Other language connections: In Croatian, when someone is obviously lying to someone, you say that they are “throwing cream into their eyes (bacati kajmak u oči).” What it means: “It means to talk nonsense or to lie.” Literal translation: “To blow little ducks.” Other languages this idiom exists in: A phrase that means a similar thing in English: “When pigs fly.” In French, the same idea is conveyed by the phrase, “when hens have teeth (quand les poules auront des dents).” In Russian, it’s the intriguing phrase, “When a lobster whistles on top of a mountain (Когда рак на горе свистнет).” And in Dutch, it’s “When the cows are dancing on the ice (Als de koeien op het ijs dansen).” From Latvian translator Ilze Garda and Kristaps Kadiķis : What it means: “It’s never gonna happen.” Literal translation: “One afternoon in your next reincarnation.” What it means: “It means two people know each other’s secrets.” Literal translation: “The hen sees the snake’s feet and the snake sees the hen’s boobs.” What it means: “It means ‘don’t pay any attention.’ Almost like ‘don’t bring your eyes and ears with you.’ If that were possible.” Literal translation: “Take ears to the field, take eyes to the farm.” It has evolved into the slightly ironic phrase, ‘It fell between the chair,’ which you use when you want to say,‘Yeah, I know I was supposed to do it but I forgot.’” From Thai translator Kelwalin Dhanasarnsombut : What it means: “It’s an excuse you use when two people were supposed to do it, but nobody did. Literal translation: “It fell between chairs.” What it means: “It refers to somebody who didn’t have to work to get where they are.” Literal translation: “To slide in on a shrimp sandwich.” We also use ‘Det är ingen fara på taket,’ or ‘There’s no danger on the roof,’ to mean the same thing.” What it means: “There’s no need to worry. Literal translation: “There’s no cow on the ice.” In English, the phrase is “buying a pig in poke,” but English speakers do also “let the cat out of the bag,” which means to reveal something that’s supposed to be secret.
Other languages this idiom exists in: We hear from translators that this is an idiom in Swedish, Polish, Latvian and Norwegian. What it means: That a buyer purchased something without inspecting it first.
Literal translation: “To buy a cat in a sack.” What it means: “I don’t understand a thing about what that person is saying.’” Literal translation: “I only understand the train station.” It refers to real objects, though - not abstract meanings.” What it means: “You are not seeing what everyone else can see. Literal translation: “You have tomatoes on your eyes.” Which made us wonder: what are their favorite idioms in their own tongue?īelow, we asked translators to share their favorite idioms and how they would translate literally. As our TED Translator volunteers translate TED Talks into 116 languages (and counting), they’re often challenged to translate English idioms into their language. Why add fuel to the fire? Idioms are those phrases that mean more than the sum of their words. You can use it as a reference for studyng, or to test yourself.What does it mean to “have tomatoes on your eyes?” Find out below… The Word Focus box gives you more information about a word or group of words.Ī wordlist is available at which includes all the phrasal verbs and idioms explained in the book. This might be about grammar, style, synonyms or opposites, or related words from the same word family. Opposite each text is a glossary explains the new vocabulary and gives further important information to help you. All the new vocabulary is shown in bold text. 'Physical actions' or 'Using phones and mobiles', but more often the vocabulary is presented in different types of text so that you can see the new phrasal verbs Some are presented through pictures, e.g. back, on, or through).Įach unit in a module presents and explains approximately 15 items of vocabulary. Important topics such as 'Family and friends' or 'Work', or information about particular aspects of phrasal verbs such as grammar, style, or meanings of specific particles (e.g. The 134 units are divided into 24 modules There are more than 1,500 phrasal verbs and idioms taught in the book, corresponding to B1-C2 level, with a particular emphasis on C1-C2 levels. It includes most of the topics commonly found in coursebooks, and also teaches phrasal verbs and idioms that coursebooks do not have space for. Oxford Learner's Pocket Phrasal Verbs and Idioms can be used alongside English courses.
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