I'm collecting foreign language idioms for a project.
I need the Idiom in the original language, translation into English and some description of why you like it and any other personal things attached to it.
If I make use of it you won't be identified.
An example
Finnish Idiom
tehdä kärpäsestä härkänen
to make a bull out of a fly
Means same thing as "Don't make a mountain out of a molehill"
I find the visual image much more amusing of a bull with insect wings flying round my kitchen.
Please leave any suggestions you have as comments
German Idiom
ReplyDeleteGanz oder gar nicht
All or nothing
Google Translate renders it in English as "The Full Monty", I suspect because the film of the same name was released in Germany as "Ganz oder gar nicht".
Italian idiom
ReplyDeleteChi semina vento raccoglie tempesta
Sow the wind and you'll reap a storm- Love the idea of sowing wind :)
Russian idiom
ReplyDeleteпернуть в лужу
to fart into a puddle
(to say nonsense or something silly)
Swedish Idiom
ReplyDeleteSla dig ner
punch yourself to the ground
what they actually mean is "Grab a seat and sit down"
Finnish Idiom
ReplyDeletekiertää kuin kissa kuumaa puuroa
Don't run around hot porridge like a cat
Same as English
Don't beat about the bush
Ewondo Idiom
ReplyDeleteBa kar ki won nken akon opken otele
A hunter does not begin to make the handle of a spear after he has come come in front of the hare.
Means you must always be well-prepared, otherwise, you are a fool.
Estonian Idiom
ReplyDeleteSääsest elevanti tegema
To make an elephant out of a gnat
(Probably more elephants in Estonia than in Finland)