{"id":13262,"date":"2020-01-10T15:03:14","date_gmt":"2020-01-10T20:03:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blog.pimsleur.com\/?p=13262"},"modified":"2025-10-08T17:48:48","modified_gmt":"2025-10-08T21:48:48","slug":"idioms-around-the-world","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.pimsleur.com\/blog\/idioms-around-the-world\/","title":{"rendered":"Famous Idioms Around the World: 20 Hilarious Expressions in Different Languages"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h.dh5ouo5bj3ch\"><strong>20 Funny Everyday Phrases in Different Languages<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>As a polyglot and avid traveler, people often ask me \u201c<em>What are some common sayings in other languages?\u201d <\/em>or<em> \u201cWhat are funny phrases in other countries<\/em>?\u201d&nbsp;<br><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>And the grammar monster in my head screams \u201cThey\u2019re called <strong>idioms<\/strong>!\u201d.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><br>They\u2019re 50% cultural, 50% historical, and 100% hilarious. Let\u2019s break them down and then look at some hilarious ones.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>What Are Idioms and Where Do They Come From?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/lh4.googleusercontent.com\/fyKjjMvZKIqxrFpAIpqsUkNACwJvzcL_WCnLVjkBKoK2mjGstgAP4gVzpDaG9NSXvb7NDOXUb3VX21jUnzeIzBPmAYXdkzfeEQNlW8k5kZ8qeXzOXvVKB0GPu7nzd2YDYVYrz-T9\" alt=\"Idioms Around the World Hilarious Phrases in Different Languages\"\/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Idioms<\/strong> are groups of words that, when established together, form a meaning which can no longer be deduced by the individual words themselves.<br><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In other words, \u201cIt\u2019s raining cats and dogs.\u201d is a common English idiom, along with:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Beat around the bush<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Bite the bullet&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Break a leg&nbsp;<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>Native speakers use idioms <strong>much more <\/strong>than they are actually aware of. Other languages have different <strong>idioms<\/strong> (and some are downright hilarious) to describe cultural phenomena or beliefs.&nbsp;<br><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>But here\u2019s the catch: <strong>most idioms stem from literal meanings that most people in pop culture have completely forgotten<\/strong> <strong>about<\/strong>.&nbsp;<br><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Let\u2019s take a look at where these idioms come from and then see how quotes in other languages differ from our own.&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>For Language Lovers: Why Do Idioms Differ By Country?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Idioms<\/strong> are also known as figures of speech or expressions that once had literal meanings but have now become figurative.&nbsp;<br><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>For example, I bet you didn\u2019t know that the idiom \u201c<strong>To cost an arm and a leg.\u201d <\/strong>has its origins in 18th-century art when the wealthy (but stingy) would have their portraits painted without certain limbs because it was less expensive.&nbsp;<br><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Like most people, I was unaware of this origin when I first started looking into <strong>idioms<\/strong>, but at least I knew <em>figuratively<\/em> what it meant.&nbsp;<br><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In England and Australia, however, there were <strong>idioms I had never even heard of in my own language<\/strong>.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Funny Idioms that Differ Across English-Speaking Countries<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Take \u201c<strong>Bats in the belfry<\/strong>.\u201d for example. Figuratively, it means someone who is crazy or eccentric.&nbsp;<br><\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/lh4.googleusercontent.com\/DIpvYrFfUm1MfLcwHm3L20mz_uXkNDBNnzF_VDK_nXMX4j1W-2Tihs3iitiOfWkG25_9tX961wuruK2gfYLgNuHiWa92b4nik-nGuh7QD1CwYzSEnM28djoLowIvlNeBamIH4ztQ\" alt=\"Useful Phrases in 20 Different Languages Funny Idioms\"\/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Literally, it means that bats, who are notorious for flying erratically, are loose in the belfry, which is the uppermost part of a church, implying that someone has loose bats flapping around in their mind.&nbsp;&nbsp;<br><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In Australia, this same <strong>idiom<\/strong> would look like this:<br><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201c<strong>He\u2019s got a kangaroo loose in the top paddock<\/strong>.\u201d otherwise known as \u2192 \u201c<strong>He\u2019s got a screw loose<\/strong>\u201d.<br><\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/lh3.googleusercontent.com\/hHzn3stjGXbYitFTXYMArVjYUEl_F72spk9WDg5Ff-PiHcOMQD9d39xRi53h_v1wgmd77WQN3CQ1l4gzPb1JthUrJlB0mj8ohj9AiFsZxt4W8heRTEM88yMMmwobQe0slnDWINj9\" alt=\"idioms expressions around the world\"\/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Idioms Represent Unique Cultural Elements<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Idioms and expressions are windows to a culture<\/strong>.&nbsp;<br><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>When you learn them, you begin to understand the world that surrounds the native speakers who use these expressions.<br><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Here\u2019s an example:<br><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>When walking through the streets of Havana, you may hear one of the many <a href=\"https:\/\/www.pimsleur.com\/blog\/spanish-idioms-2\/\">famous Spanish idioms<\/a> like:<br><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201c<strong><em>\u00a1Se form\u00f3 tremendo arroz con mango!<\/em><\/strong>\u201d&nbsp;<br><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>&#8230;which literally translates to \u201c<strong>This turned into a serious bowl of rice with mango<\/strong>.\u201d<br><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>But this exact sentence would sound ridiculous in Stockholm because <em>mango doesn\u2019t grow in Sweden.&nbsp;<\/em><br><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Instead, try this Swedish expression on for size:<br><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201c<strong><em>Skita i det bl\u00e5a sk\u00e5pet<\/em><\/strong><em>.\u201d&nbsp;<\/em><br><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>&#8230;which roughly translates to \u201c<strong><em>Answer nature\u2019s call<\/em> in a blue locker<\/strong>.\u201d in which the \u201cblue locker\u201d allegedly refers to what one could interpret as the most prestigious piece of furniture in a Swedish home due to the expensive nature of Prussian blue paint in the 1800s.<br><\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/lh5.googleusercontent.com\/nC0c7mxqsbGV9rOjc6eXiHECcLfyjqygEOxC6SVPA48EksiJqOfZvy6Dk2Zkg0zVMjmV8kSndVDtNALGVDX4CH_OMEbW9N48bWvnO7BheKBkiXGCvXQ6tRwKbg6DkQ6DsDyfjwr6\" alt=\"What Are Idioms \"\/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Bottom Line: What Do These Foreign Idioms Have In Common?<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Both of these idioms refer to <strong>making a mess out of things<\/strong>, to do something completely useless or nonsensical.&nbsp;<br><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>However, behind their direct meaning, both of these idioms <strong>reflect the environment<\/strong> of their respective regions, including their food, history, and climate.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Clearly, words in different languages carry unique cultural significance \u2013 <strong>the idiom itself is just the tip of the cultural iceberg<\/strong>. When you start to understand and apply idioms in another language, you\u2019ll be able to effectively break the ice with native speakers. *pun intended*&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>20 Hilarious Idioms and Expressions in 20 Different Languages&nbsp;<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Check out some funny phrases in Spanish, French, and even Japanese! *Please note that the English equivalents below come close to expressing the sentiment of these idioms, but not every idiom has an exact correlation in another language for the reasons mentioned above!&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>1. German<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Idiom<\/strong>: <em>Morgenstund hat Gold im Mund.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Literally<\/strong>: The morning hour has gold in its mouth.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>English<\/strong> <strong>equivalent<\/strong>: The early bird gets the worm.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>2. French&nbsp;<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Idiom<\/strong>: <em>Co\u00fbter les yeux de la t\u00eate.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Literally<\/strong>: To cost the eyes of the head.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>English<\/strong> <strong>equivalent<\/strong>: To cost an arm and a leg.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>3. Portuguese (Brazil)<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Idiom: <\/strong><em>Estou cagando e andando.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Literally: <\/strong>I\u2019m shi*ing and walking.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>English equivalent:<\/strong> I couldn&#8217;t care less.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>See more <a href=\"https:\/\/www.pimsleur.com\/blog\/soccer-expressions-and-phrases-that-brazilians-use-every-day\/\">Brazilian soccer expressions<\/a> here.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>4. Spanish<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Idiom: <\/strong><em>Tomar el pelo.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Literally: <\/strong>To grab someone\u2019s hair.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>English equivalent:<\/strong> To pull someone\u2019s leg.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>5. Japanese<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Idiom:<\/strong> <em>\u624b\u306e\u3072\u3089\u3092\u8fd4\u3059 (Te no hira wo kaesu<\/em>).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Literally:<\/strong> To turn over the palm of your hand.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>English equivalent:<\/strong> To turn a cold shoulder.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>6. Swedish<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Idiom:<\/strong> <em>Sk\u00e4gget i brevl\u00e5dan.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Literally:<\/strong> Caught with your beard in a mailbox.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>English equivalent:<\/strong> To be caught with your pants down.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>7. Arabic&nbsp;<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Idiom:<\/strong> <em>\u0627\u0644\u062a\u0643\u0631\u0627\u0631 \u064a\u0639\u0644\u0651\u0645 \u0627\u0644\u062d\u0645\u0627\u0631 (At-Tikraar yu\u2019allem al- Himaar.)<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Literally:<\/strong> Repetition teaches the donkey.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>English equivalent: <\/strong>Practice makes perfect.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>8. Czech<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Idiom:<\/strong> <em>Jedn\u00edm uchem tam, druh\u00fdm ven.<\/em>&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Literally: <\/strong>Like water on a duck\u2019s back.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>English equivalent:<\/strong> In one ear, out the other.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>9. Farsi Persian<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Idiom:<\/strong> <em>Gooreto gom kon!<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Literally: <\/strong>Go lose your grave!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>English equivalent:<\/strong> Get the hell out of here!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>10. Lithuanian<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Idiom:<\/strong> <em>Lyja kirviais.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Literally:<\/strong> It\u2019s raining axes.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>English equivalent:<\/strong> It\u2019s raining cats and dogs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>12. Tagalog&nbsp;<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Idiom:<\/strong> <em>Binyagan na yan!<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Literally: <\/strong>Baptize it already!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>English equivalent:<\/strong> Get it over with (use it already)!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>13. Dutch&nbsp;<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Idiom:<\/strong> <em>Over koetjes en kalfjes praten.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Literally:<\/strong> To talk about little cows and little calves.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>English equivalent:<\/strong> Small talk.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>14. Polish<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Idiom:<\/strong> <em>Mie\u0107 muchy w nosie.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Literally:<\/strong> To have flies up one\u2019s nose.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>English equivalent:<\/strong> To have one\u2019s panties\/knickers in a twist.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>15. Vietnamese&nbsp;<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Idiom:<\/strong> <em>M\u00e8o khen m\u00e8o d\u00e0i \u0111u\u00f4i.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Literally:<\/strong> Cat praises the cat\u2019s tail for being long.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>English equivalent:<\/strong> Every cook praises his own broth.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>16. Italian<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Idiom: <\/strong><em>Ogni morte di papa.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Literally:<\/strong> Every death of a pope.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>English equivalent:<\/strong> Once in a Blue Moon.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>17. Haitian Creole&nbsp;<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Idiom:<\/strong> <em>Gate san.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Literally:<\/strong> Rotten blood.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>English equivalent:<\/strong> Makes blood boil.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>18. Norwegian<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Idiom:<\/strong><em> \u00c5 snakke rett fra leveren.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Literally:<\/strong> To speak directly from the liver.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>English equivalent:<\/strong> To speak without sugar-coating.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>19. Chinese Mandarin&nbsp;<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Idiom:<\/strong> <em>\u629b\u7816\u5f15\u7389 (p\u0101o zhu\u0101n y\u01d0n y\u00f9).<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Literally:<\/strong> To cast a brick to attract jade.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>English equivalent:<\/strong> Tossing an idea.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>20. Icelandic<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Idiom:<\/strong> <em>A\u00f0 leggja h\u00f6fu\u00f0i\u00f0 \u00ed bleyti.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Literally:<\/strong> To lay your head in water.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>English equivalent:<\/strong> To sleep on it.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Learning a New Language? Start With Idioms &amp; Free Subscriptions&nbsp;<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"701\" height=\"413\" src=\"https:\/\/d3brn974kg3172.cloudfront.net\/2019\/11\/Pimsleur-Subscription-Free-Trial.png\" alt=\"pimsleur language learning\" class=\"wp-image-12314\" style=\"width:527px;height:310px\" srcset=\"https:\/\/d3brn974kg3172.cloudfront.net\/2019\/11\/Pimsleur-Subscription-Free-Trial.png 701w, https:\/\/d3brn974kg3172.cloudfront.net\/2019\/11\/Pimsleur-Subscription-Free-Trial-300x177.png 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 701px) 100vw, 701px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Don\u2019t sound like a middle school language textbook! Start with idioms, expressions, sayings, and phrases to <strong>understand flow and language structure<\/strong> from the very beginning.&nbsp;<br><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>What do Farsi, Czech, Japanese, Icelandic and Arabic have in common?&nbsp;<br><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Answer<\/strong>: They\u2019re just 5 of the <strong>50 languages available at Pimsleur<\/strong>, from official United Nations languages like French and Russian to indigenous and regional languages like Pashto and Ojibwe.&nbsp;<br><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Learn languages FAST with the proven Pimsleur Method, which uses&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Graduated Interval Recall<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>the Principle of Anticipation<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Core Vocabulary&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Organic Learning&nbsp;<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>Try any full <a href=\"https:\/\/offers.pimsleur.com\/free-trial-1405\">Pimsleur language course<\/a> of your choosing for free for 7 days.<br><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>20 Funny Everyday Phrases in Different Languages As a polyglot and avid traveler, people often ask me \u201cWhat are some common sayings in other languages?\u201d or \u201cWhat are funny phrases in other countries?\u201d&nbsp; And the grammar monster in my head screams \u201cThey\u2019re called idioms!\u201d.&nbsp; They\u2019re 50% cultural, 50% historical, and 100% hilarious. Let\u2019s break them <a class=\"read-more\" href=\"https:\/\/www.pimsleur.com\/blog\/idioms-around-the-world\/\">Read More >><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":22,"featured_media":13307,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[2,3],"tags":[58,3556],"class_list":["post-13262","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-culture","category-language-learning","tag-language-learning-2","tag-slang"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO Premium plugin v26.0 (Yoast SEO v26.0) - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>Famous Idioms Around the World: 20 Hilarious Expressions in Different Languages | The Pimsleur Language Blog<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"idioms from other countries, and idioms in different languages. funny sayings in other languages. interesting phrases and expressions in different languages. 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