English English speaking countries
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."
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."
Expression USED On Occasion BY Some People
(bad smell for thanks) • When you do something nice for somebody and you get nothing or even something negative in return.
"Ik gaf een vriendin van mij een plek om te slapen, bleek dat ze met mijn man naar bed ging." "Stank voor dank."
"I gave my friend a place to stay, then I found out she was sleeping with my husband." "Bad smell for thanks."
Expression USED On Occasion BY Almost Everyone
(little house little tree little animal) • An expression used to refer to the standard middle-class lifepath of a family, with a house, a tree (garden), and an animal (pet) - all the things you are 'supposed' to have and do in life. It is sometimes used in a slightly negative way to refer to the predictable nature of this lifestyle.
"Niet iedereen wil huisje-boompje-beestje."
"Not everyone wants little house little tree little animal."
Expression USED Very frequently BY Young People
(what are you doing in it?) • Means "what are you up to?," but is frequently used just to initiate a conversation. Mostly used with those you are familiar with and close to you in age; could be used with a friend or someone you just met, however it is impolite when speaking with an elder. Can be used in different tenses as well.
"وش؟ وش مداير فيها؟" "هاني نخدم من نتفرج من, و نتا وش كاش جديد" "والو من غير الخدمة والو"
"What's up? What are you doing in life?" "I'm working on one hand and watching movies on the other hand. And you, is there anything new?" "Nothing other than work."
Submitted July 2020 by suzibyun
English English speaking countries
Portmanteau USED On Occasion BY Most People
(adj.) • To be angry or irritated because of hunger.
"Can you hurry up? I'm starting to get hangry."
Hashtag USED In the past BY Most People
Hashtag used to express gratitude for NHS workers during the coronavirus pandemic. Refers to the act of clapping outside your house at 8pm on a Thursday night.
"A special #ClapForCarers will take place at 5pm today as we say happy birthday to our precious NHS."
Spanish Spanish speaking countries
Hashtag USED In the past BY Everyone
(#Iwillstayhome) • Hashtag used during the COVID-19 pandemic to encourage people to follow the quarantine.
"#YoMeQuedoEnCasa ¿y tú?"
"#Iwillstayhome and you?"
Expression USED On Occasion BY Everyone
(v.) • To cook a dish slowly and with a lot of love. It conveys the idea that you care about what you are cooking and the people who will eat it.
"Je vais vous mitonner un petit plat, vous m'en direz des nouvelles."
"I'm going to make a meal for you and I bet you'll like it."
Abbreviation USED Very frequently BY Mostly young people
(don't worry about it) • Short for "t'inquiète", which is short for "ne t'inquiète pas", meaning "don't worry about it".
"Il y aura assez à boire pour ce soir?" "Tkt j'ai tout ce qui faut."
"Will there be enough drinks for tonight?" "Tkt, I got it covered."
French Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes, France
Slang USED On Occasion BY Young people
(n.) • Means guy or dude. It comes from a Romany word meaning penis, so it can be a bit offensive. You wouldn't call an older person this to his face.
"Il n'y a pas un pélo dans ce magasin !" "Normal, on est dimanche."
"There is not a soul in this shop!" "Obviously, it's Sunday."
Interjection USED On Occasion BY Young people
(interj.) • (It slaps!) • Used to mean that something is cool. Ruder version : "Ça claque sa mère" (it slaps one's mother).
"Tu as vu le nouveau Avengers ? Ça claque !"
"Have you seen the new Avengers movie? It's so cool!"
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"
Chinese | Hokkien and Malay Malaysia
Portmanteau USED Frequently BY Almost Everyone
(v.) • It's a portmanteau between a Malay and Hokkien word used in Malaysia and the Hokkien verb ‘sia sui’. It means ‘to embarrass’.
"You don’t mempersiasuikan our family can or not?"
"Can you please don't embarrass our family?"
Submitted July 2020 by bee
Slang USED Very frequently BY Almost Everyone
It means "whatever" but you can also use it to describe an action where one does anything casually or as one pleases.
"What you want for lunch?" "Cincai lah!"
"What do you want to have for lunch?" "Whatever!"
Submitted July 2020 by bee
Name USED On Rare Occasion BY Almost Everyone
Used to refer to an English-educated Malaysian born Chinese person, who doesn’t have a good command of the Chinese language and can only speak English.
"Alex's grandparents find it hard to speak with him because he is a banana."
Slang USED Frequently BY Almost Everyone
(interj.) • When someone asks stupid obvious questions, “abuden” is the correct answer. It means “isn’t it obvious?” or "What else did you expect?"
"Are you eating?" "Abuden?"
"Are you eating?" "Duh! Isn't it obvious?"
Submitted July 2020 by bee
Slang USED Frequently BY Everyone
It refers to people who have never invited the person who mentions it to a certain event, outing or gathering.
"你去哪儿? bo jio!"
"Where are you going? You didn't invite me!"
Name USED On Occasion BY Everyone
(Little mouse) • What Italians call Mickey Mouse.
"Guardiamo Topolino!"
"Let's watch Mickey Mouse!"
Abbreviation USED Frequently BY Children and teenagers
(I love you) • Short for "ti voglio bene", the non-romantic "love you".
"Martina, sei la mia migliore amica. TVB!"
"Martina, you're my best friend. TVB!"