Funny foreign sayings ...

[oldbike54]

 ...that you find interesting and try to weave into conversation .

 So let's have a little fun , deal ?

 My favorite is the Ozzie/Kiwi saying "Fair dinkum" , which confirms something is true , or accepted . I've also heard it used to mean something is fair .

 Fair Dinkum mate .

 Whatcha got ?

[Devildog]

When living in the UK, I was told the English slang 'blimey' originated as 'blind me', and the cockney version, gor blimey' was 'God blind me' so was serious cussing. The phrase we all use 'son of a gun' originally described a child conceived on the gun deck of a Royal Navy warship.

[lucian]

A long line boat captain I went a few trips with would tell us crew,, " If your looking for sympathy,   it's between shit and syphilis in the dictionary"

[twowings]

I was friends with the late 'mayor' of  a place in southern Missouri called Silver Dollar City...a sort of tourist attraction...he had a million hillbilly sayings but my favorite was a description of someone vocalizing their distress: "screaming like a gutshot panther" ...whatever that means...

[rschrum]

Great topic, old cock.

[oldbike54]

 While Missouri is , er , well , kinda different , last time I checked it was still in the US 

 Let's try this again , one of my favorite Brit sayings is , " you must forgive him , he is a barmpot" , meaning a pot containing barm (barmy) .

 Hmm , maybe to an Ozzie Missouri is foreign , where is Huzo when ya need him ?

 Dusty

[wirespokes]

That one really cracked me up lucian! Thank you!

I never quite understood the saying "caught between a rock and a hard place". You know, what's the difference between a hard place and a rock? Why not say "caught between two hard places?" or maybe "caught between two rocks?".

Looked it up one day and discovered it means stuck between something immovable and something else that's difficult to confront.

Its origin is possibly before Odysseus in mythology and refers to the Strait of Messina between Sicily and Italy where there was a rock shoal and a whirlpool. Sailing through there it was impossible to miss them both - so one had to choose. Odysseus chose the whirlpool since he lost only a few men rather than the whole ship.

[oldbike54]

 The Mexicans have another favorite of mine

 In English it is "put your batteries on" , meaning get ready to work hard . Ponte las pilas . First time I heard it in Spanish it didn't make any sense , my friend Pablo had to 'splain it .

 Dusty

[Pizza Guzzi]

One of dads favourites " as cold as a mother in laws kiss ". Also " don't come the raw prawn with me " " as mad as a 2 bob watch " " as pissed as a parrot "
" all over the place like a mad Sheila's sh*t "
Glenn

[Huzo]

Almost without exception in my view, these sayings are only funny when used in the appropriate place and are almost invariably vulgar to some degree.
I have hundreds that I can use in general conversation and are funny/witty, but not appropriate in print on the forum.
When used to excess they can also seem a bit try hard, in the same way as a comedian will use the in and out word to bolster a failing performance.
Personally I find Roper’s quaint mix of Aussie vernacular mixed with a commanding mastery of the written and spoken word, topped off with a light drizzle of ex pat Pommy accent to be endearing...
(As long as he’s not telling you to “go to buggery..”)

However...

I do recall the first time my dearly departed Dad wanted to regale me with an account of how he administered a dose of physical violence towards one of his detractors in the “old days”.
His term was..
“I sat him on his acre of grass..”
(Rhyming slang for arse)
Or...
“That’s had the royal order of the Pork Sword”..
(Indicating that the item in question had been rendered worthless or inoperative by an encounter with a certain part of the male anatomy..)
As in..
“Had the d**k”
The second letter is a vowel and the third is a consonant that starts a very, very bad swear word..
The censored word, is a shortened form of the name “Richard”... ”

[Sheepdog]

The Antillean name for a moped is a "brrmbike." My Colombian father-in-law answers every complement of his dress with the retort, "Me and the dead guy wore the same size."

[oldbike54]

 Huzo , what I want to know is what foreign slang is funny or interesting to a member , not their native stuff . Surely an Ozzie must be amused by some American slang , right ?

 Here is something said among young Native Americans as way of poking fun at another young man who is acting all puffy .
 "Why you think you're about half bulldog , doncha" . Surely that must sound a bit funny to an Ozzie 

 Dusty

[Huzo]

Here’s a bit of an example..
If you search the topic
“Why won’t they do it” from 2017, it’s response #53

[tris]

Mad as a box of frogs - generally mad

Don't know if he's punched, bored or countersunk - confused

Slang for a male acquaintance
Mate
Cock
Boy
Mush
Me duck - northern English
Shag - Lincolnshire
Baggy - seems to be limited to the Siemens turbine factory in Lincoln

[Huzo]

Ahh gotcha’ Dusty one..
Anything out of the mouth of a South Londoner.
“Are you ‘avin a laugh.?” (are you kidding me ?)
“A result..” (ultimate success with a lady)

[molly]

More Ye olde English sayings.

Looks like rain: "It's a bit black over grandad's tates".
He's upset:  "He's got a monk on" or "The mardy bastard".
Hangover: "Rough as a badger's arse".
Hello: "How's your belly for spots".
Gay: "Batting for the wrong side".

[tris]

Huzo , what I want to know is what foreign slang is funny or interesting to a member , not their native stuff . Surely an Ozzie must be amused by some American slang , right ?
.......
 Dusty

Fanny as in "Fanny Pack" - that has a TOTALLY different connotation on this little Island 

[Guzzistajohn]

I was friends with the late 'mayor' of  a place in southern Missouri called Silver Dollar City...a sort of tourist attraction...he had a million hillbilly sayings but my favorite was a description of someone vocalizing their distress: "screaming like a gutshot panther" ...whatever that means...

Shad heller was a good man 

[kingoffleece]

Let's see who knows this one.

"Those frogs don't know f@@K all!".  Yes, it was a another country.

[Aaron D.]

A French one-literally translated-"I am chocolate" meaning I am "screwed".

[Two Checks]

Bob's yer uncle.

[kballowe]

in the queue - "mind the gap"

[Murray]

I work with a rather diverse bunch of people I've pickup up a few Russain sayings it is most likely they flow a lot better in thier native language.

Broken Telephone (lost in translation)
Dog gaurding haystack, the hay is no good to the dog and its no good to anyone else because the dog is gauding it.
9 Pregnant women cannot make baby in 1 month, somethings take as long as they take.

[oldbike54]

Oh, well I guess some of us are just too 'merican to participate in Dusty's foreigner thread... ...Luap's 'gonna LOVE this!

 Yeah , well , 

 What I want to hear is what sayings from other countries tickle someone .

 Dusty

[AJ Huff]

Well not another country, but another language.

"Train go sorry." That's ASL.

-AJ

[larrys]

From my time in the Cotswold Hills. Cor blimey! Piss off, you! Bloody ell! Summat, Di'n I?  Spent one afternoon at my local pub with a few of the local blokes, over some beers and a game of Aunt Sally, teaching them the proper American pronunciation of the phrase, "Aw, sh!t!" Good times...
Larry

[molly]

Fanny as in "Fanny Pack" - that has a TOTALLY different connotation on this little Island 

"Fanny like a bucket". Comes to mind but best not to go there.

[Siamese]

I'm gobsmacked.

[Zoom Zoom]

 Yeah , well , 

 What I want to hear is what sayings from other countries tickle someone .

 Dusty

Does this mean folks from other countries, (non US) can say what they get from us that is humorous? A 

John Henry

[oldbike54]

Does this mean folks from other countries, (non US) can say what they get from us that is humorous? A 

John Henry

 Yep , sounds like you understood the memo 

 Dusty