People learning English often have trouble with idioms like “on thin ice” or “kick the bucket.” But idioms in foreign languages can be just as difficult and often a lot more fun. In this quiz, we’ve provided the literal translations of some idioms in foreign languages. Can you figure out what they mean?
And be sure to add your favorite foreign idioms in the comments.
Take the Quiz: Foreign Idioms
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In German, if one wants to say that someone is talking rubbish, one could say “Du bist schwer auf dem holzweg.” Translated literally, it means “You are heavy on the wood path.”
The strongest swear words in French (at least, Quebecois French) don’t involve fornication or elimination, but religion: “Calisse” and “Tabernac”, which translate as “Chalice” and “Tabernacle”.
posted by Jon. on 3-19-2009 at 11:52 am
#5 isn’t quite fair. “I’m sick of it” and “I’ve had it up to here” are basically the same thing.
posted by Craig on 3-19-2009 at 12:44 pm
I agree with Craig! I went back and forth with those two answers–they do mean the same thing.
Otherwise, great quiz! I have an immense appreciation for language, so I loved it!
posted by Orange on 3-19-2009 at 12:58 pm
Blast! I only got two right, though I do agree #5 is a little misleading.
posted by Shelly on 3-19-2009 at 2:08 pm
Yay! I got them all right and the majority of them I was guessing.
Huzzah!
posted by Isabella on 3-19-2009 at 4:26 pm
I once asked a woman in Colombia why she had brought an umbrella, to which she replied “Por si las moscas” “For if the flies”. I thought this was a little strange to bring an umbrella for flies but she told me that it is an idiom meaning “Just in case”.
posted by Nick on 3-19-2009 at 5:14 pm
In Italy, the equivalent for “break a leg” (good luck) is “in boca al lupo” which literally translates to “in the mouth of the wolf”…
I know that “break a leg” is a silly enough idiom, but I’d say you’d need a lot of luck if you’re in the mouth of a wolf!
posted by dangermouse on 3-19-2009 at 8:03 pm