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Multilingual folks: what are some odd idioms in your language(s)? (lemmy.world)

submitted 8 months ago by alquicksilver@lemmy.world to c/asklemmy@lemmy.world

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What are some (non-English) idioms, and what do they mean (both literally and in context)? Odd ones, your favorite ones - any and all are welcome. :)

For example, in English I might call someone a "good egg," meaning they're a nice person. Or, if it's raining heavily, I might say "it's raining cats and dogs."

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[-] TankovayaDiviziya@lemmy.world 9 points 8 months ago

"Masamang damo", or weed, as in unwanted grasses in your garden, not the marijuana. You call that to someone undeniably evil (or to just someone whom you hate) but just won't go away or die, especially old corrupt politicians.

"Huwag kang pilosopo" which literally means "don't philosophise" but its casual meaning is "don't be a smart ass". However, knowing people in my country especially after electing the son of a former dictator thanks to "Facebook researches", this expression implies to someone not to think critically.

[-] crispy_kilt@feddit.de 4 points 8 months ago

The Germans have a similar expression, "Unkraut vergeht nicht", it means something like "weeds do not go away", but it is usually used in a self-deprecating way, for example as a response to wishes for good health when ill.

[-] Hagdos@lemmy.world 2 points 8 months ago

Weeds don't wither would be a better translation

[-] crispy_kilt@feddit.de 1 points 8 months ago

It is, thank you

this post was submitted on 02 Mar 2024

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