National sayings and phrases - directly translated

[Jimbuna]

"Take the biscuit" - If someone has done something highly irritating or surprising in an exasperating fashion, you might say that they've "taken the biscuit."

[Eisenwurst]

"Mad as a 2 Bob Watch" :- Completely insane, also a product very poorly/stupidly made.

[Jimbuna]

"Tickety-boo" - Something that is "tickety-boo" is satisfactory and in good order.

[August]

"Knock it off!" An American term used since the 1800's to tell someone to immediately cease some usually irritating or disruptive activity.


Example:


Person A: (Starts humming a dirty song in Church)

Person B: "Knock if off with your blasphemy Earl!


It originated as a request to an auctioneer to end the bidding (by knocking his gavel).

[Jimbuna]

"Waffle" - When someone makes a great speech while skirting around a subject or saying little of any value, you might say that they're talking "waffle," or that they're "waffling."

[Texas Red]

“Stop the cap!” popular among young kids. Cap means lying, so you are essentially saying “Stop lying!”

“That’s so extra!” popular among my peers too, extra means unnecessary. So they are saying “that is so unnecessary”

[Sean C]

Originally Posted by Jimbuna

"Tickety-boo" - Something that is "tickety-boo" is satisfactory and in good order.

Alright, now I think you're just making these up.


Edit: My wife just pointed out the American phrase "hunky-dory", which means pretty much the same thing. I had forgotten about that one.

[Jimbuna]

Originally Posted by Sean C

Alright, now I think you're just making these up.


Edit: My wife just pointed out the American phrase "hunky-dory", which means pretty much the same thing. I had forgotten about that one.

Used mostly down south as opposed to up north (Gods country).

[Jimbuna]

"Wally" - Someone silly or incompetent might be described as a wally.

[Aktungbby]

Originally Posted by Sean C

Alright, now I think you're just making these up.


Edit: My wife just pointed out the American phrase "hunky-dory", which means pretty much the same thing. I had forgotten about that one.

Originally Posted by Jimbuna

Used mostly down south as opposed to up north (Gods country).

I've occasionally announced on auspicious occasions that "my 'hinky-dory' is 'tickety-boo" and used to visit a small bar near the family lake cabin in Wisconsin called the Hunky Dory. I always knew it meant swell but thought it referred to a 'dory' ie a small but trim rowboat...

[Jimbuna]

Here's me thinking it was Bowies fourth studio album

The whole Hunky Dory album reflected my newfound enthusiasm for this new continent that had been opened up to me. That was the first time a real outside situation affected me so 100 percent that it changed my way of writing and the way I look at things.[9]
– David Bowie discussing how America impacted the album, 1999

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hunky_Dory

[Aktungbby]

...having 'Fallen to Earth' too many times can alter a Man's concept of hunky-doriness!

[Catfish]

^ yes, he did not succeed and became spoilt as (and by) the human race

[bstanko6]

In an American jail, when an inmate can’t believe something is true he says:

“Man, that is some ho a$& sh@&!!”

[Jimbuna]

"Wangle" - If you've "wangled" something, you've accomplished or attained something through cunning means.