National sayings and phrases - directly translated

[Aktungbby]

Originally Posted by Catfish

This is not a saying of course, but a rhyme..

"Weil wir doch am Leben kleben
muß man abends einen heben

So ein Virus ist geschockt
wenn man ihn mit Whisky blockt

Auch gegorner Rebensaft
einen gesunden Körper schafft

Auch das Bier in großen Mengen
wird den Virus arg versengen

Wodka, Rum und Aquavit
halten Herz und Lunge fit

Calvados und auch der Grappe
helfen Mutti und dem Papa

Ich will hier nicht für Trunksucht werben,
doch nüchtern will ich auch nicht sterben"

Will not translate since the rhyme would not "survive" this

Because we're sticking to life
you have to lift one in the evening

Such a virus is shocked
if you block it with whisky<SCOTCH spelled correctly!

Also fermented vine juice
creates a healthy body

Also the beer in large quantities
will severely scorch the virus

Vodka, Rum and Aquavit
Keep your heart and lungs fit

Calvados and also the Grappe
help mum and dad

I don't want to promote drunkenness here,
but I don't want to die soberly either"

[Jimbuna]

"Cost a bomb" - Expensive.

[Jimbuna]

"Curtain twitcher" - A nosey neighbour, often caught peering out on their street's activities from a curtained window, might be referred to as a "curtain twitcher."

[mapuc]

"going out to press today's newspaper"
Here in Denmark a person can say to his friends if he need to go to the toilet.
I have to go out to press today's newspaper.

This saying has it's origin from the time when sailing ships was the only transportation at sea over a longer distance.
it was only on the ships common toilet the sailor could share stories with each other.

Markus

[Von Due]

Drove off to Mother Nature - (Car) Veered off the road.

[Jimbuna]

"Doddle" - An easy task is a "doddle."

[mapuc]

Here are some more Danish saying directly translated.

Have a stick in the ear- This is when a person is really drunk

Pouring water out of the ears-When a person talk rubbish

Now that goat is shaved- When a person have solved a difficult task.

It's blowing half a pelican-When it's very windy.

Markus

[Jimbuna]

"Dog's dinner" - A "dog's dinner" is a mess or fiasco -- sometimes also referred to as a "dog's breakfast."

[Catfish]

"Ins Fettnaepchen treten" (Ins or In's is an abbreviation for "In das")
Literally "To step into the fat cup/dish"
Meaning ~ "To put one's foot in it" or coll. "to put one's foot in one's mouth"

Comes from older german farm houses, those houses were also called "Rauchhaeuser" (~smoke houses, but you lived in it). The fireplace was open, there was no real chimney (only two openings at the roofs ends, called Eulenloch or Owl's hole), so heat but also smoke was gathering. Sausages and bacon were hung under a timber frame near the fireplace to be smoked, and since the meat lost water and fat there were cups or dishes placed under those meat chunks.
If a visitor had only eyes for the sausages he would step into the dishes, what was considered as embarassing and a major 'fauxpas'.. which is french and means literally "wrong step", maybe or not coming from french farmhouses that .. ok i'll stop.

[Jimbuna]

"Full of beans" - Someone that's energetic, lively, or enthusiastic might be described as "full of beans."

[Jimbuna]

"Gaff" - "Gaff" is an informal word for "home."

[mapuc]

Can you cook more soup on the story.
An example CNN has the last three days talked about this famous phone call- a Danish person can then say-Can you cook more soup on that story

Markus

[Jimbuna]

"Gallivanting" - To "gallivant" means to roam, or to set off on an expedition, with the sole intention of having some light-hearted fun.

[Jimbuna]

"Give me a tinkle on the blower" - "Give me a call" or "ring me." The phrase is sometimes shortened to "give me a tinkle."

[Sean C]

Originally Posted by Jimbuna

"Give me a tinkle on the blower" - "Give me a call" or "ring me." The phrase is sometimes shortened to "give me a tinkle."

A word of advice: next time you're in the states, be careful who you say that to.