More Swedish funny ones… Can anyone share phrases that have double or funny meanings in his/her language(s)?
In Swedish we say “han spottar inte i glaset” of a person who likes to drink a lot. Literally, it means “He doesn’t spit in the glass.” Another funny one is “jag smäller av” which in English would be “I freak out” but its literal meaning is “I bang off.” In English you say “green around the collar” for someone who is naive or innocent. In Swedish, we say “du är allt blåögd du” which means “you are all blue-eyed you.” In English you say “You don’t want to go there,” in Swedish you say “det är mörkt som i en smeds arsle” which literally means “It’s dark as the inside of a smith’s arse.” My FAVORITE English expression is “flea market” I find that sooooooo funny!!!! One last Swedish one for “mind your own business”: “lägg inte näsan i blöt” (literally it’s “don’t put your nose in wet.” One last English one: “Birds of a feather flock together.” In Spanish that’s “Dime con quien andas, y te dire quien tu eres” which literally means “Tell me with whom you walk and I’ll tell you who you are”

April 14th, 2011 at 5:33 am
I absolutely LOVE Sweden. Not that I’ve ever been. It just seems like a nice place.
Hmm…I like “Que Onda?” in Spanish. Which is something like “What gives?”
2 BIG dogs
Report this comment
April 15th, 2011 at 3:34 pm
We have a lot of those in Spanish like “todo pez por su voca muere” it literally means “every fish dies because of its mouth” it is used to say someone is a liar and heshe was busted because of something that person himself said. We also say “tienes una cara de pistola”, which literally means “you have a gun face” which means someone who looks really mad. I just cant think of anymore right now, sorry.
good luck.
2 BIG dogs
Report this comment
April 17th, 2011 at 2:33 am
Here are some in Spanish.
“Como el burro que tocó la flauta” = literal translation: “like the burro that played the flute”. Meaning: “by a stroke of luck”
“Sacarse el gordo” = literal translation: “to draw the fat one” Meaning: “To hit the jackpot/to win the lottery”
“En menos que canta un gallo” = Literal: “in less time than the rooster crows” Meaning: “In a second, quickly”
“Eso es harina de otro costal” = Literal: “that’s flour from another sack. Meaning: “that’s a different story”
“Le patina el coco” = Literal: “his coconut slips. Meaning: “he’s nuts/crazy”
“Meter la cuchara” = Literal: “to put the spoon in” Meaning: “To interrupt, to give an opinion nobody is asking”
.
2 BIG dogs
Report this comment