# Equivalent expressions in different languages **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [January 23, 2023, 4:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/equivalent-expressions-in-different-languages/978670 "2023-01-23T16:36:14Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Dr\_Paprika](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dr_paprika/32/3042_2.png) [@Dr\_Paprika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr_Paprika)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2023, 9:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/equivalent-expressions-in-different-languages/978670/43 "2023-01-29T21:10:33Z")
It’s such a good expression. The word _tilin_ is meant to evoke a ringing bell, which is also awesome. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2023, 9:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/equivalent-expressions-in-different-languages/978670/44 "2023-01-29T21:16:54Z")
> [@Dr\_Paprika](#): > > Interestingly “selling coals to Newcastle” and “taking owls to Athens” (_noctuas Athenas ferre_) have many equivalents, including some interesting English ones (expressing futility): > … > > - putting lipstick on a pig This one doesn’t work. Pigs do not already have an abundance of lipstick. ---
**Author:** ![Dr\_Paprika](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dr_paprika/32/3042_2.png) [@Dr\_Paprika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr_Paprika)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2023, 9:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/equivalent-expressions-in-different-languages/978670/45 "2023-01-29T21:34:06Z")
“Selling coals to Newcastle” implies futility more than abundance. The idea is that it wouldn’t happen for various reasons. The expression works, though perhaps not for fans of _The Muppets_. ---
**Author:** ![Tibby](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tibby/32/17030_2.png) [@Tibby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tibby)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2023, 10:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/equivalent-expressions-in-different-languages/978670/46 "2023-01-29T22:18:44Z")
> [@ThelmaLou](#): > > But when I got home from the grocery store, there she was sitting nonchalantly in the living room (we have a kitty door), and the expression that popped in my head was _“butter wouldn’t melt in her mouth.”_ What is an equivalent expression in (pick a language) – ? I have no examples to satisfy your OP, but it is interesting to note the evolution of the phrase _“butter wouldn’t melt in your/his/her mouth.”_ _“Originally, around 1530, the phrase was far less obscure than it may seem today, because when it first started being used, it was directly related to a person having a cold, detached and emotionless manner (where “cold” used in this way is an older metaphor itself). The idea was that a person was so cold that his mouth was at a temperature at which butter wouldn’t melt.”_ Irregardless of the original intent, which I could care less about, though it does peak my interest somewhat: over the years the phrase evolved into meanings that really don’t make much sense. It’s time to nip this phrase in the butt. [http://www.saywhydoi.com/why-do-we-say-butter-wouldn’t-melt-in-his-mouth/](http://www.saywhydoi.com/why-do-we-say-butter-wouldn%E2%80%99t-melt-in-his-mouth/) ---
**Author:** ![ThelmaLou](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thelmalou/32/390_2.png) [@ThelmaLou](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ThelmaLou)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2023, 1:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/equivalent-expressions-in-different-languages/978670/47 "2023-01-30T01:04:24Z")
What I meant to convey was that kitty was cool and nonchalant about having upset plans to go to the doctor. So, yeah, I was using it according to your citation. BTW, > [@Tibby](#): > > though it does peak my interest It’s “pique” – _Stimulate (interest or curiosity), “You have piqued my curiosity about the man.”_ ---
**Author:** ![romansperson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/romansperson/32/17100_2.png) [@romansperson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/romansperson)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2023, 1:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/equivalent-expressions-in-different-languages/978670/48 "2023-01-30T01:29:30Z")
“Non mi rompere le scatole” = “don’t break my boxes” in Italian, more polite version of the English “don’t bust my balls.” Though we heard the English phrase used by Italians while in Italy as well, lol. ---
**Author:** ![Tibby](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tibby/32/17030_2.png) [@Tibby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tibby)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2023, 2:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/equivalent-expressions-in-different-languages/978670/49 "2023-01-30T02:17:01Z")
> [@ThelmaLou](#): > > It’s “pique” – _Stimulate (interest or curiosity), “You have piqued my curiosity about the man.”_ Indeed “_peak_ my interest” is incorrect, as is “_irregardless_” and “nip in the _butt_.” Humor doesn’t always hit the mark. ---
**Author:** ![ThelmaLou](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thelmalou/32/390_2.png) [@ThelmaLou](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ThelmaLou)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2023, 3:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/equivalent-expressions-in-different-languages/978670/50 "2023-01-30T03:21:38Z")
Oh. You were being funny. Sorry. I missed it. ---
**Author:** ![Johanna](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johanna/32/8318_2.png) [@Johanna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johanna)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2023, 3:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/equivalent-expressions-in-different-languages/978670/51 "2023-01-30T03:28:17Z")
Some 50 years ago I bought a Spanish–English dictionary published in Europe. It translated “carry coals to Newcastle” as _llevar naranjas a Valencia_ (carry oranges to Valencia [the part of Spain that grows the best oranges]). ---
**Author:** ![PatrickLondon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/patricklondon/32/4422_2.png) [@PatrickLondon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PatrickLondon)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2023, 11:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/equivalent-expressions-in-different-languages/978670/52 "2023-01-30T11:26:04Z")
> [@Dr\_Paprika](#): > > “all ringing bells and no popsicles”, In the UK you could say (maybe someone has) “All jingle, no 99”. ---
**Author:** ![ThelmaLou](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thelmalou/32/390_2.png) [@ThelmaLou](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ThelmaLou)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2023, 7:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/equivalent-expressions-in-different-languages/978670/53 "2023-01-31T19:35:50Z")
This morning I thought of the sayings, “I was born at night, but it wasn’t **last** night,” or “I didn’t fall off the potato wagon/turnip truck yesterday.” Meaning I’m not stupid or naive. I’m not about to fall for a scam, etc. Are there expressions/sayings in other languages that convey that meaning? ---
**Author:** ![EinsteinsHund](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/einsteinshund/32/8400_2.png) [@EinsteinsHund](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EinsteinsHund)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2023, 7:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/equivalent-expressions-in-different-languages/978670/54 "2023-01-31T19:40:57Z")
> [@ThelmaLou](#): > > Meaning I’m not stupid or naive. I’m not about to fall for a scam, etc. Are there expressions/sayings in other languages that convey that meaning? Yes, there is in (Southern) German: “Ich bin kein heuriger Hase”, literally meaning “I’m not a hare from this season” and in an English idiom “I wasn’t born yesterday”. ---
**Author:** ![bordelond](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bordelond/32/150_2.png) [@bordelond](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bordelond)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2023, 8:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/equivalent-expressions-in-different-languages/978670/55 "2023-01-31T20:15:39Z")
French speakers also say “I wasn’t born yesterday” (_je ne suis pas né d’hier_). They’ve got at least two more expressions that mean much the same thing: _je ne suis pas né de la dernière pluie_ - “I wasn’t born during the last rain” _je ne suis pas un perdreau de l’année_ - not sure how to put it … “I’m not this year’s partridge”? “I’m not a year-old partridge”? Reminds me of the “this season’s hare” **EinsteinsHund** just posted. ---
**Author:** ![EinsteinsHund](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/einsteinshund/32/8400_2.png) [@EinsteinsHund](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EinsteinsHund)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2023, 8:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/equivalent-expressions-in-different-languages/978670/56 "2023-01-31T20:37:08Z")
> [@bordelond](#): > > French speakers also say “I wasn’t born yesterday” (_je ne suis pas né d’hier_) Nevermind, misread the quote. ---
**Author:** ![Yllaria](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yllaria/32/3452_2.png) [@Yllaria](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yllaria)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2023, 8:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/equivalent-expressions-in-different-languages/978670/57 "2023-01-31T20:49:54Z")
> [@Elmer\_J.Fudd](#): > > I think I’ve only heard that in the negative here in the states; “Not my cup of tea”. “Right up my alley” is a more common phrase for the opposite. Lately I’ve heard both “it’s my jam” and “not my jam”. Decades ago you could say “not my bag, man.” ---
**Author:** ![Kimstu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/ecd19e/32.png) [@Kimstu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kimstu)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2023, 11:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/equivalent-expressions-in-different-languages/978670/58 "2023-01-31T23:15:39Z")
English “Now the cat’s out of the bag” is pretty much synonymous with Dutch “Nu komt de aap uit de mouw”, literally “Now the monkey comes out of the sleeve”. English: “To shout [something] from the rooftops” Dutch: “[Iets] aan de grote klok hangen”, literally “To hang [something] on the town clock” English: “forlorn hope”, a doomed effort, suicide mission. Dutch: “verloren hoop”, literally “lost heap” or “lost group”, applied to a selected band of soldiers attempting a very dangerous action that they will probably not survive. The source of the homophonous [hobson-jobsoned](https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/Hobson-Jobson) English idiom. ---
**Author:** ![EinsteinsHund](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/einsteinshund/32/8400_2.png) [@EinsteinsHund](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EinsteinsHund)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2023, 11:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/equivalent-expressions-in-different-languages/978670/59 "2023-01-31T23:22:55Z")
> [@Kimstu](#): > > English “Now the cat’s out of the bag” is pretty much synonymous with Dutch “Nu komt de aap uit de mouw”, literally “Now the monkey comes out of the sleeve”. That’s interesting, the German idiom “die Katze aus dem Sack lassen” (to let the cat out of the bag) is more equivalent to the English “to spill the beans”. ---
**Author:** ![bordelond](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bordelond/32/150_2.png) [@bordelond](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bordelond)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2023, 11:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/equivalent-expressions-in-different-languages/978670/60 "2023-01-31T23:36:22Z")
“Spill the beans” and “let the cat out of the bag” are equivalent to me. Is “spill the tea” a Britishism? I do hear Americans say it from time to time. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2023, 11:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/equivalent-expressions-in-different-languages/978670/61 "2023-01-31T23:46:07Z")
Apparently, “spilling tea” means “gossiping”, and “sipping tea” means “listening to gossip”, but I only know that because of crossword-puzzle clues. ---
**Author:** ![ThelmaLou](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thelmalou/32/390_2.png) [@ThelmaLou](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ThelmaLou)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2023, 12:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/equivalent-expressions-in-different-languages/978670/62 "2023-02-01T00:02:18Z")
> [@Kimstu](#): > > The source of the homophonous [hobson-jobsoned](https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/Hobson-Jobson) English idiom. Whoa! New term learned today. 👍🏽 [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/equivalent-expressions-in-different-languages/978670.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/equivalent-expressions-in-different-languages/978670.md?page=4)