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."
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?"
resten van een losbandig leven
Expression USED On Very Rare Occasion BY Some People
(remains of a dissolute life) • When you see trash leftover from a party, like empty bottles, cigarette buds, or anything else that is leftover as the result of a good time.
"Hoe komt de kat op een toren van lege wodka flessen?" "Dat zijn de resten van een losbandig leven."
"How did the cat get to a tower of empty vodka bottles?" "Those are the remains of a dissolute life."
Submitted August 2020 by amarens
Expression USED On Rare Occasion BY Some People
(n.) • (far-from-your-bed-show) • Something that is happening far away, outside of your world view or life experiences.
"Toen corona uitbrak in China was het een beetje een ver-van-je-bed-show, maar dat is nu wel anders."
"When Corona broke out in China it was a far-from-your-bed-show, but that's different now."
Word USED On Occasion BY Students
(n.) • (baptism) • An initiation ritual in Belgian universities in order to join one of the university groups. The students who succeed in the initiation are called "baptisés" (= baptised). The "bleus" (= "blues"; the students doing the initiation) have to take part in various activities for a few weeks. A "baptême" is a bit like fraternities and sororities in the US, but there's no attention payed to gender, no restricted number of members, and the baptised don't live together.
"J'ai l'intention de faire mon baptême quand j'irai à l'université, comme ça je pourrai rencontrer des gens plus facilement."
"I intend to do my baptism when I go to university so that I can meet people more easily."
Word USED Very frequently BY Students
(n.) • This word refers to student parties, often in university towns, where beer is highly consumed. There is also music, often old French songs, and student songs. You can also use the verb "guindailler".
"A chaque fois que je vais en guindaille, je deviens mort bourré."
"Whenever I go to guindaille, I get very drunk."
Expression USED Very frequently BY Adults
(Ass I see, ass I want) • Expression used when someone wants something only because someone else has it.
"¿Estás comiendo helado? Yo también quiero." "Culo veo, culo quiero."
"Are you eating ice cream? I want some." "Ass I see, ass I want."
Expression USED On Occasion BY Some People
(even if you beat me to death) • Used to say you really have no idea. It is like saying "even if you beat me to death, I wouldn't be able to give you an answer."
"Hoe heet het portret in olieverf op paneel geschilderd door Jan van Eyck in 1436?" "Al sla je me dood."
"What is the name of the portrait in oil on panel painted by Jan van Eyck in 1436?" "Even if you beat me to death."
Slang USED On Occasion BY frequent in rural area
(adj.) • It is a form of direction, something like 'across'. Can also indicate a shortcut.
"Was ist der schnellste Weg?" "Erst gerade die Straße entlang und dann gschreams über das Feld."
"What is the fastest route to go there?" "First you go straight ahead down the street and then you go cross the field."
Submitted August 2020 by diament
Expression USED On Occasion BY Slang
(bye and don't fall) • Used to say goodbye and take care. Often used in an ironic or joking context to end a conversation when there is nothing left to say. It is also the line of a famous song by Austrian singer Wolfgang Ambros.
"Es ist schon spät, wir sollten nach Hause gehen." "Ja dann, baba und foi net."
"It's late. we should go home." "Well then, bye and don't fall."
Submitted August 2020 by diament
Name USED Frequently BY Almost Everyone
(n.) • Someone who has bad taste, is uneducated, provincial, unsophisticated, but also unpretentious and down to earth. Caravan holidays, tracksuits, and cross-border shopping are typical characteristics. The term “Harry-handel” means shopping across the border in Sweden, usually for cheap alcohol, tobacco, sweets, and meat.
"Det er Harry å røyke."
"Smoking is Harry."
French
French speaking countries
Expression USED On Rare Occasion BY Some People
(to put one's hand out to be cut) • Te be extremely sure of something. So sure that you would let your hand to be cut if you're wrong.
"Mon rouge à lèvre a encore disparu! J'en mets ma main à couper que c'est ma soeur qui l'a pris!'
"My lipstick disappeared again! I put my hand out to cut that my sister took it!"
Expression USED On Rare Occasion BY Some People
(to pull out one's map) • To cope on one's own.
"Je vous accompagnerai à l'école et vous aiderai avec vos devoirs durant la première semaine. Après ça, vous tirez votre plan."
"I will accompany you to school and help you with your homework during the first week. After that, you'll have to cope on your own."
French
French speaking countries
Expression USED On Rare Occasion BY Older Generations
(to have long teeth) • To be very ambitious and aim high, but in a pejorative way. You would do anything to reach your goal.
"Les soeurs de Cendrillon ont les dents longues et sont prêtes à tout pour se marier avec le prince."
"Cinderella's sisters have long teeth and they are willing to do anything in order to marry the prince."
Spanish
Spanish speaking countries
Quien mucho abarca poco aprieta
Proverb USED Very frequently BY Almost Everyone
(Who embraces a lot little will squeeze) • It is a proverb meaning that whoever tries to do many things at the same time will not be able to do any of them well.
"No trates de hacer todo al mismo tiempo: quien mucho abarca poco aprieta."
"Don't try to do everything at the same time - who embraces a lot little will squeeze."
French
French speaking countries
Expression USED On Occasion BY Most People
(to have a hair on one's tongue) • To lisp.
"J'ai l'impression que beaucoup d'enfants ont un cheveu sur la langue quand ils parlent."
"It seems that many children have a lisp when they speak."
Standard Phrase USED Frequently BY Indonesians
(see you again) • A formal way to say "good-bye" in Indonesian. Although most Indonesians use "Dah" that comes from the Dutch word "Dag" that means bye, "sampai jumpa" is still frequently used on formal occasions.
"Ya, saya pergi dulu ya." "Oke sampai jumpa!"
"Okay, I'll go now." "Okay, see you again!"
Submitted August 2020 by colinjohn1507
Name USED Frequently BY Adults
A masculine name which can be used to designate a boyfriend.
"Julien, c'est ton Jules?"
"Is Julian your Jules?"
Standard Phrase USED On Occasion BY Some People
(Goodbye Meraai) • Meraai is a name often associated with the Cape coloured community of South Africa. It is especially used in jokes and funny stories. Koebaai is an Afrikaansified term for the English goodbye. These two terms rhyme which gives this phrase a playful connotation.
“Koebaai Meraai.”
“Goodbye Meraai.”
Submitted August 2020 by eileenspleen
