National sayings and phrases - directly translated

mapuc · 11-24-20, 12:53 PM

We have sayings in the country we live in. For people who live in these country these sayings are normal, but directly translated into English it may sound weird.

So I will start with some sayings and phrases used in the Danish language.

Let's fart about the price
There's no cow on the Ice
just pat the horse

So what kind of sayings or phrases do you have in your country who will sound weird directly translated into English

Each of these sayings or phrases has they equivalent in the English language

Markus

Eisenwurst · 11-28-20, 07:29 AM

Here in Australia we speak a modified form of English developed from our convict ancestors.

Some examples:-

" They couldn't run a chook raffle".

" She bangs like a dunny door in a hurricane".

" Check out her Arthritis".

Catfish · 11-28-20, 01:20 PM

Not related to anyone

"Alles hat ein Ende, nur die Wurst hat zwei."

~All in life has an end, only a sausage has two.

Commander Wallace · 11-28-20, 01:51 PM

My dad had a saying that I'm sure others have heard too. " Sometimes you eat the bear and sometimes the bear eats you." Translated, the law of averages catches up with everyone at some point.

My lady has told me at one point or another, " You know, you could screw up a one car funeral. "

Rockstar · 11-28-20, 05:59 PM

I imagine there are a lot of sayings in American English that have been taken from other languages. We are a melting pot you know.

One of my favorites which I think is of Slavic origin is: "Not my Circus, not my monkeys." I really like that one.

Kptlt. Neuerburg · 11-28-20, 10:28 PM

Two of my favorites are, "Boat really means Break Out Another Thousand." and " A gold mine is a hole in the ground with a liar at the top."

ET2SN · 11-29-20, 05:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rockstar

I imagine there are a lot of sayings in American English that have been taken from other languages. We are a melting pot you know.

One of my favorites which I think is of Slavic origin is: "Not my Circus, not my monkeys." I really like that one.

Here's a long shot you may have heard, "May a chicken kick you backwards".

I can almost remember how to say it in Slovak, I heard it from a bunch of relatives over the years, and I still have NO idea what it really means.

Reece · 11-29-20, 12:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Eisenwurst

Here in Australia we speak a modified form of English developed from our convict ancestors.

" She bangs like a dunny door in a hurricane".

Oh you are awful, but I like it!!

Aktungbby · 11-29-20, 02:55 AM

Sweatier than a sinner in church

Von Due · 11-29-20, 04:16 AM

I particularly like the Welsh equivalent to "it's rainimg cats and dogs":

It's raining old ladies and sticks

Something about the visual of it

Catfish · 11-29-20, 05:17 AM

"Doch selten hält das rote Licht
von nah, was es von fern verspricht"

Favourite quote from a friend when we approached a traffic light, but it certainly means something different

"Seldom the red light close keeps the promise, it promises from far away."

Most of those sayings rhyme in german, so some is wasted after translation. And there is no english word for "doch"

11-24-20, 12:53 PM	#1
mapuc CINC Pacific Fleet Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Denmark Posts: 20,535 Downloads: 37 Uploads: 0	National sayings and phrases - directly translated We have sayings in the country we live in. For people who live in these country these sayings are normal, but directly translated into English it may sound weird. So I will start with some sayings and phrases used in the Danish language. Let's fart about the price There's no cow on the Ice just pat the horse So what kind of sayings or phrases do you have in your country who will sound weird directly translated into English Each of these sayings or phrases has they equivalent in the English language Markus

11-28-20, 07:29 AM	#2
Eisenwurst Silent Hunter Join Date: Jan 2010 Posts: 3,748 Downloads: 58 Uploads: 0	Here in Australia we speak a modified form of English developed from our convict ancestors. Some examples:- " They couldn't run a chook raffle". " She bangs like a dunny door in a hurricane". " Check out her Arthritis". __________________

11-28-20, 01:20 PM	#3
Catfish Dipped Squirrel Operative Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: ..where the ocean meets the sky Posts: 17,765 Downloads: 38 Uploads: 0	Not related to anyone "Alles hat ein Ende, nur die Wurst hat zwei." ~All in life has an end, only a sausage has two. __________________ >^..^<)))>{ All generalizations are wrong. Last edited by Catfish; 11-28-20 at 03:35 PM.*

11-28-20, 10:28 PM	#6
Kptlt. Neuerburg Admiral Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Florida Posts: 2,279 Downloads: 54 Uploads: 0	Two of my favorites are, "Boat really means Break Out Another Thousand." and " A gold mine is a hole in the ground with a liar at the top." __________________ "When you're born into this world, you're given a ticket to the freak show. If you're born in America you get a front row seat." - George Carlin

11-29-20, 02:55 AM	#9
Aktungbby Gefallen Engel U-666 Join Date: Jul 2013 Location: On a tilted, overheated, overpopulated spinning mudball on Collision course with Andromeda Galaxy Posts: 29,981 Downloads: 24 Uploads: 0	Sweatier than a sinner in church __________________ "Only two things are infinite; The Universe and human squirrelyness?!!

11-28-20, 01:51 PM	#4
Commander Wallace Navy Seal Join Date: Oct 2012 Location: Under the sea in an Octupus garden in the shade Posts: 5,294 Downloads: 366 Uploads: 0	My dad had a saying that I'm sure others have heard too. " Sometimes you eat the bear and sometimes the bear eats you." Translated, the law of averages catches up with everyone at some point. My lady has told me at one point or another, " You know, you could screw up a one car funeral. "

11-28-20, 05:59 PM	#5
Rockstar In the Brig Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: Zendia Bar & Grill Posts: 12,614 Downloads: 10 Uploads: 0	I imagine there are a lot of sayings in American English that have been taken from other languages. We are a melting pot you know. One of my favorites which I think is of Slavic origin is: "Not my Circus, not my monkeys." I really like that one.

11-29-20, 04:16 AM	#10
Von Due Sea Lord Join Date: Jul 2012 Posts: 1,690 Downloads: 30 Uploads: 0	I particularly like the Welsh equivalent to "it's rainimg cats and dogs": It's raining old ladies and sticks Something about the visual of it

11-29-20, 05:17 AM	#11
Catfish Dipped Squirrel Operative Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: ..where the ocean meets the sky Posts: 17,765 Downloads: 38 Uploads: 0	"Doch selten hält das rote Licht von nah, was es von fern verspricht" Favourite quote from a friend when we approached a traffic light, but it certainly means something different "Seldom the red light close keeps the promise, it promises from far away." Most of those sayings rhyme in german, so some is wasted after translation. And there is no english word for "doch" __________________ >^..^<*)))>{ All generalizations are wrong.