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Author | Message |
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cRunchy Send message Joined: 3 Apr 99 Posts: 3555 Credit: 1,920,030 RAC: 3 |
I will take that with just a 'pinch of salt'.. Perhaps I might throw a pinch of salt over my shoulder too. . |
janneseti Send message Joined: 14 Oct 09 Posts: 14106 Credit: 655,366 RAC: 0 |
It's funny that so many idioms are shared all over the world. Russia for instance. льёт как из ведра. It's raining cats and dogs. Вот где Ñобака зарыта. Det är där skon klämmer. |
Wiggo Send message Joined: 24 Jan 00 Posts: 34896 Credit: 261,360,520 RAC: 489 |
Kiss my a***. :-p Cheers. |
janneseti Send message Joined: 14 Oct 09 Posts: 14106 Credit: 655,366 RAC: 0 |
Thanks to Judas Iscariot, spilled salt is associated with treachery and lies. If you do spill salt, a pinch thrown over your left shoulder comes from the legend that the devil is always standing behind you, and throwing salt in his eye distracts him from causing trouble.Also in the Middle ages salt was a valuable commodity in the days without fridges, and the only way to preserve meat was to pickle it in salt. Spilling any was considered wasting a valuable resource, so you needed to redeem yourself. Roman soldiers where paid with salt. The word salary originates from that. |
janneseti Send message Joined: 14 Oct 09 Posts: 14106 Credit: 655,366 RAC: 0 |
A funny arabic idiom:) على عيني وراسي (‘ala ‘aini wa raasi) — On my head and my eyes. This is a hugely popular saying in the Arab world, so if you ask an Arab friend for a favor don’t be surprised when they start talking about putting things on their heads and eyes. This means that they will absolutely do what you asked. |
cRunchy Send message Joined: 3 Apr 99 Posts: 3555 Credit: 1,920,030 RAC: 3 |
It's funny that so many idioms are shared all over the world.. It's not that strange if we consider that continentally for at least 10,000 years we have been building centres of connection (cities, towns, villages) and trading and migrating between. I suspect that idioms only survive travel where the environment allows. 'Raining cats and dogs' would not survive as an idiom if transported to an area that had neither cats or dogs... The idea or meaning however may well survive. |
cRunchy Send message Joined: 3 Apr 99 Posts: 3555 Credit: 1,920,030 RAC: 3 |
"Wise old owl". In europe the idea is that an owl allways keeps one eye open - so is aware and therefore wise. In other places however "Ulu" (Owl) is seen as stupid for keeping one eye closed. I don't know. I just keep my lucky horse shoe close. . |
Gordon Lowe Send message Joined: 5 Nov 00 Posts: 12094 Credit: 6,317,865 RAC: 0 |
I just keep my lucky horse shoe close Make sure it's in the upright position so all the luck doesn't drain out. The mind is a weird and mysterious place |
cRunchy Send message Joined: 3 Apr 99 Posts: 3555 Credit: 1,920,030 RAC: 3 |
... Oops ;/ |
Sirius B Send message Joined: 26 Dec 00 Posts: 24879 Credit: 3,081,182 RAC: 7 |
Don't forget your 4 leaf clover begorrah bejabers. At least, get it right :-) |
kittyman Send message Joined: 9 Jul 00 Posts: 51469 Credit: 1,018,363,574 RAC: 1,004 |
Aain't seen ya in a coon's age..... Origin unknown. "Freedom is just Chaos, with better lighting." Alan Dean Foster |
janneseti Send message Joined: 14 Oct 09 Posts: 14106 Credit: 655,366 RAC: 0 |
"Wise old owl". Yes. I guess we many more idioms like that here. Quick as a weasel. Cunning as a fox. Chicken like a hare. Dumb as a donkey. |
Monday Send message Joined: 24 Sep 05 Posts: 9676 Credit: 20,067,888 RAC: 12 |
Dumber than dog sxxt. Usually referring to bimbos. |
janneseti Send message Joined: 14 Oct 09 Posts: 14106 Credit: 655,366 RAC: 0 |
"Like a Swede at Poltava" remains a simile for "totally helpless" in Russian idiom:) |
Mr. Kevvy Send message Joined: 15 May 99 Posts: 3776 Credit: 1,114,826,392 RAC: 3,319 |
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janneseti Send message Joined: 14 Oct 09 Posts: 14106 Credit: 655,366 RAC: 0 |
Finns det hjärterum så finns det stjärterum (If there’s room in heart there’s room for the arse) (Swedish) Meaning: Everybody can fit in here) |
Gordon Lowe Send message Joined: 5 Nov 00 Posts: 12094 Credit: 6,317,865 RAC: 0 |
"Butter wouldn't melt in her mouth" I've never really understood this phrase. I often hear it used to describe someone who insincerely sings the the praises of others and then throws them under the bus, but I would think butter would melt pretty quickly in a mouth like that. The mind is a weird and mysterious place |
Gordon Lowe Send message Joined: 5 Nov 00 Posts: 12094 Credit: 6,317,865 RAC: 0 |
Gordon - it is meant to refer to somebody that is so cold and hard hearted that even butter wouldn't melt in their mouths. As of course it would in a normal person. But a cold and hard hearted person makes me think the tongue is wagging hot, which melts the butter. The mind is a weird and mysterious place |
Gordon Lowe Send message Joined: 5 Nov 00 Posts: 12094 Credit: 6,317,865 RAC: 0 |
Not necessarily. Cold and hard hearted persons normally say NO then shut up. Typical other phrase is "Hard hearted Hannah". Tongue waggers or gossipers are quite different. That makes sense. I just think a phrase like, "butter wouldn't melt in her mouth" is easy to say about someone you don't like. It rolls off the tongue, so to speak. ;~)' The mind is a weird and mysterious place |
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