Dutch Netherlands

klein bier

Expression USED On Rare Occasion BY Some People

(small beer) • Something relatively unimportant

"Het verliezen van je baan aan Corona is klein bier vergeleken met het verliezen van een familielid aan Corona."

"Losing your job to Corona is small beer in comparison to losing a family member to Corona."

Dutch | Flemish Flanders, Belgium

het hol van pluto

Expression USED On Occasion BY Some People

(the ass of pluto) • The middle of nowhere

"We waren echt in het hol van pluto, er was geen enkel huis te bespeuren!"

"We were really in the ass of pluto, there were no houses to be seen!"

Dutch | Flemish Flanders, Belgium

het leven is geen ponykamp

Expression USED On Rare Occasion BY Some People

(life is not a pony camp) • Life is not always easy.

"Ik ben gebuisd voor mijn examen. Helaas, maar het leven is geen ponykamp."

"I failed my exam. It sucks, but life's not a pony camp."

Norwegian Norway

Tigerstaden

Expression USED On Occasion BY Some People

(tiger city) • A nickname for the city of Oslo. In his poem 'Sidste sang' (Last Song), poet Bjørnstjerne Bjørnson wrote about a fight between a horse and a tiger, where the horse represented the countryside, and the tiger represented Oslo. It was meant as a condescending metaphor for the city being dangerous, depleting, and hostile place, but today the name is often used positively.

"Ser ut som om det blir fint vær i Tigerstaden i dag."

"Looks like the weather will be nice in the capital today."

Norwegian Norway

Jøss!

Interjection USED On Occasion BY Some People

Exclamation expressing dismay or surprise.

"Jøss! Er det virkelig deg?"

'Wow! Is it really you?'

German German speaking countries

nicht alle Tassen im Schrank haben

Idiom USED On Occasion BY Some People

(to not have all the cups in the cupboard) • To be crazy.

"Du willst trotz des Sturms schwimmen gehen? Du hast doch nicht alle Tassen im Schrank!"

"You want to go swimming despite the storm? You must not have all the cups in the cupboard!"

German German speaking countries

Holla, die Waldfee!

Idiom USED On Very Rare Occasion BY Some People

("Holla, the forest fairy!") • Can be used to express a state of surprise or shock. However, it is very rarely used in a serious way because of its rather funny wording.

"Dein neues Auto sieht ja richtig schick aus! Aber der Preis... Holla, die Waldfee!"

"Your new car looks really nice! But the price... Holla, the forest fairy!"

German | Plattdeutsch Northern Germany, Germany

ackerschnacker

Word USED On Very Rare Occasion BY Some People

(n.) • (field chatter) • It’s a funny and endearing way to say mobile phone. However most people would simply use the German word for mobile phone (handy) instead. “Field chatter” also suggests the farmerly my background, that most people who speak Plattdeutsch have.

"Hast du din Ackerschnacker dabi? Ick mutt mol ken anropen."

"Do you have your mobile phone with you? I need to call someone."

Serbian Serbia, Bosnia and Montenegro

boli me uvo

Expression USED Frequently BY Some People

(my ear hurts) • Used to express how you don't care about something.

"Boli me uvo za ovaj posao."

"My ear hurts for this job."

German German speaking countries

nur Bahnhof verstehen

Idiom USED On Occasion BY Some People

(to only understand train station) • Being unable to understand something.

"Tut mir leid, ich verstehe nur Bahnhof. Kannst du mir das noch einmal erklären?"

“Sorry, I only understand train station. Can you explain this to me again?"

German Various countries

sich die Kante geben

Idiom USED On Rare Occasion BY Some People

(v.) • (to give oneself the edge) • To get really drunk.

"Sie hat sich letzte Nacht so richtig die Kante gegeben."

"She really gave herself the edge last night."

Dutch Netherlands

het één doen en het ander niet laten

Expression USED On Occasion BY Some People

(to do the one thing and not leave the other) • It is used in situations when multiple options are given, but there is no need to make a choice for either one of them, so you can do one thing and not leave the other thing undone. In other words - do both.

"Moeten ik geld sparen voor mijn pensioen of voor noodgevallen?" "Je kan het één doen en het ander niet laten."

"Should I save money for my retirement or for emergencies?" "You can do the one and not leave the other."

Dutch Netherlands

zo zijn we niet getrouwd

Expression USED On Occasion BY Some People

(this is not how we are married) • Used when someone does something different than agreed upon or acts in a way that is not acceptable. Despite it referring to marriage, the saying can be used in any type of relation.

"Hey Timmy, hou eens op met dingen kapotmaken. Zo zijn we niet getrouwd."

"Hey Timmy, stop breaking things. This is now how we are married."

Welsh Wales

cerdded yn ling di long

Idiom USED On Occasion BY Some People

(to walk in a ling di long) • To loiter, to walk slowly or casually

"Ble mae Gruffudd?" "Mae e’n cerdded yn ling di long."

"Where’s Gruffudd?" "He is taking a slow walk,"

Dutch Netherlands

leuk is anders

Standard Phrase USED On Occasion BY Some People

An understatement used to make clear you aren't happy about the current situation.

"Door Corona moeten we allemaal binnenblijven. Belangrijk voor de volksgezondheid, maar leuk is anders."

"Because of Corona we all have to stay inside. Important for public health, but fun is different."

Dutch Netherlands

het is niet anders

Standard Phrase USED On Occasion BY Some People

(it is not different) • Used in a situation when nothing can be done but accept what is happening, similar to "it is what it is"

"Ik sta liever een halfuurtje later op, maar het is niet anders."

"I would rather get up a half our later, but it is not different."

Welsh Wales

dim ffiars o beryg

Idiom USED On Occasion BY Some People

(no fear of danger) • Used to say that you’re unlikely to do something.

"Doedd dim ffiars o beryg i mi fynd yn ôl."

"There was no fear of danger to me of going back"

German | Swiss German Switzerland

äxgüsi

Slang USED On Occasion BY Some People

to say sorry or excuse me in a joking and informal way

"Äxgüsi, könnten sie miar helfa?"

"Excuse me, could you help me?"

German | Swiss German Switzerland

Hopp de Bäse

Idiom USED Frequently BY Some People

Used to tell someone to hurry up.

"Jetzt aber hopp de Bäse!"

"And now hurry up!"

Welsh Wales

paid â chodi pais ar ôl piso

Idiom USED On Occasion BY Some People

(don’t raise your petticoat after pissing) • Don’t spend time worrying about something that cannot be changed.

"Dylet ti wedi dod â siorts neu paid â chodi pais ar ôl piso."

"You should have come with shorts but don’t raise your petticoat after pissing."