Say What?! A Foreign Idioms Quiz

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?

1 of 8

The French expression "Donner le lapin" literally translates to "to give a rabbit." What does it really mean?

To serve an unusual meal

To stand someone up

To donate to charity

2 of 8

The Italian expression "Fare il portoghese" literally translates to "To pretend to be Portuguese." What does it really mean?

To use a public service without paying

To act in a play

To speak Portuguese (isn't it obvious?)

ANSWER: This isn't some xenophobic expression; the story goes that in the 18th Century, the Roman embassy was giving a gift to Portuguese residents. Italians looking to cash in pretended to be Portuguese, cheating the system. This isn't some xenophobic expression; the story goes that in the 18th Century, the Roman embassy was giving a gift to Portuguese residents. Italians looking to cash in pretended to be Portuguese, cheating the system.

3 of 8

What does the British expression "banana peel" really mean?

A clumsy person

An embrassment

Toughness

4 of 8

The Portuguese expression "Segurando a vela" literally translates to "Holding a candle." What does it really mean?

Praying

Looking up at

Being the third wheel

5 of 8

The German expression "Ich habe die nase voll" literally translates to "I have a noseful of." What does it really mean"

I've had it up to here

I'm stuffed

I'm sick of it

6 of 8

The Japanese word "Yokomeshi" literally means "A sideways meal." What does it really mean?

An uncooked piece of meat

A late lunch

A meal with a foreigner

ANSWER: The Japanese write vertically, while many foreigners write sideways. So talking to a foreigner is like "speaking sideways," making a meal with one a "sideways meal." The Japanese write vertically, while many foreigners write sideways. So talking to a foreigner is like "speaking sideways," making a meal with one a "sideways meal."

7 of 8

In British, if a woman is "up the spout," what is she?

Married

Pregnant

Widowed

8 of 8

The Polish expression "robic z igly widly" literally translates to "To make a fork out of a needle." What does it really mean?

To make a mountain out of a molehill

To make a full meal out of a little food

To be poor

YOUR SCORE

25%