Do You Know These Expressions Your Ancestors Used? (Part 10)

By February 15, 2022
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Introduction: In this last article in her series, Jessica Edwards continues her discussion of the meanings and origins of idioms (figurative phrases) that our ancestors used, focusing on idioms from around the world. Jessica has had a lifelong interest in her family’s history – especially on her father’s side, which goes back to the first settlers in Pennsylvania, Jamestown and New England – and has documented and added more than 21,000 people to her family tree!

Idioms (figurative phrases) have been used throughout the centuries and may appear in what was said or written by our ancestors. Understanding these expressions will help you better understand what your ancestors were saying – and finding out the history of these sayings can be quite entertaining!

In the previous parts of this series, I presented idioms primarily from the English-speaking world. In today’s final installment, I give you something different: idioms from around the world. These sayings in themselves are quite fascinating and often humorous – and if your ancestors are from these areas, then perhaps this article will help you better understand something curious you found in one of their journals or letters.

Idiom Meaning Original Language Idiom in That Language
Break a fast with an onion. You got a raw deal. Arabic كسر الصيام مع البصل
Stop ironing my board. Stop bothering me. Armenian “դադարեցրեք իմ գրատախտակի արդուկումը.”
You have hair on your teeth. You are ultra-confident. Dutch “Je hebt haar op je tanden.”
You have long teeth. You are very ambitious. Finnish “Hänellä on pitkät hampaat.”
Like perfume on a meatball. Someone is a square or nerd. Finnish “Sopia kuin hajuvesi lihapullaan.”
To shoot flies with a cannon. You’re making a simple task more difficult. Finnish  “Ampua tykillä kärpäsiä.”
A face like the sun in Naantali. You have it all. Finnish; refers to Naantali (a popular vacation spot in Finland) “Naama kuin Naantalin aurinko.”
To get caught in the fyke. You got caught doing wrong. Finnish; “fyke” is a large fishing net “Saada kinni rysan paalta.”
A bad man quarrels with his tools. You must not be very good at what you do! French “Mauveés ovriers ne trovera ja bon hostill.”
Broke three legs on a duck. You did something extraordinary. French “Ne pas casser trois pattes à un canard.”
It is in the polish (to make it shine). You are doing something while sleepy or unconscious. French “Être dans le cirage.”
Put the cart before the cows. Doing things out of order. French “Mettre la charrue avant les bœufs.”
To feel or sense the fir tree. Sensing death. French “Sentir le sapin.”
To have a cockroach.  Feeling sad or depressed. French “Avoir le cafard.”
To have butter and butter money. To have your cake and eat it too. French “Avoir le beurre et l’argent du beurre.”
When chickens have teeth. It’s never going to happen. French “Quand les poules auront des dents.”
Your ankles are swelling. You are too arrogant or proud. French “Avoir les chevilles qui enflent.”
I have other cats to whip. I have other things to do. French “J’ai des chats à fouetter.”
It’s dog weather. It’s bad weather. French “Il fait un temps de chien.”
The clothing doesn’t make the monk. Things may not be what they seem. French “L’habit ne fait pas le moine.”
They are running on my bean. They’re getting on my nerves! French “Il me court sur le haricot.”
To have mustard going up your nose. To lose your temper. French “Avoir la moutarde qui monte au nez.”
You are cutting hair into four pieces. You’re splitting hairs. French “Couper les cheveux en quatre.”
To eat bread. To get something cheap. French “Une bouchée de pain.”
Everything has one end, only the sausage has two. Everything comes to an end. German “Alles hat ein Ende, nur die Wurst hat zwei.”
To tie a bear to someone. You’ve tricked me. German “Einen Bären an jemanden gebunden.”
An elephant made out of a fly. Make a big deal out of nothing. German “Ein Elefant aus einer Fliege.”
Stretch only as far as your blanket reaches. Don’t overdo it. Hungarian “Nyújtson csak addig, amíg a takaró eléri.”
I took him to the bakery. I told him off. Icelandic “Ég tók hann í bakaríð.”
While diving, drink water. You accomplished two things at the same time. Indonesian “Sambil menyelam, minum air.”
To treat someone with a fish in their face. To disrespect someone. Italian “Per trattare qualcuno con un pesce in faccia.”
Not all doughnuts come with a hole. You don’t always get what you want. Italian “Non tutte le ciambelle hanno un buco.”
You catch more flies with honey than with vinegar. It is more effective to be polite/ ingratiating than to be hostile/demanding. Italian “Puoi catturare più mosche con il miele che con l’aceto.”
To have dumplings instead of flowers.  You’ve chosen something useful over something decorative. Japanese “花の代わりに餃子を持つには.”
Even monkeys fall from trees. Everyone makes a mistake. Japanese “猿も木から落ちる.”
My cheeks are falling off. This is really delicious! Japanese “猿も木から落ちる.”
Don’t swallow some camels. Stay the course and ride it out. Norweigan “Ikke svelg noen kameler.”
To get stuffed with hay. Go away! Polish “Aby zostać wypchanym sianem.”
Mustard after lunch.  it’s too late to act because the opportunity has already passed. Polish “Musztarda po obiedzie.”
Not my circus, not my monkeys. Not my problem. Polish “Nie mój cyrk, nie moje małpy.”
He who doesn’t have a dog, hunts with cats. You make the most of what you’ve been given. Portuguese “Aquele que não tem caça ao cão com gatos.”
Take your little horse away from the rain. Something’s never going to happen. Portuguese “Leve o seu cavalinho para longe da chuva.”
Neither down nor feathers. Good luck. Russian “Ни пуха, ни перьев.”
Neither heard nor smelt. No news from someone. Russian “Ни слышать, ни пахать.”
To leave with the head. Fully engrossed in something. Russian “Уйти с головой.”
To push off the sense. Confusing. Russian “Чтобы оттолкнуть смысл.”
To sit in a puddle. To embarrass oneself. Russian “Посидеть в луже.”
With the sleeves pulled down. Doing something carelessly. Russian “С стянутыми рукавами.”
If you don’t want to run with the wolves stay out of the forest. Can’t stand the heat? Get out of the kitchen! Russian “Если вы не хотите бегать с волками, держитесь подальше от леса.”
The tongue is well hung. Someone is well spoken. Russian “Язык хорошо подвешен.”
To look through one’s fingers. To ignore or turn a blind eye. Russian “Смотреть пальцами.”
A cat in gloves catches no mice. Nice guys always finish last. Spanish “Un gato con guantes no atrapa ratones.”
A lot of noise and no walnuts. You’re all talk and no action. Spanish “Mucho ruido y sin nueces.”
If there’s room in the heart, there’s room for the butt. We’ll make room for you. Swedish “Finns det hjärterum så finns det stärterum.”
Slide in on a prawn sandwich. You have an easy life. Swedish “Glid in på en räksmörgås.”

Note on the header image: “Genealogy” logo designed and copyrighted by Mary Harrell-Sesniak.

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