First of all, I wasn't 100% sure if research is the best place to put this, because I seek to make this something that all members can contribute to, but I realised that one way to reflect on a diversity of characters is to look up idioms in what you seek to make that person's native language. As a result, I've been studying idioms from different countries to help diversify the voices of my characters. So share your favourites, including literal translations of ones from other languages. Here are a few I've come across that I like: When grapes grow on a willow- Serbian, equivalent to 'when pigs fly' One afternoon in your next reincarnation- Thai, means 'never gonna happen' Willing to borrow a cat's paws- Japanese, meaning that someone is in such a need for help they'll take it from anyone. As if you have beheaded a demon- Another Japanese idiom, meaning 'as if you were a conquering hero' So quiet you can hear an angel passing by- French, equivalent to 'you could hear a pin drop'. Water over a duck- This was taught to me by a Polish colleague of mine, it means 'water under the bridge' Your head is pumped/inflated- French, parallel to 'airhead' (the word used is 'gonflé' which is the verb used to inflate something with air). Unable to bleed or cry- Japanese, calling a person 'heartless'
Living in the Deep South, we have our own peculiar sayings... A whistling woman and a crowing hen never comes to a very good end. (be who you are) Sun don't shine on the same dog's tail. (you'll get what you deserve) Gone back on your raisin. (deny your heritage) In high cotton. (rising up in society)
I don't have first hand knowledge, but I've been told that in Japan when someone's hung over they ask where the bear is. What bear? The bear who hit me over the head, shit in my mouth, and stole all my money. When I moved to rural Canada I encountered "give'r", which I think has since spread somewhat since it was in FUBAR. Just means give 110% effort and enthusiasm to something. Totally commit.
But where/what language? That said, old ones can go up too, for example 'three sheets to the wind' is an old English expression for a sailor being drunk.
"Close only counts in horseshoes and hand grenades" I believe this is an American idiom. It's always been one of my favorites.
Loving the Thai one! Some Chinese ones: - For every tall mountain, there's always one taller. (There's always someone who's more skillful than you) - The successes that happened throughout history happened because someone tried. (eg. you never know until you try, and you'll never make it if you don't.) - You made a pot of froth (you made a mess) - It's better to have given birth to a piece of roast pork than to you - You have only half a bucket of water (you learnt something, but didn't learn it to any kind of useful standard where you can actually use that knowledge) - When your head is big, there's no brain in it. And when your brain is big, it grows grass. (eg. you're stupid) - The more you try to help, the busier it gets (eg. you're not helping at all and making things worse) I believe these are Czech ones: - The one who wants to beat a dog can always find a stick (if someone wants to criticise, they can always find something) - death by a thousand paper cuts (an accumulation of numerous small nuisances or small faults resulting in extreme anger and frustration) I once came across this illustration of 81 Cantonese idioms - the site has explanations for some of them. Might be of interest
"Better a storm against the roof than winds under the sheet." "If a hand offers you a glass of wine, take it and pour yourself another one." Both are Slovene, both rhyme in the original language, and there's no deeper meaning.
"If it happens once, it will never happen again. But if it happens a second time, you can be certain it will happen a third." Regarding misfortune or not-so-great events.
Some Swedish ones: - Don't say hey until you've crossed the brook: Equivalent to English "don't count your chickens before they hatch". - Get caught with your beard in the letter box: Getting caught doing something you're not supposed to be doing. - Don't judge the dog on its hair: Appearance can be deceptive. - No cow on the ice (as long as the backside is on land): No rush/danger. - Have clean flour in the bag: Have nothing to hide. - Many small brooks make a big stream: Every little bit helps. - The apple doesn't fall far from the tree: Like father, like son.
I'm mute, but I can hear just fine. Here's one that happens a lot (by me) and is misinterpreted by most nearby: Using your dominant hand, make the 'horns of the devil' sign (index finder and pinkie up, with others curled).....now stick your thumb out straight. That's the American Sign Language sign (short form) for "I Love You"; it combines the I, the L, and the Y of finger spelling into one simple hand gesture. Tap it to your heart infers a deeper love. Google pics of "I love You" in ASL to see it visually. Do the same thing in Northern Italy and you'll end up in jail. Do the same thing in Southern France and you've just agreed to an orgee. Do the same thing in Iceland and the guy using the auger will drill another five feet. Do the same thing at the Canada/US border and . . . . well . . . . Anyway, ASL is a language worth checking out for your story. Cheers' Jeff
Cada ladrón juzga por su propia condición. The thief believes everyone else is thieving. Used to point out the irony of someone decrying someone else's behavior of which the person him/herself is often guilty. El mono, por más que se viste de seda, mono se queda. A monkey may dress up in fine silk, but he's still a monkey. Similar to you can dress him up, but you can't take him out.
Not necessarily a sailor, but it does come from a nautical background. The sheets here are the ropes that control a sail...you'll have the sail laced to the mast/spar on one side, so those two corners are firmly held, and the other two corners are each controlled by a sheet; if you've lost control of both sheets, the sail will flap about uncontrollably if there's any wind. So, if that happens when you're "two sheets to the wind", think how out of control you'd be if you were "three sheets..."
@Shadowfax Thanks for the correction, and I actually knew the etymology, thanks to Easy as Pi. It's a cool piece of light reading.
From the US South "Running around like his ass was afire an' his head was a'catchin'" From China "When the Yellow River runs clear." Ain't gonna happen, it's a rapidly flowing mudslide
Japanese: A cicada (Japanese semi [edit: the "i" is a long e sound, the "e" is short, like "eh"]) clinging to a tree: A short woman with a tall boyfriend. Eye booger laughing at nose booger: The pot calling the kettle black. Cat's tongue: Unable to tolerate hot (temperature) foods. Even the monkey falls from the tree: Everyone makes mistakes
I think that these two are Korean: "You can't cover the sky with the palm of your hand." - Said to someone who is in denial of the obvious. "Even monkeys fall from trees." Said to someone who feels stupid about failing at something or about making a stupid mistake. I don't know this one's origins: "God gives fillet to those without teeth." Said by a person that desires something that another person has but cannot use it or doesn't understands its value. And here are some Greek ones. I'll let you figure these out for yourselves. "At the deaf mans door, knock all you want." " Wherever many roosters crow, the sunrise comes late." " Whoever gets mixed up with the bran gets eaten by the chickens." " The empty can makes the loudest noise." " Whoever eats with the devil must have a long spoon." " The devil has many legs." " Dry shit don't stick on the wall." " Go and look if I'm coming. " (Heard it countless of times from teachers when I was in high-school). " You don't ask an old man where he hurts but where he doesn't hurt." " He, who doesn't wan't to knead, ten days he sieves." " The night has ears and the day eyes. " " The smart bird gets caught by the beak." "Eyes that don't get seen are fast forgotten." " Blood doesn't become water." " In front of beauty, what is pain?" " Cold hands - warm heart." " He is sleeping as his luck is working." " Stupid child, full of joy." " Shit high and cloud watch." " Do the good (deed) and throw it at the seaside. " "Ashamed of going backward, afraid of going forward." " When the fox is hungry, she pretends that she's sleeping." " It's the quiet stream that you should fear." " (Ι) saw the chicories upside-down. " And my all time favorite: "Over here the world is aflame and the pussy is combing itself." I think I overdid it. I love these things. I would have written more but there is no way of translating most.
