Idioms

There's more than one way to skin a cat. In Spain each has his own way to kill fleas, but what has that got to do with the price of eggs in China?

Idioms are a part of everyday language. Eccentric and abstract, sounding like a punch line to a joke or perhaps the last line of a story, idioms are a fascinating mix of social observation, history, function, abbreviation, humour and poetic licence.

Not all idioms have direct equivalents in another language, but there are many that do. Part of their charm, especially when comparing across languages, is the way in which different cultures have identified similar social observations and coined their own phrase drawing from their specific cultural experience and knowledge. When these idioms are compared, they can offer a unique insight into the culture of a language and those who speak it.

This is a growing list, these are just a few examples. We welcome your contribution, so if you know of any others please add them here.

English - He's not the sharpest tool in the shed.
Spanish - He doesn't have two fingers of forehead.
[No tiene dos dedos de frente.]

English - What does that have to do with the price of eggs in China?
Spanish - I have an aunt who plays the guitar.
[Yo tengo una tía que toca la guitarra.]

English - Water under the bridge.
Portuguese - Past waters don't power mills.
[Àguas passadas não movem moínhos.]

English - To make a mountain out of a molehill.
German - To make an elephant out of a mosquito.
[aus einer Mücke einen Elefanten machen]

English - Money doesn't grow on trees.
Arabic - The sky doesn't throw chicks.
[El samaa la tohadef katakeet]

English - To use a belt and braces.
Japanese - Testing a stone bridge before crossing to be extra-careful.
[石橋を叩いて渡る ‘ishibashi o tataite wataru’]

English - Spit it out!-say it!
Italian - Spit that toad out
[sputare il rospo]

English: To turn a blind eye.
Flemish: Looking at something through the fingers,
[iets door de vingers kijken]