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.”

  • bus_factor@lemmy.world
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    8 months ago

    In Norwegian we say “helt sylta” (“completely pickled”) when we have a very stuffy nose. I tried using that idiom when calling out of work in the US once, and was informed that I had just told them I was too drunk to go to work!

    • Holyhandgrenade@lemmy.world
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      8 months ago

      I love the Norwegian “helt Texas” or “completely Texas”, which means something’s totally crazy. Probably a reference to Westerns.

    • Lmaydev@programming.dev
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      8 months ago

      Yeah it’s common in English that saying “I’m Xed” means drunk.

      Fucked, twated, trollied, muntered, cunted, steamed etc.

        • Skyhighatrist@lemmy.ca
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          8 months ago

          That’s generally true, but there are some exceptions. For instance. “I’m pissed” can either mean “I’m drunk” or “I’m angry” depending on where you are and the context.

            • Skyhighatrist@lemmy.ca
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              8 months ago

              Yeah, that’s one of the geographical differences I was alluding to. In Canada it can mean either depending on context.

              • ABCDE@lemmy.world
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                8 months ago

                That’s interesting to know. I guess there has been some cultural spillover in the UK so some may use it the American style, I just haven’t heard it.