In English, we say someone is “barking up the wrong tree” to mean that someone is looking in the wrong place for something. It has nothing to do with dogs, or usually doesn’t at least, so why do we say “barking?” Learning idioms is one of the hardest things about learning a language, and while it presents a challenge for the learner, it also can be a great source of entertainment. We’ve asked our e-Tutors to share some of their favorite idioms in their languages. The list below shows that idiomatic language can sometimes provide a window into a culture - and sometimes make you scratch your head and wonder, how on earth did they come up with that?
PORTUGUESE
a vaca foi pro brejo
Literal translation: the cow went to the swamp
Meaning: it’s a hopeless situation
ele é um bom garfo
Literal translation: he’s a good fork
Meaning: he’s a foodie
fazer boca de siri
Literal translation: to make a crab’s mouth
Meaning: to be discreet about something
ela está botando as manguinhas de fora
Literal translation: she’s putting her little sleeves outside
Meaning: she’s becoming more daring
bom pra cachorro
Literal translation: good for dogs
Meaning: very good
lavar a égua
Literal translation: to wash the mare (female horse)
Meaning: win big time, especially in games that involve gambling
IRISH
Briseann an dúchas trí shúile an chait.
Literal translation: ‘Heredity breaks through the eyes of a cat.’
Meaning: ‘A person’s true nature can be seen in their eyes.’
Aithníonn ciaróg ciaróg eile.
Literal translation: ‘One beetle recognises another.’
Meaning: ‘It takes one to know one.’
Ar scáth a chéile a mhaireas na daoine.
Literal translation: ‘People live in each other’s shadow.’
Meaning: ‘No man is an island.’
DUTCH
Ik zal ze een poepie laten ruiken
Literal translation: I shall let them smell a poopy
What it means: I’ll show them (like: they are going down!)
Voor spek en bonen meedoen
Literal translation: To participate for bacon and beans
What it means: When you are participating in or joining an activity and your participation has no significant impact.
Het loopt in de soep
Literal translation: It walks in the soup
What it means: Things are going terribly wrong
JAPANESE
泥棒を捕らえて縄を綯う Dorobou o toraete nawa o nau (or 泥縄 Doro-nawa in short)
Literal translation: “to catch a burglar and make a rope”
What it means: “to be too late to get prepared”
二階から目薬 Nikai kara megusuri
Literal translation: “eye drop from upstairs”
What it means: “things or situations that are hard to control”
桃栗三年柿八年 Momo kuri sannen kaki hachinen
Literal translation: “peaches, chestnuts, three years; persimmons, eight years”
What it means: “It takes some time to achieve anything, just like it takes years to grow trees and fruits.”
SPANISH
De noche todos los gatos son pardos
Literal translation: At night all the cats are dun-colored (brownish-grey)
What it means: Don´t worry about that stain in your dress or in your tie, or if each one of your socks has a different color because it´s dark and nobody will notice.
Sabe más el diablo por viejo que por diablo
Literal translation: The devil is more knowledgeable because he is old than because he is a devil
What it means: Experience is of supreme value. An older person will always have an advantage over the young newcomer, even if the newcomer is very well trained.
A perro flaco, todo son pulgas
Literal translation: To the skinny dog, all the fleas go
What it means: When someone is having a negative period in life, it is very likely that more negative things will happen to him or her. Along the lines of “When it rains, it pours” in the negative sense.
GREEK
“Η Σάρα, η Μάρα και το κακό συναπάντημα” (h SA-ra, h MA-ra ke to ka-KO sy-na-PA-dee-ma)
Literal translation: Sara, Mara and the bad encounter.
Meaning everyone is included, even people one doesn’t like or want present. It is often used when referring to an unexpectedly large crowd even if everyone is welcome, along the lines of “everyone and their mother.”
“Από την πόλη έρχομαι και στην κορφή κανέλλα” (a-Po tin PO-li ER-cho-me ke stin kor-PHI ka-NE-la)
Literal translation: From the city I come, and on the top (of the mountain) cinnamon.
Meaning that something or someone is incoherent or does not make any sense whatsoever.
“Ανεμομαζώματα, διαβολοσκορπίσματα” (a-ne-mo-ma-ZO-ma-ta, dhia-vo-lo-skor-PI-sma-ta)
Literal translation: Gathered by the wind, spread by the devil.
Meaning whatever came easy will go easy too. To be more exact, ill-acquired gains will not last long since their origin was ill to begin with. It is commonly used by older people when speaking to younger ones to educate them in regards to creating a strong and ethical foundation for their lives.