нас нема (tam de nas nema)
there where we are not = or the grass is greener on the other side
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ar gefn ei geffyl gwyn
on the back of his white horse = full of mischief
rhoi'r ffidil yn y tô
to put the fiddle in the roof = to throw in the towel, i.e. to give up
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Hak mir nisht kin chaynik
don't chop my teakettle = stop annoying me
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People who have contributed to this section
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成語典 - Dictionary of Chinese Idioms
http://140.111.34.46/chengyu/
French idioms
http://www.one.under.btinternet.co.uk/list.html
German idioms
http://german.about.com/library/blidioms_start.htm
Spanish idioms
http://spanish.about.com/od/idiomsandphrases/
Idiomau Cymraeg / Welsh idioms
http://www.madog.org/dysgwyr/gramadeg/gramadeg3.html
Dictionary of idioms in Japanese, English and Russian
http://www.yamtro.sitehotel.ru
Idioms and Expressions in English, and English equivalents of interesting expressions in foreign languages
http://www.idiomsandexpressions.com
WikIdioms - multilingual dictionary of idioms
http://www.wikidioms.com
Idioms of the World
http://www.hotelclub.com/blog/idioms-of-the-world-infographic/
http://www.comtectranslations.co.uk/culture/idioms-of-the-world-part-2/
http://www.expedia.co.uk/vc/language-of-foodies
e: https://www.lenstore.co.uk/vc/the-eyes-have-it/
idiommaster.com - idioms in English, Spanish, German, French and Italian
http://www.idiommaster.com
The Origins and Meanings of Financial Sayings and Idioms
https://www.vouchercloud.com/resources/origins-of-financial-terms
It's all Greek to me | It's raining cats and dogs | As easy as falling off a log | A sandwich short of a picnic | It's small world | When pigs fly | Out of sight, out of mind | Crystal-clear | Penny Pinching | Practice makes perfect | The grass is always greener | As Snug as a Bug in a Rug
Czech | French | Greek | Icelandic | Lithuanian | Manx | Russian | Slovak | Spanish | Swedish | Welsh
Useful phrases | Silly phrases | Numbers | Numerals | Colours | Telling the time | Dates | Weather words | Family words | Terms of endearment | Language names | Country names | Idioms | Proverbs | Tongue twisters | Signs | Compass directions | UDHR | Tower of Babel | Songs | Omniglot | Seven dwarfs | Zodiac signs | Computer parts | Compass directions | Animal sounds
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