Sayings and phrases around the world
How idioms can cause confusion in the workplace
Travelling the world is such an enriching experience: the places you see, the food you eat, the people you meet– it’s the cultural differences that make travel so exciting. Working abroad can also be an incredible experience, and they say immersing yourself in a country’s culture is one of the best ways of learning its language. Thing is, cultural and linguistic differences can also be a source of misunderstanding, as office suppliers Viking recently found.
Idioms are one thing that can cause misunderstandings, and it’s usually when they’re translated. If you were in Iceland, for example, and managed to complete a task ahead of schedule, you might be told “that’s a raisin at the end of the hotdog!” What is really trying to be communicated to you is that it was a nice surprise at the end of something, but the phrase simply has no logical translation into English.
To celebrate the European Day of Languages, Viking commissioned illustrator Paul Blow to illustrate some worldwide idioms that really can’t be translated. Here’s the result!
Idiom: To slide in on a prawn sandwich
Meaning: To have an easy life
Idiom: To tie a bear to someone
Meaning: To confuse someone
Idiom: My cheeks are falling off!
Meaning: I think this food is delicious!
Idiom: As cool as a cucumber
Meaning: To be calm or relaxed
Idiom: To have hair on your teeth
Meaning: To be self-assertive
Idiom: Not all donuts come with a hole
Meaning: Things do not always go as well as you would like
Idiom: Mustard after lunch
Meaning: It's too late to do something because it has already happened
Idiom: Break a fast with an onion
Meaning: To get less than what you were expecting
Idiom: The raisin at the end of the hotdog
Meaning: An unexpected surprise at the end of something
Idiom: To swallow some camels
Meaning: To give in
Idiom: When chickens have teeth!
Meaning: When something is never going to happen
Comments
I really enjoyed while
I really enjoyed while reading the post. As an English teacher, I sometimes monitor my students having struggle in giving sense to English idioms. It makes the atmosphere wierd and fun.
Another idiom in Turkish from me; "Just like falling from the roof". It means something happens in a sudden, unprepared and unexpected way.
Great Idiom
Great idiom Zeynel, one to keep in mind for the future! I think the use of visuals certainly help break down the difficulties and also adds a little fun when discussing with colleagues and students. Would be interesting to hear from other colleagues from across Europe if they have other examples?
Interesting and useful
Andnolessdifficultitistometounderstandthe meaning offoreignexpressions. But I guess our language could not be complete without idioms.
Thank you for this post and separately for pictures!