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"."

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!"

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."

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!"

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!"

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!"

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."

French French speaking countries

oseille

Slang USED Frequently BY Some People

(n.) • (sorrel) • Money.

"J'ai grave besoin d'oseille!"

"I really need sorrel!"

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."

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."

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."

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.“

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?"

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 !"

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?"

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."

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."

Indonesian Indonesia

telur di ujung tanduk

Idiom USED On Occasion BY Some People

(an egg on the tip of a horn) • Whenever someone faces a very difficult situation, someone would occasionally say "you're an egg on the tip of a horn." Although this is not often used by Indonesians anymore, it is occasionally still said from time to time.

"Putra sering berjudi dengan orang lain di kosnya. Setelah dia telah menghabiskan semua uangnya, hidupnya bagaikan telur di ujung tanduk. Karena dia telah menghabiskan semua uangya dan tidak mampu untuk membayar kosnya."

"Putra often gambles with people in his apartment. After he spent all his money, his life was like an egg on the tip of the horn. It is because he spent all his money and he's unable to pay for his rent."

Dutch Netherlands

dweilen met de kraan open

Expression USED On Occasion BY Some People

(mopping with the tap open) • To have no chance of success, because the symptoms are controlled without addressing the cause.

"Geld geven aan de banken omdat ze bijna failliet gaan blijft gewoon dweilen met de kraan open."

"Giving money to the banks because they are about to go bankrupt is just mopping with the tap open."

Dutch Netherlands

Heb ik iets van je aan?

Expression USED On Rare Occasion BY Some People

(Am I wearing your clothes?) • Said when someone is looking at you strangely.

"Waarom kijk je zo? Heb ik iets van je aan ofzo?"

"Why are you looking at me like that? Am I wearing your clothes or something?"