The document provides a collection of idiomatic expressions from various languages along with their translations and meanings. Examples include German phrases about perception and understanding, Swedish expressions about worry and responsibility, and Russian sayings regarding stubbornness and guilt. It also encourages readers to share their favorite idioms and introduces a related video on English idioms.

1. Don’t Be an Idiom
How to say what you’re trying to
say, without actually saying it.

2. “Tomaten auf den Augen haben”
Translation You have tomatoes in your eyes. (German)
Meaning You do not see what others see.*
*This refers to real objects, not abstract meanings.

3. “Ich verstehe nur
Bahnhof.”
Translation I only understand the train station. (German)
Meaning I don’t understand a thing about what that
person is saying.
? ?

4. Translation There’s no cow on the ice. (Swedish)
Meaning There’s no need to worry.
“Det är ingen ko på isen.”

5. “Det föll mellan stolarna.”
Translation It fell between chairs. (Swedish)
Meaning An excuse given when two people were
supposed to do something, but neither did.
I wonder what’s
for lunch...

6. “Słoń nastąpił ci na ucho?”
Translation Did an elephant stomp on your ear?
(Slovak)
Meaning You have no ear for music.

7. “ชาติหนาตอนบาย ๆ.”
Translation One afternoon in your next
incarnation. (Thai)
Meaning It’s never gonna happen.
*Kind of like “when pigs fly.”

8. “На воре и шапка горит”
Translation The thief has a burning hat. (Russian)
Meaning His uneasy conscience betrays itself.

9. “Хоть кол на голове теши.”
Translation You can sharpen an ax on top of his head.
(Russian)
Meaning He is a very stubborn person.

10. “Empurrar com a barriga.”
Translation To push something with your belly.
(Spanish)
Meaning To postpone an important responsibility.

11. There are more
where those came
from!
Do you have any
favorite idioms from
your own language?
Check out this video about 42
English idioms, presented by
Mental Floss!
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