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I've always had a passion for learning languages, especially since I speak two starkly different ones. My first language is English and my native language is Urdu, which has some pretty funny idioms and phrases that have a different literal translation compared to their actual meaning. So share some idioms or phrases in your native language that have a funny literal translation but actually mean something completely different.

For example:

ہتھیلی پے سرسوں پھیرنا۔. Literal translation: To grind mustard seeds on the heel of your hand. Actually meaning: to do things at the last moment, AKA procrastinating.

#1

Sen. Old Yorkshire. Get thissen down to the shops! I got missen a bargain at the weekend!

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Red Lotus
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1 year ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

So it's kind of like a suffix that unique to that area? I feel like England is on two absolute extreme ends of the spectrum, some people are either extremely polite and "prudish" while others are the complete opposite depending on the area 😂

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#2

(Southern) English: "Well butter me sideways". Fairly similar to the Australian saying "Well f**k me sideways", but more PG because it's the South and America.

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Red Lotus
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1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I was about to respond and then I reread your post and now I'm slightly confused... Is this phrase from Southern America or Southern England?

#3

I've always found it interesting how in English when you want to insult someone you say motherf*er but in my language we say "(I) f your mother"

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Red Lotus
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1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

So it's just a lot more specific 😆. Would you mind specifying your language?

#4

So technically it isn't a word but it is a word my entire friend group uses on a daily basis: Murp! It means Yes or I am happy in my friend group.

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#5

Vegan = can’t hunt

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Red Lotus
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1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

😂 Unfortunately I feel some people would get offended by this 😬

#6

Igbo(Spoken in Nigeria):'I-ṅụ Panadol n'isi n'awa onye ọzọ'
Tr.: 'Taking medicine for someone else's headache
It means trying to get to someone else's personal matters

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Red Lotus
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1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Oh yes, we have a similar saying in Urdu, I just can't remember what it is at the moment...