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Danish Denmark

at være helt Palle

Expression USED On Occasion BY Some People

(to be completely Palle) • Being on your own, or alone. From the 1942 book ‘Palle alene verden’ by Jens Sigsgaard. A young boy, Palle, wakes up to find himself all alone in the world. At first, it’s fun, but later it gets lonely, but thankfully he wakes up from what was only a dream.

“Jeg var helt Palle”

"I was completely Palle."

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Dutch Netherlands

als donderslag bij heldere hemel

Expression USED On Occasion BY Some People

(like thunderstrike with clear sky) • Something completely unexpected.

"Het nieuws kwam als donderslag bij heldere hemel."

"The news came like thunderstrike with clear sky."

Confirmed by 2 people

German Germany

Doppelkinnhalter

Word USED On Occasion BY Some People

(n.) • (double chin holder) • Used to jokingly refer to a face mask, as people often wear their masks below their chin so they can pull it up over their mouth and nose quickly when needed. But this looks as if they are using it as a holder for their double chin.

"Guck mal! Da ist wieder jemand mit Doppelkinnhalter."

"Look! There's another person wearing a double chin holder."

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Dutch Netherlands

wij van WC-eend

Expression USED On Occasion BY Some People

(we from toilet-duck) • A phrase originating from a 1989 commercial for a brand of toilet cleaners called WC-eend (toilet-duck). In the commercial, you can hear the phrase "wij van WC-eend adviseren WC-eend" (we from toilet-duck advice toilet-duck). The phrase has since become synonymous with promoting your own interest by pretending to give advice or information.

"Het lijkt erop dat alle politieke partijen tegenwoordig hun eigen journaal hebben, maar het is vooral veel "wij van WC-eend"."

"It seems all political parties have their own news broadcast these days, but it's mostly "we of toilet-duck"."

ety

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Dutch Netherlands

aju paraplu

Expression USED On Very Rare Occasion BY Some People

(goodbye umbrella) • Way of saying goodbye in a rhyming way. It was popularized in the 20th century by TV presenter Peter Knegjens, and although widely known it isn't used very often.

"Ik ga nu, aju paraplu!"

"I am going now, bye umbrella!"

Confirmed by 2 people

Latin Italy

de gustibus

Expression USED On Occasion BY Some People

(about tastes) • From the Latin phrase "de gustibus non disputandum est", meaning that tastes and preferences aren't to argue about because they're personal and not objective. It's used in Italian as a polite answer to someone liking something we don't.

"Titanic è il mio film preferito in assoluto!" "De gustibus."

"Titanic is my absolute favorite movie!" "About tastes."

Confirmed by 4 people

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French French speaking countries

saigner des yeux

Expression USED On Occasion BY Some People

(to bleed from the eyes) • Used when you see or hear something very unpleasant.

"Je saigne des yeux à chaque fois que je lis ses messages : il fait tellement de fautes d'orthographes!"

"I bleed from the eyes whenever I read his messages: he does so many spelling mistakes!"

Confirmed by 9 people

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German Germany

dumm wie Bohnenstroh

Idiom USED On Rare Occasion BY Some People

(interj.) • (dumb as a bean haulm) • Describes a stupid person.

"Er ist wirklich dumm wie Bohnenstroh!"

"He’s dumb as a dumb as bean haulm!"

Confirmed by 2 people

French French speaking countries

ne pas être fût-fût

Expression USED On Occasion BY Some People

(not to be clever-clever) • Used to refer to a dumb person or a person doing stupid things, but it's lighter than saying that a person is stupid. It comes from "fûté", that means "clever".

"Cette fille n'est vraiment pas fût-fût; elle pense que les lions sont des animaux marins!"

"That girl really isn't clever-clever; she thinks that lions are marine animals!"

Confirmed by 6 people

French French speaking countries

avoir la tête dans le cul

Expression USED On Occasion BY Some People

(to have the head in the butt) • It means to be feeling hazy, tired or not feeling that well.

"J'ai la tête dans le cul ce matin: j'ai à peine dormi de la nuit."

"I have the head in the butt this morning: I've barely slept this night."

Confirmed by 6 people

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French French speaking countries

oseille

Slang USED Frequently BY Some People

(n.) • (sorrel) • Money.

"J'ai grave besoin d'oseille!"

"I really need sorrel!"

Confirmed by 6 people

French French speaking countries

être le vilain petit canard

Expression USED On Very Rare Occasion BY Some People

(to be the bad little duckling) • Refers to a person who is disliked by other people and left aside because (s)he is (physically, morally, etc) different from the others.

"Cet enfant est le vilain petit canard de sa classe ; tout le monde se moque de lui parce qu'il boite."

"This child is the bad little duckling of his class; everyone laughs at him because he has a limp."

Confirmed by 6 people

French French speaking countries

être comme chien et chat

Expression USED On Rare Occasion BY Some People

(to be like dog and cat) • Used to describe people who are constantly in conflict, like cats and dogs, that are believed to dislike each other.

"Ma soeur en moi sommes comme chien et chat : il est impossible pour nous de s'entendre plus de quelques minutes. Nous nous disputons tout le temps."

"My sister and I are like dog and cat: it's impossible for us to get along more than a few minutes. We are always arguing."

Confirmed by 8 people

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Norwegian Norway

snillisme

Expression USED On Occasion BY Some People

(n.) • (kind-ism / nice-ism) • Excessive, misplaced understanding, consideration or indulgence (especially practiced by authorities towards social clients). A misunderstood kindness that involves being overly understanding and accommodating, often for fear of making unpopular decisions or offending someone.

"Partilederen mener snillismen hos de andre partiene er skyld i tilstanden."

"The leader of the party believes that the nice-ism of the other parties are to blame for the situation."

Confirmed by 2 people

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Swedish Sweden

guleböj

Word USED On Occasion BY Some People

(n.) • (yellow bend) • A 'joke-Norwegian' (skämtnorska) word mimicking Norwegian language sounds that sounds silly or weird to Swedes.

“Men vad tusan, jag var säker på att banan faktiskt hette guleböj på norska.”

“My goodness, I was certain bananas were actually called yellow bends in Norwegian.“

Confirmed by 4 people

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Norwegian Norway

du store alpakka

Expression USED On Rare Occasion BY Some People

(you great alpaca) • Used jokingly to express either surprise, shock, horror, or fright.

"Du store alpakka! Har lyset gått?"

"You great alpaca! Did the lights go out?"

Confirmed by 3 people

Norwegian Norway

heldiggris

Expression USED On Occasion BY Some People

(n.) • (lucky pig) • A very lucky person.

"Fikk du ny PC til bursdagen din? Heldiggris!"

"Did you get a new computer for your birthday? You lucky pig !"

Confirmed by 2 people

French French speaking countries

On ne trouve pas l'argent sous les sabots d'un cheval

Expression USED On Occasion BY Some People

(Money can't be found under a horse's hoof) • Money doesn't grow on trees.

"Je ne peux pas t'acheter ce sac, il est beaucoup trop cher ! Tu penses qu'on trouve l'argent sous les sabots d'un cheval?"

"I can't buy you this bag, it's way too expensive! Do you think money can be found under a horse's hoof?"

Confirmed by 5 people

Hungarian Hungary

él, mint Marci Hevesen

Expression USED On Occasion BY Some People

(they live like Marci in Heves) • Used to describe someone who got lucky and is living his/her best life. Marci was a 19th century Hungarian outlaw who mostly operated in Heves county.

"Megszedte magát, vett egy nagy házat, s él, mint Marci Hevesen."

"He got rich, bought a big house and lives like Marci in Heves."

Confirmed by 2 people

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French French speaking countries

la semaine des quatre jeudis

Expression USED On Rare Occasion BY Some People

(the week of the four Thursdays) • Used to express that something will never happen. In the past, Thursday was a break day for pupils and teachers. So, having a week with four Thursdays would have been a wonderful dream, but it will never happen.

" - Quand vas-tu me présenter à tes parents? - La semaine des quatre jeudis."

" - When will you introduce me to your parents? - On the week of the four Thursdays."

Confirmed by 5 people