Comments on: 40 brilliant idioms that can’t be translated literally

By: Monika

Monika — Wed, 16 Aug 2017 20:08:40 +0000

Franse slag, is a quick battle… French used to hastily attack without much preparation.

By: Frank

Frank — Sun, 23 Jul 2017 12:25:45 +0000

What about Spanish sayings?

By: TeresaH

TeresaH — Sat, 22 Jul 2017 07:29:09 +0000

In Geailge (Irish): Tá sé ar mhuin na mhuice
Translation: He is on the pig’s back
Meaning: He is enjoying a stroke of good luck or fortune

By: Paulo Passos

Paulo Passos — Fri, 21 Jul 2017 23:58:59 +0000

In Portuguese we could say: “engolir sapo” same meaning.

By: Kat Del Rosario

Kat Del Rosario — Fri, 21 Jul 2017 02:15:46 +0000

In the Philippines, we say “Aanhin pa ang damo kung patay na ang kabayo?”
Literal Translation: What would you do with the grass if the horse is already dead?”
What it Means: Strike while the iron is hot. Seize the opportunity. Carpe diem. (Or something like that.)

By: Marko global citizen

Marko global citizen — Thu, 20 Jul 2017 22:29:24 +0000

Acctually, those idioms which Ivan Stamenkovic has sent you are serbian.

By: Alex Marsh

Alex Marsh — Wed, 26 Apr 2017 12:15:16 +0000

Very interesting post!! These translations could be useful for the beginner translator, who wants to learn the process of translation in a fun way.

By: Ricardo Cabral

Ricardo Cabral — Tue, 17 Jan 2017 15:34:47 +0000

The Portuguese idiom “Quem não tem cão caça com gato”, is wrong, and most people use it the wrong way. The right way is “Quem não tem cão caça COMO gato” which literaly translates as “He who doesn’t have a dog hunts like a cat”, but the meaning is basicaly the same.

By: Valeria

Valeria — Tue, 10 Jan 2017 21:43:58 +0000

In Russia we buy a cat in the sack too))

By: Hasael

Hasael — Tue, 10 Jan 2017 19:51:07 +0000

We have a lot of idioms in Spanish (Mexico)…

The Idiom: “Echarle mucha crema a los tacos”
Literal Translation: “throw a lot of cream to tacos”
What it mean: “Exaggerate or boast about something”