#idioms and expressions

[englishbyruchi]

Test Your Knowledge: Idioms Based on Colours

🌈 Dive into the World of Colorful Idioms: Test Your Knowledge with Our Fun and Engaging Quiz! 🌈 Explore the meanings and usages of idioms inspired by colors. Challenge yourself and see how many you can get right. Perfect for language enthusiasts and curious minds alike! Enjoy the journey through vibrant expressions! 📚✨ Question 1:What does the idiom “green with envy” mean?A) Feeling happyB)…

[ravxnstudies]

native here! that's exactly what it means. the girl in class who takes aesthetic notes with different kinds of markers, pens etc. do you have some equivalent expression in english?

What does "la morra de los plumones" mean colloquially? As far as I can tell it's the girl of the feathers or something to that effect, but I'm not sure what it means in context/colloquially.

My understanding is that la morra de los plumones sort of refers to the person who's the best at school or who takes the best notes etc

los plumones here means "markers" since it's related to la pluma where la pluma can be "feather", but also means "pen"... this is because la pluma used to be "quill" which came from birds but were used for writing... so los plumones are like felt tip markers or highlighters

My understanding is that it refers to someone who is extremely organized with their notetaking and can color coordinate their notes, so it comes out as someone very studious, so it makes me think of the studyblr blogs a lot

...

But I'm curious what the native speakers think when they see it?

[useless-catalanfacts]

Another Catalan expression that I like is anar per llana i tornar esquilat: "to go get wool and come back shorn".

It means when you try to do something in your benefit but it backfires. For example:

I went to the exam revision hoping the professor would raise my grade, but he realised he had counted as right an answer that was wrong. I went to get wool and came back shorn.

Photo by cotaro70s on Flickr.

[sayitaliano]

Italian idiomatic expressions

Just heard this from the news (sport) Loved the use of similar words in this sentence so I thought about making a short post about it

"Vedremo se il nostro velocista di punta riuscirà a spuntarla"

-> di punta = top, best, primary (out of a team)

-> riuscire a spuntarla = "being able to make it/to succeed *despite/against difficulties or against odds*" idiomatic expression (spuntare = lit. to check, to trim) Similar to "riuscire a farcela" (more literal translation of "being able to make it"). "Spuntarla" suggests more of a tight battle against others as in a sport competition (implied info since the video was about this sprinter going to compete against others). Maybe "end up being successful" could be a more literal translation?

Translation: "We'll see if our best sprinter will be able to make it"

[ranahan]

Hii! I've been trying to learn some mando'a to use and I've been searching for the equivalent of 'Fuck's sake!', For the love of God!, or any variation. Is there another way to translate it other than using ka'ra?

There’s Wayii! which is an expression of exasperation.

Prudii bal rang! which I came up with, or Werda bal rang! as suggested by bojangos on that same post, means roughly “for heaven’s sake!” and refers the Dha Werda Verda.

I know you said no ka’ra, but here are some that might fit the bill anyway, which I’ve seen in other’s fics:

Ka’ra bal ka’ra! Lit. “stars and kings,” an expression of exasperation. Ka’ra means “Stars” literally, but also refers to the ruling council of past kings Mandalorians believe inhabit the stars. —iridan

Ka’ra bal tra suum! “stars above and void beyond.” —sometimes-i-right

“Stars and void!” by Umei_no_Mai (this one is from Impact), which I would translate as Ka’ra bal utra!

[pigsongpearls]

Pig Metaphors and Idioms

Pigs and boars are rich in symbolism across cultures, often appearing in idioms and phrases to convey a wide range of meanings—positive and negative. Here’s a global look at expressions and phrases associated with these animals:

English

Sweating like a pig: Refers to sweating heavily, though ironically, pigs don’t sweat much.

Eat like a pig: To eat messily or in excess.

Pigs might fly: Expressing disbelief or skepticism about something unlikely.

Happy as a pig in mud: To be extremely content or comfortable.

Casting pearls before swine: Offering something valuable to someone who doesn’t appreciate it.

The pig is in the parlor An idiom meaning that something is wrong or out of place.

Pig in a poke: Buying something without seeing it first.

Going hog wild: Behaving in a very uncontrolled, enthusiastic way.

Hog the limelight: To take all the attention for oneself.

Make a pig of oneself: To eat greedily or in a messy manner.

Pig out: To eat a large amount of food.

Boar's head: Historically used to refer to a feast or a symbol of plenty, especially at Christmas.

French

C'est du porc!: (It’s pork!) Used to describe something expensive, especially in slang.

Être sale comme un cochon: (To be as dirty as a pig) Refers to extreme untidiness.

Donner de la confiture aux cochons: (To give jam to pigs) Similar to "casting pearls before swine."

Faire le cochon (To do the pig): Behaving badly or greedily.

German

Schwein haben: (To have pig) Means to be lucky.

Fressen wie ein Schwein Eat like a pig or messily,

Eine Sau durchs Dorf treiben: (Drive the sow through the village) Refers to sensationalizing or spreading rumors.

Schweinerei (Pig mess): Something that's messy, scandalous, or just generally bad.

Sich wie ein Schwein benehmen (Behave like a pig): To behave badly.

Dutch

Als een varken eten (Eat like a pig): Eating in a messy or greedy way.

Spanish

Ser un cerdo: (To be a pig) Used for someone messy, rude, or morally questionable.

Sudando como un cerdo: (Sweating like a pig) Similar to the English expression.

Hacer un cochinero: (To make a pigsty) Refers to making a mess.

Comer como un cerdo (Eat like a pig): To eat messily or greedily.

Estar hecho un marrano (To be made a hog): To be very dirty or messy.

Italian

Essere un maiale (To be a pig): Used similarly to the English, often for someone who eats a lot or behaves badly.

Fare la scrofa (To do the sow): To act in a gluttonous manner.

Fare il maiale: (To act like a pig) Refers to someone behaving rudely or inappropriately.

Sudare come un maiale: (To sweat like a pig) Indicates sweating excessively.

Mettere il naso nel trogolo: (Put the nose in the trough) Refers to meddling or indulging too much.

Portuguese (Brazil)

Comer feito porco (Eat like a pig): Similar to the Spanish, indicating eating messily or greedily.

Chinese

猪八戒 (Zhū Bājiè): Refers to the gluttonous and lazy character from Journey to the West, symbolizing indulgence and foolishness.

九牛二虎一只猪 (Jiǔ niú èr hǔ yī zhī zhū): (Nine cows, two tigers, and one pig) Indicates an enormous effort.

猪拱食 (Zhu gong shi): Literally 'pig arching food', meaning to eat greedily.

猪一样的队友 (Zhu yiyang de duiyou): Literally 'teammates like pigs', meaning teammates who are not helpful or perform poorly.

Japanese

豚に真珠 (Buta ni shinjū): (Pearls before pigs) Equivalent to "casting pearls before swine."

豚もおだてりゃ木に登る (Buta mo odaterya ki ni noboru): (Even a pig can climb a tree if flattered) Suggests the power of encouragement or flattery.

豚箱 (Butabako): Slang for jail, literally "pigpen."

ブタのようにおいしい (Buta no you ni oishii): Literally 'delicious like a pig', emphasizing how delicious something is, in a playful or joking manner.

Arabic

"كالخنزير في الوحل" (Kal-khinzīr fī al-waḥl): (Like a pig in mud) Used to describe someone reveling in something unpleasant or inappropriate.

"وجه خنزير" (Wajh khinzir): (Pig-faced) An insult implying ugliness or unpleasantness.

Russian

Грязный как свинья (Gryaznyy kak svin'ya): (Dirty as a pig) Describes someone filthy or untidy.

Поросячий визг (Porosyachiy vizg): (Piglet squeal) Refers to loud, high-pitched noise or childish complaints.

Как свинья в апельсинах (Like a pig in oranges): To be in an unexpectedly good or luxurious situation.

Свинство (Piggery): Behavior that is considered low or unethical.

Hindi/Urdu

"सुअर का बच्चा" (Suar ka bachcha): (Child of a pig) A common insult.

"सुअर की तरह खाना" (Suar ki tarah khana): (To eat like a pig) Refers to messy or greedy eating.

Korean

"돼지같이 먹다" (Dwaeji-gachi meokda): (Eat like a pig) Implies gluttony or messiness.

"돼지 꿈" (Dwaeji kkum): (Pig dream) In Korean culture, dreaming of pigs symbolizes wealth or good fortune.

African Proverbs

"A pig that is used to wallowing in the mud doesn't mind a rainy day": (Various cultures) Highlights the idea of being accustomed to hardship or low standards.

"Even if a pig wears a golden ring, it is still a pig": (West African proverb) Suggests that external adornments cannot change one's nature.

These expressions reflect a wide range of attitudes toward pigs and boars, from their perceived greed, laziness, or uncleanliness to their symbolic association with luck, prosperity, or indulgence.

[stopmyhearts]

truly there is nothing like making posts everyday to make you doubt your English skills

[vimflam]

"poob has it for you" is one of my personal favourite idiomish phrases that has evolved from here

[idiomland]

"Monkey business" = silly or dishonest behavior. ⠀ Example: Our teacher warned us not to try any monkey business while she was out of the room. ⠀ Example: There's money missing from the office and it's not the first time it's happened. I think there's some monkey business going on. ⠀ Learn idioms in our app - https://onelink.to/zhdnr2

[thestudyinglesbian]

les expressions courantes

here are some french expressions to use in your work! (they're great for exams and orals)

they will be updated every monday - thursday!

☆ "Tire le diable par la queue !" - "Pull the devil by the tail!" (to be broke)

☆ "Je suis arrivé(e) à bon port" - "I arrived safe and sound"

☆ "Tout est allé à vau l'eau" - "Everything has gone to the dogs"

☆ "Faire une gaffe j'ai fait une gaffro" - I made a mistake

if you have any to add, lmk! pink ones are those that i have added, purple are other people's suggestions!

[dramas-vs-novels]

Also to answer your hashtags in your first response I think rain said “fruity” siblings bc ple’s name means apple and bc som is gay

I double checked after typing that and what I found says "Som" does mean sour, but the same world is also referencing a specific type of orange.

There are like a bazillion Thai words that are plausible meanings when you only know the romanized, unaccented "Som" (so like, if you have the Thai and can know for sure, I bow to that!), but the novel DID say specifically that the siblings were both named for fruit.

[koreanling]

개천에서 용 난다

Lit. a dragon rises up from a small stream. From rags to riches! Someone who went from a lower economic state to one much higher. Many Korean myths say dragons can rise from the ocean so rising from a stream is seen as unexpected and amazing.

[useless-catalanfacts]

In Catalan we use many expressions to mean "a long time ago", in an indefinite far-away past, but we often don't know where they come from. I have found the origins (or theories of origin) for three of them, but not the rest. Can you try to guess where they come from?

1. L'any de la picor, "the year of itching".

According to folklorist Joan Amades, this expression has its origin in the flea plague of 1471 in Barcelona and its surroundings. The horrible flea plague affected people but also destroyed fields, causing hunger as well as the famous itching. It was so strong that its memory persisted through time.

(This makes me wonder, did it start like now we say "this happened during COVID", "I did that before COVID", etc as a way of measuring the time? Will people in the future say "that's from the times of COVID" as a way of saying it's very old?)

2. L'any de la Mariacastanya or El temps de la Maria Castanya, "the year of Mary Chestnut" or "the time of Mary Chestnut".

There are two theories.

One theory says that it's origin is a woman named Maria who invented the hairstyle called "la castanya" (the chestnut). This hairstyle consists of making a braid and twisting it around in a round shape around its root. It used to be a very popular hairstyle for women, so it seem like one of those things that must have existed for a very long time. The Catalan story that explains the origin of this expression talks of a (legendary) Barcelonian woman named Maria who was the first one to do it.

Another theory says that María Castaña or María Castiñeira was a Galician woman from the 14th century who led an uprising against the local feudal lord, a bishop who made the lower class pay high taxes to the Catholic Church. She and her brothers-in-law killed the bishop's butler, but the revolt didn't succeed. They were jailed and forced to give their belongings to the Church, but her memory spread across the Iberian peninsula and became a legendary figure.

This expression also exists in Spanish (el tiempo de María Castaña) and Galician (nos tempos de María Castaña).

3. Del temps d'Adam, "from the time of Adam".

In Christian belief, Adam was the first man created by God, in a mythical time before humans were turned into mortal beings. "The time of Adam" is an exaggeration that references that far-away time, the earliest for humans.

...

From here on, we start guessing.

4. L'any de la catacumba, "the year of the catacomb".

I assume its origin is because catacombs are associated with paleo-Christians from centuries ago. Unlike parts of France and Italy, we have not continued making catacombs in the following centuries.

5. L'any de la neu, "the year of snow".

In most parts of the Catalan Countries, it doesn't snow often (obviously this doesn't apply to the Pyrenees, the Ports, nor the Serra de Tramuntana!). It goes many years between snow days, in some areas it goes decades. I assume it comes from the memory of "that one time it snowed, many years ago". Same way as, nowadays, old people still remember how it snowed in 1962.

6. L'any de les tàperes, "the year of capers".

I have no idea why we say this. Capers have been cultivated here since Phoenician times, so maybe it's because capers are such a normal product in Mediterranean food that it seemed like something that has been here forever? Maybe because capers can be preserved in salt and last for a long time? I honestly don't know. What do you think?

7. De l'any de la Quica or l'any de la Quitèria, "from Quica's year" or "from Quitèria's year"

I don't know who Quica nor Quitèria were, and I haven't been able to find any information on the Internet. Could this be a reference to the legendary Occitan saint Quiteria, thought to have lived in the 5th century?

Other expressions that mean the same: de l'avior ("from the ancestors"), l'any de tirurany (in this case I think it's just a made up silly word that rhymes with "year"), and de l'any vuit ("from the year 8").

[sayitaliano]

just wanted to say i really enjoyed reading through all the idiomatic expressions / proverbs on this blog!! do you have any favorite italian expressions / proverbs? i'm also super curious to know if there's an italian equivalent of "looking like the cat who got the cream" or "the cat who ate the canary", or whether italian maybe uses different animals when expressing someone looks very sated or smug!!

Ciao!

Idk if I have a very fav idiomatic expression or proverb but I could mention (since you mentioned cats): "tanto va la gatta al lardo che ci lascia lo zampino" that basically is the equivalent of "curiosity killed the cat" (I also found "the pitcher goes so often to the well that it leaves its handle"). the literal translation is "the *female* cat goes so often/so far to get the lard that she loses her paw".

I think we don't have a real equivalent for that saying. We just say "Sembri molto soddisfatto/a". TBH I found things like "Sembri un gatto che ha preso un pesce... e anche bello grosso" (=you look like a cat who got the fish... and even a pretty big one) and "Sembri una volpe cha ha raggiunto l'uva" ("you look like a fox who got the grape" from the famous Esopo's tale ig). I think we can use the cat's one but IDk how commonly/often. We may also use the expression "Leccarsi i baffi" (=smak one's lips)? Non sure but figuratively it could work.

Hope this helps! (Ofc is someone wants to add something, please do it. At times there are regional sayings that can cover a specific subject)

[natandwandaseries]

I’ve come up with a new expression:

A voice for silent films

Like the expression a face for radio

[algerianity]

” حَدْ ما ڤالْ لحَدْ.“

Ni vu ni connu

— Algerian Idiom 🇩🇿