Dutch Netherlands

mama appelsap

Name USED Very frequently BY most people

(mama apple juice) • A name used for mishearing a Dutch word in a foreign language song. The name refers to the vocalizations "ma-ma-coo-sah" at the beginning of the song Wanna be startin' somethin' by Michael Jackson (1983), which to Dutch ears sounded like "mama appelsap", which has since turned into the name of the phenomena of hearing Dutch lyrics in foreign songs.

"Ik kan echt niet luisteren naar dat nummer zonder een mama appelsap te horen."

“I honestly can't listen to that song without hearing a mama apple juice.”

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English United Kingdom

chocolate teapot

Expression USED Frequently BY Most people

Something or someone that is a of little practical use. Sometimes "fireguard" is substituted for "teapot".

"Rishi has made a mistake again. I swear he is about as useful as a chocolate teapot."

French Québec, Canada

beurrer épais

Expression USED On Occasion BY Most People

(to butter thickly) • To exaggerate, like putting a very liberal coat of butter on a piece of toast. Also, in a way, to brag.

"Je crois qu'il en a beurré épais quand il a raconté son aventure." "J'ai l'air d'en beurrer épais, mais c'est vraiment arrivé comme ça !"

"I think he buttered thickly in his retelling of his adventure." "I do not mean to butter thickly, but it really happened that way!"

English Australia

sausage sizzle

Expression USED Very frequently BY most people

A community event where you can buy a grilled sausage served in a slice of white bread, with condiments and fried onions also available. The word sausage sizzle can also refer to the food item being sold. Sausage sizzles are most often associated with voting in Australian elections, where they are available at many polling places and referred to as "democracy sausages."

"Are you going to volunteer for the sausage sizzle next Saturday? Most people prefer tomato sauce on their sausage sizzle, but some have barbecue source or mustard instead."

English Australia

servo

Word USED Frequently BY most people

Abbreviation of "service station." Refers to a petrol station/gas station, especially when a convenience store or a small supermarket is attached.

"Before we leave, we need to stop at the servo to fill up the car."

English Australia

mozzie

Word USED On Occasion BY most people

Short form of the word "mosquito."

"Make sure to bring insect repellent, or the mozzies will eat you alive."

English English speaking countries

bloke

Word USED Frequently BY most people

An informal term for a man. It can also mean a man who acts in a traditionally masculine way.

"Did you see that bloke in the yellow shorts?"

English Australia; New Zealand

arvo

Word USED Frequently BY most people

Short form of the word "afternoon."

"Do you want to go to the pool this arvo?"

Hungarian Hungary

évvesztes

Expression USED Frequently BY Most People

(yearloser ) • A child who starts school a year later than usual, at the age of 7 instead of 6, and goes to kindergarten for an extra year.

"A legjobb barátom évvesztes volt, így más osztályokba jártunk."

"My best friend was a yearloser, so we went to different classes."

English Australia

Maccas

Abbreviation USED Very frequently BY Most People

A short form of McDonald's.

"Do you want to go to Maccas?"

Confirmed by 3 people

German German speaking countries

luftschlösser

Word USED On Occasion BY Most People

(noun) • (air castles) • An unrealiatic dream or fantasy, pipe dream.

"Deine Pläne sind alles nur Luftschlösser."

"Your plans are all just air castles."

Confirmed by 2 people

Dutch Netherlands

met stomheid geslagen

Expression USED On Occasion BY Most People

(to be hit with stupidity) • To be flabbergasted, but usually in a bad way.

"Ik was met stomheid geslagen toen ik erachter kwam."

"I was hit with stupidity when I found out."

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English New Zealand

the wop wops

Expression USED On Occasion BY Most People

Expression referring to rural areas or the countryside, way out in the middle of nowhere, or 'the boonies'. Just refers to a place away from major towns and cities.

"Their family live way out in the wop wops."

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Portuguese Alentejo, center-south Portugal, Portugal

mata-velhos

Expression USED Very frequently BY Most People

(old-people-killer) • Used to refer to microcars. Since these cars don't need a license to be driven, lots of elderly drive these cars hence becoming the ones most prone to having a microcar accident. In northern regions, it's called it "papa-reformas"

"Olha, vai ali um mata-velhos!"

"Look, there goes an old-people-killer!"

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Portuguese Portugal

mata-velhos

Expression USED Frequently BY Most People

(old-people-killer) • This is one of the expressions used to refer to microcars, the ones that don't require a driving license. This term is usually used in Alentejo (a province in the center-south of Portugal). We call it "mata-velhos" because, usually, elderly people are the ones who drive microcars and because of this, they're more prone to having accidents driving microcars (or being hit by them). In northern regions we call it "papa-reformas" (pension-eater) because they're very expensive and one can spend their entire pension money paying for it.

"Olha, vai ali um mata-velhos!"

"Look, there goes an old-people-killer!"

English English speaking countries

put the cat amongst the pigeons

Expression USED Frequently BY Most People

Means to cause trouble or upset someone, create social carnage in the same way a cat would behave almost some birds.

"... And then he really put the cat amongst the pigeons when he told her what he thought of her..."

Hungarian Hungary

nem te fingtad a passzátszelet

Slang USED On Occasion BY Most People

(you didn't fart the trade winds) • It's a slang expression, used when you want to tell someone that they brag too much, or they think too much about themselves.

"Tényleg azt hiszed te jobb vagy nálam? Nem te fingtad a passzátszelet!"

"Do you really believe you are better than me? You didn't fart the trade winds!"

Spanish Spain

plantar un pino

Slang USED Frequently BY Most People

(to plant a pine ) • It's a very colloquial way to say that you're going to the bathroom to poop.

"Voy a plantar un pino, puede que tarde un poco en salir de casa."

"I'm going to plant a pine - I may take a while to leave my house."

Confirmed by 2 people

Lithuanian Lithuania

neturiu žalio supratimo

Expression USED On Occasion BY Most People

(I don't have a green understanding) • Used to express the fact that one has absolutely no idea about the topic or question discussed.

"Oho, o kodėl jis taip pasakė?" "Neturiu žalio supratimo."

"Wow, why would he say that?" "I don't have a green understanding."

Italian | Roman dialect Lazio, Italy

non c'è trippa per gatti

Expression USED Frequently BY Most People

(there's no tripe for cats) • Used to say that you should accept things as they are because no options/alternatives are available; used to say that something is unattainable (both temporarily or permanently).

"Sto facendo fatica a trovare lavoro. Purtroppo con questa crisi non c'è trippa per gatti".

"I am struggling to find a job. Unfortunately, during this crisis, there is no tripe for cats."