unique sayings in your country

[chicken]

alright, this is something i came up with yesterday. i'd like to hear some unique sayings you have in your country. something like "hit the nail on the head", something which isnt translated into english and not common in other countries.

i'll give you an example from my country:

AUSTRIA:

native: "bessa ois a sta am schedl" -- this is how we would actually pronounce it around here
written: "besser als ein stein am kopf" -- this is how you'd write it correctly
"at least it's better than a rock to your head" -- and finally the translation for your understanding of the saying.
use: you say that when something bad happens to anyone (including yourself) and you just want to downplay it. inappropriate in very bad situations like death. most commonly used at minor fails like passing a test with 51 points when 1 point less would be an F but you wanted a better grade. "dude, i just got 51 points at the test" - "well, at least it's better than a rock to your head" - "yea, right..."

so guys, excited to hear about your local sayings

[inferiare]

This was common among my friends some time ago, though not in English: como esto banos?

...yes, we would ask "how is the bathroom?" In Spanish. It stemmed from having a friend move from Los Banos in California. My limited Spanish skills, let me show you them.

[Yet One More Idiot]

chicken wrote:

alright, this is something i came up with yesterday. i'd like to hear some unique sayings you have in your country. something like "hit the nail on the head", something which isnt translated into english and not common in other countries. i'll give you an example from my country: AUSTRIA: native: "bessa ois a sta am schedl" -- this is how we would actually pronounce it around here written: "besser als ein stein am kopf" -- this is how you'd write it correctly "at least it's better than a rock to your head" -- and finally the translation for your understanding of the saying. use: you say that when something bad happens to anyone (including yourself) and you just want to downplay it. inappropriate in very bad situations like death. most commonly used at minor fails like passing a test with 51 points when 1 point less would be an F but you wanted a better grade. "dude, i just got 51 points at the test" - "well, at least it's better than a rock to your head" - "yea, right..." so guys, excited to hear about your local sayings

Actually, that phrase does *kinda* exist in English, Chicken, in various forms.

"Well, it's better than a kick in the teeth"
"Well, it's better than a punch in the face"
"Well, it's better than a kick in the nuts/balls"
etc;...

[SoulBlazerFan]

I've been noticing alot of people saying "It's no bueno" lately... I've been doing "It's muy bueno" myself. Obviously, it means "No good" and "very good" respectively.

[chicken]

Yomi's Evil Twin Intern wrote:

chicken wrote: alright, this is something i came up with yesterday. i'd like to hear some unique sayings you have in your country. something like "hit the nail on the head", something which isnt translated into english and not common in other countries. i'll give you an example from my country: AUSTRIA: native: "bessa ois a sta am schedl" -- this is how we would actually pronounce it around here written: "besser als ein stein am kopf" -- this is how you'd write it correctly "at least it's better than a rock to your head" -- and finally the translation for your understanding of the saying. use: you say that when something bad happens to anyone (including yourself) and you just want to downplay it. inappropriate in very bad situations like death. most commonly used at minor fails like passing a test with 51 points when 1 point less would be an F but you wanted a better grade. "dude, i just got 51 points at the test" - "well, at least it's better than a rock to your head" - "yea, right..." so guys, excited to hear about your local sayings Actually, that phrase does *kinda* exist in English, Chicken, in various forms. "Well, it's better than a kick in the teeth" "Well, it's better than a punch in the face" "Well, it's better than a kick in the nuts/balls" etc;...

really? i never came across that Oo

[NoZKeY]

An interesting thing we say here in Chile:

Vamos a "tomar once"
or
Es hora de "tomar once"

Literally translates into:
Let's "drink 11"
It's time to "drink 11"

And it would mean something like:
Let's go to dinner/let's drink tea
It's dinner time/It's tea time

The weird thing is we call dinner/tea "once" xD Would make more sense if we had dinner at 11 but no.. usually it's at 7~9 PM

[Miss Prime Blue]

I like:

"That man is .99 short of a dollar" or "that person is two tacos short of a combination platter"

[gw8t3st]

Eh?

[EverPhoenix]

Miss Prime Blue wrote:

I like: "That man is .99 short of a dollar" or "that person is two tacos short of a combination platter"

ive always liked these for some reason. just such an overly complicated way of evaluating one's lack of brain function

[Yet One More Idiot]

EverPhoenix wrote:

Miss Prime Blue wrote: I like: "That man is .99 short of a dollar" or "that person is two tacos short of a combination platter" ive always liked these for some reason. just such an overly complicated way of evaluating one's lack of brain function

(common variant) That person is a sandwich short of a picnic!

Thinking about something that you'd like to NOT happen. "I need that like I need a hole in my head."

[chicken]

oh i got another one:

if something is completely useless (material or information) we say: "that's as useful as a tricycle"

[SoulBlazerFan]

I remember back in the day, it was "This guys five cans short of a six pack." Wow, I guess I'm so used to the sayings I honestly can't think of any unique ones off the top of my head.

[Yet One More Idiot]

chicken wrote:

oh i got another one: if something is completely useless (material or information) we say: "that's as useful as a tricycle"

Tricycles are useful!

"That's about as useful as a": (please insert here)

- Chocolate teapot
- Solar-powered torch
- Inflatable dartboard

XD

[chicken]

mh, maybe i didnt make the context clear enough. its more like "thats helping me now as much as a tricycle".

yea, yea thats better

[Mantaray]

here's one that im REALLY tired of hearing on tv.

"Don't be a stick in the mud."