Danish Denmark

træde i spinaten

Standard Phrase USED Frequently BY Everyone

(stepping into the spinach) • When someone does something especially stupid which has a bad consequence. Like consistently getting to work late and then getting fired or forgetting to report your taxes on time and then getting a fine.

"Jeg har ikke fået klaret min skatterapport i tide, så jeg har fået en bøde" "Der trådte du virkelig i spinaten"

"I haven't gotten my tax report done in time, so I have gotten a fine" "You really stepped in the spinach there"

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."

Dutch Netherlands

Of je worst lust!

Standard Phrase USED On Occasion BY Friends

(Whether you like sausage!) • Phrase used when the person you're talking to did not hear what you said and is asking you to repeat. Often pronounced louder than necessary for added effect.

"Wat ga je morgen doen?" "Huh?" "Ik vroeg: wat ga je morgen doen?" "Wat?" "Of je worst lust!"

"What are you doing tomorrow?" "Huh?" "I asked - what are you doing tomorrow?" "What?" "Whether you like sausage!"

Cornish United Kingdom

divedhow

Standard Phrase USED Very frequently BY Everyone

(un-drunk) • Sober. Composed of medhow (drunk) and di (un) meaning that Cornish people are either drunk or un-drunk.

“Res yw dhym eva Korev, re dhivedhow esov!”

“I gotta drink a beer, I'm too un-drunk!”

English English speaking countries

to throw someone in at the deep end

Standard Phrase USED Frequently BY Most People

(v.) • To put someone into a new situation without enough preparation or introduction. Refers to the deep end of a swimming pool.

"They really threw me in at the deep end but I'm getting used to it now."

English English speaking countries

baptism of fire

Standard Phrase USED On Occasion BY Most People

Immediately having to cope with a stressful situation in order to improve.

"How was your first driving lesson?" "It was a bit of a baptism of fire but I enjoyed it."

Danish Denmark

tandsmør

Standard Phrase USED On Occasion BY Most People

(tooth butter) • Butter spread so thick that you leave teeth marks in it when you take a bite.

"Jeg elsker hjemmelavet brød med tandsmør."

"I love homemade bread with a thick layer of butter."

French France

C'est quoi les bails?

Standard Phrase USED Frequently BY Young people

(What are the leases?) • A way of saying 'what's up?'. Deriving from "bails" (leases) meaning "business". You are asking about the business your friend has done.

"Salut poto" "Wesh gros" "C'est quoi les bails" "Pas grand chose, on est là, toi-même tu sais"

"Hey bro" "Yo homie" "What's up?" "Not much, we represent, you know"

Japanese Japan

お疲れさまです。

Standard Phrase USED Frequently BY Mostly adults

(hello/good job) • It's a greeting phrase especially among co-workers and teammates. 疲れ is tiredness, and this phrase also acknowledges the other's hard work. You can just say 「お疲れさま。」to make it more casual.

「昨日5km走ったんだよ。」「お疲れさま。」

"I ran 5 km yesterday." "Good job."

English United Kingdom

Oright?

Standard Phrase USED Very frequently BY Everyone

(Are you alright?) • A common and informal way to greet someone.

"Oright mate, how's it going?" "Yeah, not too bad, thanks."

Sicilian Sicily, Italy

Comu semu?

Standard Phrase USED Very frequently BY Everyone

(How are we (doing)?) • This is what you say when you meet someone you haven’t seen in a while and you want to know what’s new and how they're doing.

"We Carmelo, comu semu?"

"Hey Carmelo, what’s up?"

Turkish Turkey

falan filan

Standard Phrase USED On Occasion BY Almost Everyone

(such and such) • It is used for things you don't really care about, so you just slide over.

"Ben böyle güzelim, falan filan"

"I'm beautiful like this, such and such"

English United Kingdom

famous last words

Standard Phrase USED On Occasion BY Some People

An ironic comment on an overconfident assertion that may later be proved wrong.

"I'll be perfectly fine going on my own!" "Famous last words!"

French France

le lendemain de cuite

Standard Phrase USED On Occasion BY Most People

The day after a night of drinking.

"Un burger bien fat en lendemain de cuite n'est en fait pas une très bonne idée."

"Eating a big fatty burger the night after drinking isn't a very good idea."

Dutch Netherlands

het is wel goed met je

Standard Phrase USED On Occasion BY Some People

(it is good with you) • Often used in a sarcastic way when you don't really believe what the other person is saying or they are talking nonsense and you have no interest in further engaging with them. An English approximation could be something like "Sure, buddy".

"Maar als je me nog tienduizend kan lenen, dan betaal ik je echt terug" "Ja, het is wel goed met je"

"But if you can loan me another 10k then I will definitely pay you back" "Yes, it is good with you"

Dutch Netherlands

Rara hoe kan dat?

Standard Phrase USED On Occasion BY Some People

(ra ra how can that?) • Phrase traditionally used at the end of a riddle or something seemingly inexplicable, meaning something along the lines of "Guess guess, how is it possible?". Alternatively, it is used when something is supposed to be a mystery but is actually really obvious.

"Jeffrey Epstein heeft zelfmoord gepleegd terwijl zijn bewakers in slaap waren gevallen en hij de dag ervoor nog onder observatie stond." "Tsja. Ra ra, hoe kan dat?"

"Jeffrey Epstein committed suicide while his guards fell asleep and were under observation the day before." "Well. Ra ra, how can that?"

Dutch Netherlands and Belgium

aan de slag

Standard Phrase USED On Occasion BY Everyone

(on the battle) • Phrase used to encourage others to start something that needs to be done.

"Oké jongens, aan de slag! We hebben niet veel tijd meer."

"Okay guys, let's get to work! We don't have much time left."

English United States

takes forever

Standard Phrase USED Frequently BY everyone

When something is taking a very long time and you want to exaggerate that its been a very long time.

“Why is it taking forever for our food to come out?”

English United States

screw up

Standard Phrase USED Very frequently BY some people

(v.) • Used to express a mistake or an error you made. People use this phrase when they don't want to mess something up or to have something go wrong.

"Take your time, you don't want to screw up!"