missförstå mig rätt

Compound of missförstå + mig + rätt. Literally; "misunderstand me correctly".

Man skänkte ej ens en tanke åt Bismarck eller ett öga åt Gambättas organer; hvarken d:r Nyström eller Hans Forssell var i stånd att få oss att försaka kaffet, det var oss likgiltigt om Guiteau blir ansedd som vansinnig eller skräddaren Palm som klok; teaterbranden i Wien, geografiska kongressen i Venezia, förmälningshögtidligheterna, nihilisterna, Nordenskiölds polisplaner ja, ja, missförstå mig rätt! "Alexandras" och "Malmöhus"" undergång – allt detta intresserade oss ej hälften så mycket som att det skulle blifvit en riktig julknuta, så att vi kunde få försöka de nya skridskor, som vi fingo till julklapp i år eller rättare i fjol.

1882 January 28, “Lek och allvar [Play and seriousness]”, in Eslöfs Tidningar, page 3:

Not even a thought was given to Bismarck or an eye to Gambetta's organs; neither Dr. Nyström nor Hans Forssell was in a position to make us give up coffee, it was indifferent to us if Guiteau was considered insane or the tailor Palm as wise; the theater fire in Vienna, the geographical congress in Venice, the engagement ceremonies, the nihilists, Nordenskiöld's police plans yes, yes, don't get me wrong! The downfall of "Alexandra" and "Malmöhus" - all this did not interest us half as much as it would have been a real Christmas present [weather(?)], so that we could try the new skates, which we got for Christmas this year or rather last year.

Nej, missförstå mig rätt: då slår man lika lätt över i en annan ytterlighet – jag mördar honom för att jag hatar honom, nej, det går nog lika dåligt som att skriva kärleksdikter under ett samlag, bra dikter vill säga.

1950, Gösta Oswald, edited by Birgitta Holm, Skrifter II, published 2000, page 269:

No, misunderstand me not: one easily lapses into another extreme – I'd slay him for I despise him, nay, it fares likely as scribing love verses midst a coitus, good verses, I mean.

Missförstå mig rätt: det är inget fel på motorn. Egentligen. Det är en chamant motor. Egentligen. Men ingen motor står ut med att inte få åsamka husse och matte en räkning på 189:50 då och då.

1951, Barbro Alving, Slarvigt men mänskligt, pages 194–195:

Do not get me wrong: there is nothing wrong with the engine. For real. It's a charming engine. For real. But no engine tolerates not causing its owner a bill of 189.50 now and then.

Missförstå mig rätt. Det är såklart viktigt med uppföljning och kontroll. Men det får inte gå ut över kärnverksamheten – att ge vård till de sjuka och lära våra barn läsa, räkna och skriva.

2018 June 14, Mats Persson, “Bryt trenden: Minska välfärdsadministrationen [Break the trend: Reduce the welfare administration]”, in Dagens Samhälle (opinion piece):

Don't get me wrong. Follow-up and control are of course important. But it must not affect the core business – providing care to the sick and teaching our children to read, count and write.

(idiomatic) A phrase used when knowingly saying something (ambiguous or not) that can be interpreted as malicious by the receiver, but is only said with good intentions; don't get me wrong.


malipayong Bag-ong Tuig

ceb-head

malipayong Bag-óng Tuig (Badlit spelling ᜋᜎᜒᜉᜌᜓᜅ᜔ ᜊᜄ᜔ᜂᜅ᜔ ᜆᜓᜁᜄ᜔)


kung hindi ako nagkakamali

tl-head

kung hindî akó nagkakámalî (Baybayin spelling ᜃᜓᜅ᜔ ᜑᜒᜈ᜔ᜇᜒ ᜀᜃᜓ ᜈᜄ᜔ᜃᜃᜋᜎᜒ)

kung hindî akó nagkakámalî (canonical)
ᜃᜓᜅ᜔ ᜑᜒᜈ᜔ᜇᜒ ᜀᜃᜓ ᜈᜄ᜔ᜃᜃᜋᜎᜒ (Baybayin)

[kʊŋ hɪn̪ˌd̪iʔ ʔɐˌxo n̪ɐɡ.kɐˌxaː.mɐˈliʔ]

[kʊŋ hɪn̪ˌd̪iː ʔɐˌxo n̪ɐɡ.kɐˌxaː.mɐˈliʔ]


同聲同氣

/tʰʊŋ²¹ sɛːŋ⁵⁵ tʰʊŋ²¹ hei̯³³/

/tʰʊŋ²¹ sɛːŋ⁵⁵ tʰʊŋ²¹ hei̯³³/


ayos ka lang ba

ayos ka lang ba? (Baybayin spelling ᜀᜌᜓᜐ᜔ ᜃ ᜎᜅ᜔ ᜊ)

ᜀᜌᜓᜐ᜔ ᜃ ᜎᜅ᜔ ᜊ (Baybayin)


may iniinom ka bang gamot

may iníinóm ka bang gamót? (Baybayin spelling ᜋᜌ᜔ ᜁᜈᜒᜁᜈᜓᜋ᜔ ᜃ ᜊᜅ᜔ ᜄᜋᜓᜆ᜔)

may iníinóm ka bang gamót (canonical)
ᜋᜌ᜔ ᜁᜈᜒᜁᜈᜓᜋ᜔ ᜃ ᜊᜅ᜔ ᜄᜋᜓᜆ᜔ (Baybayin)

[maɪ̯ ʔɪˌn̪iː.ʔɪˌn̪om kɐ ˌbaŋ ɡɐˈmot̪̚]

are you taking any medications
are you taking any medications


papakasalan mo ba ako

pápakasalán mo ba akó? (Baybayin spelling ᜉᜉᜃᜐᜎᜈ᜔ ᜋᜓ ᜊ ᜀᜃᜓ)

pápakasalán mo ba akó (canonical)
ᜉᜉᜃᜐᜎᜈ᜔ ᜋᜓ ᜊ ᜀᜃᜓ (Baybayin)


ceb-head

malipayong Paskó ug malipayong Bag-óng Tuig! (Badlit spelling ᜋᜎᜒᜉᜌᜓᜅ᜔ ᜉᜐ᜔ᜃᜓ ᜂᜄ᜔ ᜋᜎᜒᜉᜌᜓᜅ᜔ ᜊᜄ᜔ᜂᜅ᜔ ᜆᜓᜁᜄ᜔)

malipayong Pasko ug malipayong Bag-ong Tuig

/maliˌpajoŋ pasˌko ʔuɡ maliˌpajoŋ baɡˌʔoŋ ˈtuʔiɡ/

[mɐ.l̪ɪˌpa.jom pɐs̪ˌko ʔʊɡ mɐ.l̪ɪˌpa.jom bɐɡˌʔoŋ ˈt̪u.ʔɪɡ]

merry Christmas and a happy New Year
Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year


se não me engano

[si ˈnɐ̃ʊ̯̃ mi ẽˈɡɐ̃.nu]

[si ˈnɐ̃ʊ̯̃ mi ĩˈɡɐ̃.nu]

[si ˈnɐ̃ʊ̯̃ mi ẽˈɡɐ̃.nu]

[si ˈnɐ̃ʊ̯̃ mi ĩˈɡɐ̃.nu]

[se ˈnɐ̃ʊ̯̃ me ẽˈɡɐ.no]

[se ˈnɐ̃ʊ̯̃ me ĩˈɡɐ.no]

/sɨ ˈnɐ̃w̃ m‿ẽˈɡɐ.nu/

/sɨ ˈnɐ̃w̃ m‿ẽˈɡɐ.nu/


四方木——踢一踢，喐一喐

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四方木——踢一踢，喐一喐

四方木——踢一踢，郁一郁

A square wood - moves once when kicked once

/sei̯³³ fɔːŋ⁵⁵ mʊk̚² tʰɛːk̚³ jɐt̚⁵ tʰɛːk̚³ jʊk̚⁵ jɐt̚⁵ jʊk̚⁵/

(Cantonese, figurative) being lazy or with passive attitude and only does own's job when asked to


擡棺材甩褲——失禮死人

抬棺材甩褲——失禮死人
抬棺材甩裤——失礼死人

Pants come off when carrying the coffin - disgrace to the dead/very disgraceful

/tʰɔːi̯²¹ kuːn⁵⁵ t͡sʰɔːi̯²¹ lɐt̚⁵ fuː³³ sɐt̚⁵ lɐi̯¹³ sei̯³⁵ jɐn²¹/

(Cantonese) very disgraceful; very disrespectful


甘死如飴

ㄍㄢ ㄙˇ ㄖㄨˊ ㄧˊ

/kän⁵⁵ sz̩²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʐu³⁵ i³⁵/

/kän⁵⁵ sz̩²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʐu³⁵ i³⁵/


des duivels

Used other than figuratively or idiomatically: see des, duivels.


chuyện đâu còn có đó

[t͡ɕwiən˧˨ʔ ʔɗəw˧˧ kɔn˨˩ kɔ˧˦ ʔɗɔ˧˦]

[t͡ɕwiəŋ˨˩ʔ ʔɗəw˧˧ kɔŋ˦˩ kɔ˨˩˦ ʔɗɔ˨˩˦]

[c⁽ʷ⁾iəŋ˨˩˨ ʔɗəw˧˧ kɔŋ˨˩ kɔ˦˥ ʔɗɔ˦˥]

Đừng nóng, chuyện đâu còn có đó mà.

Don't let the blood rushes to your head, I promise the situation is not all far gone!


luudan päältä lattialle

Köyhä ei kaadu korkealta; luudan päältä lattialle.

A lowly person cannot fall far, only from on top of the broom onto the floor.

(idiomatic) not (falling) very far down; not losing very much, because there was not much to lose anyway


唔知頭唔知路

/m̩²¹ t͡siː⁵⁵ tʰɐu̯²¹ m̩²¹ t͡siː⁵⁵ lou̯³³/

(Cantonese) to know nothing (on a particular subject)


良辰吉日

ㄌㄧㄤˊ ㄔㄣˊ ㄐㄧˊ ㄖˋ

лянчэньцзижи

/li̯ɑŋ³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰən³⁵ t͡ɕi³⁵ ʐ̩⁵¹/

/lœːŋ²¹ sɐn²¹ kɐt̚⁵ jɐt̚²/

/li̯ɑŋ³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰən³⁵ t͡ɕi³⁵ ʐ̩⁵¹/

/lœːŋ²¹ sɐn²¹ kɐt̚⁵ jɐt̚²/


大飲大食

/taːi̯²² jɐm³⁵ taːi̯²² sɪk̚²/

/taːi̯²² jɐm³⁵ taːi̯²² sɪk̚²/

(Cantonese) to indulge in eating and drinking; to binge eat and drink


TMML

(Internet slang) Initialism of that made me laugh.


熟門熟路

ㄕㄨˊ ㄇㄣˊ ㄕㄨˊ ㄌㄨˋ

/ʂu³⁵ mən³⁵ ʂu³⁵ lu⁵¹/

/sʊk̚² muːn²¹ sʊk̚² lou̯²²/

/ʂu³⁵ mən³⁵ ʂu³⁵ lu⁵¹/

/sʊk̚² muːn²¹ sʊk̚² lou̯²²/

to know something very well; to be very familiar with something


大吃大喝

ㄉㄚˋ ㄔ ㄉㄚˋ ㄏㄜ

/tä⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʰʐ̩⁵⁵ tä⁵¹ xɤ⁵⁵/

/taːi̯²² hɛːk̚³ taːi̯²² hɔːt̚³/

/tä⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʰʐ̩⁵⁵ tä⁵¹ xɤ⁵⁵/

/taːi̯²² hɛːk̚³ taːi̯²² hɔːt̚³/


擦身而過

ㄘㄚ ㄕㄣ ㄦˊ ㄍㄨㄛˋ

/t͡sʰä⁵⁵ ʂən⁵⁵ ˀɤɻ³⁵ ku̯ɔ⁵¹/

/t͡sʰaːt̚³ sɐn⁵⁵ jiː²¹ kʷɔː³³/

/t͡sʰä⁵⁵ ʂən⁵⁵ ˀɤɻ³⁵ ku̯ɔ⁵¹/

/t͡sʰaːt̚³ sɐn⁵⁵ jiː²¹ kʷɔː³³/

to brush past (someone, opportunity, death, etc.)


年富力強

ㄋㄧㄢˊ ㄈㄨˋ ㄌㄧˋ ㄑㄧㄤˊ

/ni̯ɛn³⁵ fu⁵¹⁻⁵³ li⁵¹ t͡ɕʰi̯ɑŋ³⁵/

/niːn²¹ fuː³³ lɪk̚² kʰœːŋ²¹/

/ni̯ɛn³⁵ fu⁵¹⁻⁵³ li⁵¹ t͡ɕʰi̯ɑŋ³⁵/

/niːn²¹ fuː³³ lɪk̚² kʰœːŋ²¹/


年輕力壯

ㄋㄧㄢˊ ㄑㄧㄥ ㄌㄧˋ ㄓㄨㄤˋ

няньцинличжуан

/ni̯ɛn³⁵ t͡ɕʰiŋ⁵⁵ li⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʈ͡ʂu̯ɑŋ⁵¹/

/niːn²¹ hɪŋ⁵⁵ lɪk̚² t͡sɔːŋ³³/

/ni̯ɛn³⁵ t͡ɕʰiŋ⁵⁵ li⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʈ͡ʂu̯ɑŋ⁵¹/

/niːn²¹ hɪŋ⁵⁵ lɪk̚² t͡sɔːŋ³³/


God love someone

Near-synonyms: God bless you, God bless

It was so weak it couldn't even hold up its head. Craig filled the eyedropper and I gently pried its mouth open. [...] Craig, God love him, stayed awake all night and fed the tiny critter every hour. Within a couple of days the kitten was doing better.

2001, Lou Solitske, Taxi Tales, Taxi Tales:

I was very leery of Sy because, God love him, he is always working. If you weren't careful, even the most casual conversation would [...]

2015 October 13, Mary Mapes, Truth: The Press, the President, and the Privilege of Power, St. Martin's Griffin, →ISBN, page 129:

“Even them opera stars can't fill it.” “Well, I want the platform full of chairs,” she said, turning to walk out the door. She whirled back and looked straight at the custodian. “Aw, God love you! You're concerned about me, aren't you?"

2021 October 1, Kathryn Kuhlman, Jamie Buckingham, Daughter of Destiny: The Only Authorized Biography, Destiny Image Publishers, →ISBN:

Used to express (sincere, or jocular, or pitying) affection toward the specified person.


אָן אָפּשטעל

אָן אָפּשטעל • (on opshtel)


企喺城樓睇馬打交

企喺城楼睇马打交
企响城樓睇馬打交

to stand on the city gate tower to watch horses fighting

kei⁵ hai² sing⁴ lau⁴ tai² maa⁵ daa² gaau¹

/kʰei̯¹³ hɐi̯³⁵ sɪŋ²¹ lɐu̯²¹ tʰɐi̯³⁵ maː¹³ taː³⁵ kaːu̯⁵⁵/

(Cantonese, figuratively) to watch in safety while others fight, then reaping the spoils when both sides suffer.


כל הזכויות שמורות

כָּל הַזְּכוּיוֹת שְׁמוּרוֹת

כָּל הַזְּכוּיוֹת שְׁמוּרוֹת • (kol haz'khuyót shmurót)

he-phrase

כָּל הַזְּכוּיוֹת שְׁמוּרוֹת

כָּל הַזְּכוּיוֹת שְׁמוּרוֹת (canonical)
kol haz'khuyót shmurót (romanization)


хоть умри

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хоть умри́ • (xotʹ umrí)

хоть умри ́ (canonical)
xotʹ umrí (romanization)

Хоть умри́, но мы должны́ убира́ть но́мер за двена́дцать мину́т.

Even if it kills us, we have to clean up the room in 12 minutes.

Xotʹ umrí, no my dolžný ubirátʹ nómer za dvenádcatʹ minút.


袋袋平安

/tɔːi̯²² tɔːi̯²² pʰɪŋ²¹ ɔːn⁵⁵/

/tɔːi̯²² tɔːi̯²² pʰɪŋ²¹ ɔːn⁵⁵/

Homophonic pun on 代代平安 (doi⁶ doi⁶ ping⁴ on¹, literally “wish every generation safe and sound”).

(Cantonese) to keep something safe after receiving it, especially money


хоть ложись и умирай

хоть ложи́сь и умира́й

хоть ложи́сь и умира́й • (xotʹ ložísʹ i umiráj)

хоть ложи́сь и умира́й (canonical)
xotʹ ložísʹ i umiráj (romanization)

[xotʲ ɫɐˈʐɨsʲ i ʊmʲɪˈraj]

Literally, “might as well lie down and die”.

lit

Ему́ бы́ло так тяжело́ и тоскли́во, что хоть ложи́сь и умира́й.

It was so tough and miserable for him that he was at the end of his tether.

Jemú býlo tak tjaželó i tosklívo, što xotʹ ložísʹ i umiráj.

en-хоть_ложись_и_умирай-ru-phrase-f9EqquaG


欽此

/t͡ɕʰin⁵⁵ t͡sʰz̩²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/jɐm⁵⁵ t͡sʰiː³⁵/

/t͡ɕʰin⁵⁵ t͡sʰz̩²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/jɐm⁵⁵ t͡sʰiː³⁵/

(historical) A phrase marking the end of an edict.


奉天承運

ㄈㄥˋ ㄊㄧㄢ ㄔㄥˊ ㄩㄣˋ

фэнтяньчэнъюнь

/fɤŋ⁵¹ tʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰɤŋ³⁵ yn⁵¹/

/fʊŋ²² tʰiːn⁵⁵ sɪŋ²¹ wɐn²²/

/fɤŋ⁵¹ tʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰɤŋ³⁵ yn⁵¹/

/fʊŋ²² tʰiːn⁵⁵ sɪŋ²¹ wɐn²²/

The Emperor, by the Grace of Heaven, decrees that…

fèngtiānchéngyùn huángdì, zhào yuē......

奉天承運皇帝，詔曰……

奉天承运皇帝，诏曰……

(historical) by the Grace of God (used at the beginning of an edict)


хоть вешайся

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хоть ве́шайся

хоть ве́шайся • (xotʹ véšajsja)

хоть ве́шайся (canonical)
xotʹ véšajsja (romanization)

Literally, “even if I hang myself”, or more loosely translated as “I might as well hang myself”.

lit

Не ве́рите мне ника́к, хоть ве́шайся.

You don't believe me at all, what to do?

what to do?; nothing to do (expresses despair, inability to get out of a difficult situation)


the closet is made of glass

An extension of the metaphor in the closet, compare glass closet.

I spent my high school years in the closet. I remember a friend messaged me saying, “Just come out already, it’s fine, just be who you are.” He didn’t know I was queer, but I guess the closet was made of glass. In his mind, he was being supportive; in mine, he was increasing the turbulence I already felt about my sexuality and identity as a teen.

2022 November 1, K-Ci Williams, “Kit Connor, Star of “Heartstopper,” Came Out as Bi. He Shouldn’t Have Had To”, in Teen Vogue:

“Little boy—you are gay.” / “No, I'm not,” I say. / “Oh, you really are,” she says. She's insistent, but not mean. My closet is made of glass and she can see right through it.

2023, William Lee Adams, Wild Dances: My Queer and Curious Journey to Eurovision, New York, NY: Astra House, →ISBN, page 117:

sexual orientation
sexual orientation#English

(LGBT, often humorous) Used in reference to someone whose sexual orientation or gender identity is widely known despite not being acknowledged.


бы только

head

бы то́лько • (by tólʹko)

бы то́лько (canonical)
by tólʹko (romanization)

Ему бы только говорить, да говорить.


鬥私批修

ㄉㄡˇ ㄙ ㄆㄧ ㄒㄧㄡ

/toʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ sz̩⁵⁵ pʰi⁵⁵ ɕi̯oʊ̯⁵⁵/

/tɐu̯³³ siː⁵⁵ pʰɐi̯⁵⁵ sɐu̯⁵⁵/

/toʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ sz̩⁵⁵ pʰi⁵⁵ ɕi̯oʊ̯⁵⁵/

/tɐu̯³³ siː⁵⁵ pʰɐi̯⁵⁵ sɐu̯⁵⁵/

(Maoism) to fight selfishness and criticize revisionism


ar nós chuma liom

/əɾˠ ˈn̪ˠõːs ˈxʌmˠə lʲɨ̞mˠ/

Alternative form of ar nós cuma liom (“indifferent(ly)”)


ar nós cuma liom

From ar nós (“in the style of”) + is cuma liom (“I don't care”)

af

Tá sí ar nós cuma liom faoina post.

indifferent, apathetic, lackadaisical, negligent, nonchalant (predicative only)

D'fhreagair sé ar nós cuma liom.
He answered indifferently.

indifferently, apathetically, negligently, nonchalantly


人所共知

ㄖㄣˊ ㄙㄨㄛˇ ㄍㄨㄥˋ ㄓ

жэньсогунчжи

/ʐən³⁵ su̯ɔ²¹⁴⁻²¹ kʊŋ⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵/

/jɐn²¹ sɔː³⁵ kʊŋ²² t͡siː⁵⁵/

/ʐən³⁵ su̯ɔ²¹⁴⁻²¹ kʊŋ⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵/

/jɐn²¹ sɔː³⁵ kʊŋ²² t͡siː⁵⁵/

to be known by everyone; to be common knowledge


ܦܘܚܐ ܝܠܗ

aii-phrase

ܦܲܘܚܵܐ ܝܠܹܗ • (pawḥā ìlēh)

ܦܲܘܚܵܐ ܝܠܹܗ (canonical)
pawḥā ìlēh (romanization)


ad vitam aut culpam

(law) For life or fault: a kind of appointment or tenure in Scotland.


de la fesse gauche

LL-Q150 (fra)-Pamputt-de la fesse gauche.wav

J’ai juste ma famille immédiate dans ma vie; j’ai une tonne de cousins de la fesse gauche mais je ne les connais pratiquement pas.

I only have my immediate family in my life; I have a ton of distant cousins but I barely know them at all.

Il […] souhaite sans doute ardemment inviter sa sœur et son troisième cousin de la fesse gauche à festoyer dans sa « modeste » demeure.

2021, Geneviève Pettersen, “Legault vs Dubé : bon cop bad cop”, in Le Journal de Montréal:

He's no doubt eager to invite his sister and his distant third cousin/his third cousin twice removed on his mother's side to celebrate in his "modest" house.

Les deux livres sont aussi des cousins de la fesse gauche du formidable Dans la dèche à Paris et à Londres de George Orwell, paru en 1933.

2010, Christian Desmeules, “Essais étrangers - Le fond de la casserole”, in Le Devoir:

The two books are also distant cousins of George Orwell's monumental Down and Out in Paris and London, published in 1933.

Tous les artistes invités au Festival celtique international de Montréal qui aura lieu à Verdun la semaine prochaine, vous le diront : on ne cherche pas à savoir si l’on est irlandais de la fesse gauche, on veut juste « avoir du fun ».

2000, Claude Côté, “Les Batinses : Passe-moi le Celte”, in Voir:

All the invited artists at the Festival celtique international de Montréal, taking place in Verdun next week, will tell you: nobody will quiz you about whether or not you have Irish blood in you, they're just there to have a good time.

(informal, Quebec) Distant and unspecified, indirect, dubious, or notional, in speaking of a family relationship, ethnic heritage, etc.; shirttail (relative).


peggio per te

Literally, “worse for you.” Compare French tant pis pour toi.

Io nella vita di tutti i giorni direi gran cavoli se Luciano non mi stima. Non mi stimi? Peggio per te. Qui dentro, mi spiace perché...

2020, Masterchef Italia, season 9, episode 15, spoken by Giada Meloni:

In everyday life, I would say big deal that Luciano does not think highly of me. You do not think highly of me? Your loss. In here, however, I dislike it because...


det kan hända

From det (“it”) + kan (“can”) + hända (“happen”). Compare Norwegian Nynorsk kan henda.

af

– Är du den där snubben från TV? – Det kan hända!
– Are you that guy from TV? – Might well be!

"That may be the case!", as a somewhat jocular affirmation

Det kan hända att vi behöver köpa en tårta till om det ska räcka till alla

It may be that we need to buy another cake for there to be enough for everyone

(idiomatic, when followed by "att") it may be that ..., it's possible that ...

Used other than figuratively or idiomatically: see det, kan, hända.


ne zavartassa magát

[ˈnɛzɒvɒrtɒʃːɒ ˌmɒɡaːt]

Literally, “don’t make yourself be bothered / disturbed / embarrassed”, the third-person (and formal 2nd-person) subjunctive form of nem zavartatja magát.

lit

Coordinate term: (informal) ne zavartasd magad

(idiomatic) go ahead, be my guest, feel at ease


rechts ist, wo der Daumen links ist

De-rechts ist, wo der Daumen links ist.ogg

Literally, “right is where your thumb is on the left”, a nonsensical mnemonic (as it requires the distinction in itself).

lit

(idiomatic, humorous) Said as a mild mockery when someone confuses right and left.


nem zavartatja magát

Literally, “not to make oneself be bothered / disturbed / embarrassed”, the negative reflexive form of zavartat, the causative of the verb zavar (“to disturb, bother”).

lit

(idiomatic, chiefly in the negative or in questions) to feel free


ܡܛܪܐ ܝܠܗ

aii-phrase

ܡܸܛܪܵܐ ܝܠܵܗ̇

ܡܸܛܪܵܐ ܝܠܵܗ̇ • (miṭrā ìlāh)

ܡܸܛܪܵܐ ܝܠܵܗ̇ (canonical)
miṭrā ìlāh (romanization)

It is rainy (literally, “She/It is (the) rain”)


無啦啦，多笪𤶸

无啦啦，多笪𤶸
無啦啦，多笪瘌
無啦啦，多撻瘌
無喇喇，多撻瘌

/mou̯²¹ laː⁵⁵ laː⁵⁵ tɔː⁵⁵ taːt̚³ laː⁵⁵/

/mou̯²¹ laː⁵⁵ laː⁵⁵ tɔː⁵⁵ taːt̚³ laː⁵⁵/

無啦啦，整笪𤶸 無啦啦，整笪𤶸#Chinese

无啦啦，整笪𤶸 无啦啦，整笪𤶸#Chinese

Synonym of 無啦啦，整笪𤶸／无啦啦，整笪𤶸


無啦啦，整笪𤶸

无啦啦，整笪𤶸
無啦啦，整笪瘌
無啦啦，整撻瘌
無喇喇，整撻瘌

/mou̯²¹ laː⁵⁵ laː⁵⁵ t͡sɪŋ³⁵ taːt̚³ laː⁵⁵/

(Cantonese) to do unnecessary or useless things; to ask for trouble


let's have it

(UK, colloquial) Tell what you have to say.


give your head a wobble

Give your head a wobble, Zoë, I told myself. You can't go around being broken-hearted because your heart isn't broken any more. That would be off-the-scale ridiculous.

(UK, colloquial) Think again; an admonition to somebody who is behaving badly or saying something unacceptable.


как это

head

ка́к э̀то • (kák èto)

ка́к э̀то (canonical)
kák èto (romanization)

Ка́лле не придёт за́втра на собра́ние. — Ка́к это не придёт? ― Kálle ne pridjót závtra na sobránije. — Kák eto ne pridjót? ― Kalle isn't coming to the meeting tomorrow. — What do you mean he isn't comingǃ?

What do you mean; How can it be? (expresses surprise)


milk before meat

From 1 Corinthians 3:2, in Koine Greek ἐπότισα γάλα οὐ βρῶμα (epótisa gála ou brôma, “I gave you milk, not meat [or solid food]”), and in a Mormon context Doctrine and Covenants 19:22: “For they cannot bear meat now, but milk they must receive”. In the form milk before meat, first attested in the early 20th century.

der

ἐπότισα γάλα οὐ βρῶμα

I gave you milk, not meat 􂀿or solid food􂁀

etydate

Under the pretext of giving the world “milk before meat,” the Utah Mormons have tried to justify themselves in the living of an open lie—they were actually practicing polygamy secretly and denying it publicly.

1919, William Earl La Rue, The Foundations of Mormonism: A Study of the Fundamental Facts in the History and Doctrines of the Mormons from Original Sources, page 195:

They are not to present lessons in calculus to students who must first learn arithmetic; they are not to reveal the mysteries of the kingdom until people believe the first principles: they are to give milk before meat.

1980, Bruce R. McConkie, The Mortal Messiah: From Bethlehem to Calvary, volume 2; republished as Rulon T. Burton, editor, We Believe: Doctrines and Principles of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 1994, D-667, page 853:

Paul said we should give milk before meat; systematic teaching is effective as long as we are careful to give both the milk and the meat honestly and correctly.

1986, Dennis L. Lythgoe, The Sensitive Leader, page 121:

So why is it that some people feel that they must know everything right away concerning religion, and yet in daily life they well understand and accept that it’s milk before meat?

2006, Jayne P. Bowers, Musings of a Missionary Mom, →ISBN, page 118:

(chiefly Mormonism) Ideas or doctrines that are simpler or easier to accept (should be taught) before more difficult ones.


какое там

head

како́е там • (kakóje tam)

како́е там (canonical)
kakóje tam (romanization)

Ты по́сле шко́лы отдохнёшь? — Како́е там отдохнёшь? Ка́ждый день хожу́ в спортза́л. ― Ty pósle škóly otdoxnjóšʹ? — Kakóje tam otdoxnjóšʹ? Káždyj denʹ xožú v sportzál. ― Are you gonna relax after school? — What do you mean relax? I go to the gym every day.

Как твой кот? Здоро́в? — Како́е там здоров? Всегда́ боле́ет. ― Kak tvoj kot? Zdoróv? — Kakóje tam zdorov? Vsegdá boléjet. ― How's your cat? In good health? — What are you talking about "good health"? He's always sick.

Ты пое́дешь на Само́а? — Како́е там? ― Ty pojédešʹ na Samóa? — Kakóje tam? ― Are you going to Samoa? — What are you talking about? (Of course notǃ)

What do you mean; what are you talking about? (expresses disagreement)


未學行，先學走

/mei̯²² hɔːk̚² haːŋ²¹ siːn⁵⁵ hɔːk̚² t͡sɐu̯³⁵/

learn to run before one can walk
learn to walk before one can run

(Cantonese) to learn to run before one can walk


ຈັງໃດ

[t͡ɕaŋ˩˨.daɰ˩˨]


吂學行，先學走

/maŋ¹¹ hok̚⁵ haŋ¹¹ si̯en²⁴⁻¹¹ hok̚⁵ t͡seu̯³¹/

(Hakka) to learn to run before one can walk


未曾學行先學飛

/be³³⁻¹¹ t͡siɪŋ²⁴⁻¹¹ o(ʔ)⁴⁻¹¹ kiã²⁴ siɪŋ⁴⁴⁻³³ o(ʔ)⁴⁻¹¹ pe⁴⁴/

/be²²⁻²¹ t͡siɪŋ²⁴⁻²² o(ʔ)⁴⁻²¹ kiã²⁴ siɪŋ⁴⁴⁻²² o(ʔ)⁴⁻²¹ pe⁴⁴/

/bue³³⁻²¹ t͡siɪŋ²³⁻³³ ɤ(ʔ)⁴⁻²¹ kiã²³ siɪŋ⁴⁴⁻³³ ɤ(ʔ)⁴⁻²¹ pue⁴⁴/

(Southern Min) to learn to run before one can walk


I'll bite

Suggesting a fish taking bait. Compare troll, bait.

—Why did the chicken cross the road? —OK, I'll bite. Why did it cross the road?

Are there security concerns we haven't thought of? What if someone, I don't know, puts a bomb someplace, hops on a plane and detonates it remotely? ¶ Sounds like you've been watching a few too many action movies. Okay, I'll bite.

2013 November 21, Brian Fung, “Everything you need to know about in-flight cellphone rules”, in The Washington Post, Washington, D.C.: The Washington Post Company, →ISSN, →OCLC, archived from the original on 2023-08-10:

Who is trying to nab Tommy? What is his mom's power?! ¶ All right, fine. I'll bite.

2015 October 2, Devon Maloney, “Heroes Reborn Recap: One of Us, One of Them”, in Vulture, archived from the original on 2022-08-14:

OK, I'll bite: political correctness may not be perfect, but isn't its aim to empower and protect? "It's taken too far, though. Death by committee, trying to slam your dictates into another person's face. That's not healthy."

2020 October 11, Barbara Ellen, “John Lydon: ’Don’t become entrenched in one opinion and get stuck there for ever’”, in The Observer, London: Guardian News & Media, →ISSN, →OCLC, archived from the original on 2023-10-15:

(colloquial) Indicating that one doubts that a question is being asked in seriousness or good faith, but is willing to respond in earnest.

This isn't usually my type of movie, but I'll bite.

To the Editor of The New York Times: Referring to your "Topics of The Times" leading off with "Science in the Saddle," I can only believe such an article was printed for the sole purpose of drawing fire. I'll bite and I hope others more competent than I am have deluged you with rebuttals of absurd statements made therein.

1932 December 25, T. Hayden Hamilton, “In Defense of Engineers: They Are Presented as Conscientious, Hard-Working, Sympathetic Scientists”, in The New York Times (letter), New York, N.Y.: The New York Times Company, →ISSN, →OCLC, archived from the original on 2023-08-10, page E2:

Designers made their games really hard because their games were really short, and they had to encourage you to play them over and over. […] But okay. I'll bite. Let's try a game with NES-era difficulty. So I go back into the Amazon. This time I'm a lot better.

2013 August 13, Chris Kohler, “I Don't Need Your Torture, DuckTales Remastered”, in Wired, San Francisco, C.A.: Condé Nast Publications, →ISSN, →OCLC, archived from the original on 2023-02-07:

As a recovery advocate and blogger, I get a lot of requests from authors who want me to read and write about their books. Most of the time, I decline. But every once in a while, if the book seems interesting enough, I'll bite. This is one of those times I'm glad I did.

2016 July 5, “Sober Stick Figure: A Unique and Hilarious Story of Alcoholism and Recovery”, in HuffPost, archived from the original on 2023-08-10:

"Please RT if you want to help make Ohio teen @weezerafrica's simple, wholesome dream come true of seeing rock band @Weezer cover Africa by Toto," he tweeted. Luke is an occasional Noisey writer, and is very adept at wandering into the dark rooms of the internet and causing trouble in them. So my interest was piqued. "OK, I'll bite," I thought, and gave Luke's tweet the one true currency left in our capitalist hell world: my Click.

2019 January 25, Dan Ozzi, “The Whole Weezer/"Africa" Thing Was My Fault and I'm So Sorry”, in VICE, archived from the original on 2023-05-09:

(colloquial) Indicating that one is willing to engage with a potentially difficult or inconvenient situation.

I suspect fruity language is lavishly used on building sites and in 10 Downing Street, but not so much in middle-ranking jobs. Iain Duncan Smith once told a Treasury mandarin on the phone "If you ever speak to my officials like that again I'll bite your balls off and send them to you in a box."

2023 February 1, Carol Midgley, quoting Iain Duncan Smith, “House pomposity is one of the few remaining joys in British life”, in The Times, London: News UK, →ISSN, →OCLC, archived from the original on 2023-02-01:

Used other than figuratively or idiomatically: see I'll, bite.


HAA

(military) Initialism of heavy anti-aircraft.


as big as life

as large as life
as large as life#English


סקאָצל קומט

Folk etymology traditionally holds that סקאָצל (skotsl) was a real feminine name, but it has also been suggested by some that סקאָצל (skotsl) comes from a contraction of the phrase "sei Gotts willkommen", with sei (“his”) being the Bavarian equivalent of German sein.


ḏd pw

introduces explanatory glosses to a text; that is to say …; it means …


cad é an t-ainm atá ort

/kəˈdʲeː ənˠ ˈt̪ˠanʲəmʲ əˈt̪ˠaː ɔɾˠt̪ˠ/


sequential reaction

(biochemistry) a chemical reaction in which the product of each stage becomes the substrate of the next


sequential analysis

statistical analysis where the sample size is not fixed in advance but rather data are evaluated as they are collected and further sampling is stopped in accordance with a pre-defined stopping rule as soon as significant results are observed


ei hyvää päivää

oh my days, oh my word (expression of amazement, particularly disappointing/negative amazement)


雞碎咁多

/kɐi̯⁵⁵ sɵy̯³³ kɐm³³ tɔː⁵⁵/

/kɐi̯⁵⁵ sɵy̯³³ kɐm³³ tɔː⁵⁵/


ཁྱེད་རང་གི་མཚན་ལ་ག་རེ་ཞུ་གི་ཡོད

ཁྱེད་རང་གི་མཚན་ལ་ག་རེ་ཞུ་གི་ཡོད།

ཁྱེད་རང་གི་མཚན་ལ་ག་རེ་ཞུ་གི་ཡོད། • (khyed rang gi mtshan la ga re zhu gi yod)

ཁྱེད་རང་གི་མཚན་ལ་ག་རེ་ཞུ་གི་ཡོད ། (canonical)

en-ཁྱེད་རང་གི་མཚན་ལ་ག་རེ་ཞུ་གི་ཡོད-bo-phrase-IUOlA7Kf


逐次反応

逐次反応 (canonical)
chikujihannō (romanization)

[t͡ɕikɯ̟ʑihã̠nːo̞ː]

From 逐(ちく)次(じ) (chikuji, “sequential”) + 反(はん)応(のう) (hannō, “reaction”).


ཁྱོད་ཀྱི་མིང་ལ་ག་རེ་ཟེར་གྱི་ཡོད

head

ཁྱོད་ཀྱི་མིང་ལ་ག་རེ་ཟེར་གྱི་ཡོད།

ཁྱོད་ཀྱི་མིང་ལ་ག་རེ་ཟེར་གྱི་ཡོད། • (khyod kyi ming la ga re zer gyi yod)

ཁྱོད་ཀྱི་མིང་ལ་ག་རེ་ཟེར་གྱི་ཡོད ། (canonical)
khyod kyi ming la ga re zer gyi yod (romanization)

en-ཁྱོད་ཀྱི་མིང་ལ་ག་རེ་ཟེར་གྱི་ཡོད-bo-phrase-5ugWXGDg


ci mancherebbe

ci mancherebbe altro
ci mancherebbe altro#Italian


用を足す

用を足す (canonical)
yō o tasu (romanization)

(euphemistic) use the toilet, do one's business


snappez-vous

Pseudo-French form based on the Dutch verb snappen (“to understand”), conjugated as if the second person present plural of a French verb, with the second person plural pronoun attached. (Compare French phrases such as parlez-vous = "do you speak ... ?")


da nicht für

Literally, “there not for”, or more loosely translated as “there's nothing (to be thankful) for”. See also Russian не́ за что (né za što).

lit

you're welcome: a response to an expression of thanks


山長水遠

ㄕㄢ ㄔㄤˊ ㄕㄨㄟˇ ㄩㄢˇ

шаньчаншуйюань

/ʂän⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰɑŋ³⁵ ʂu̯eɪ̯²¹⁴⁻³⁵ ɥɛn²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/saːn⁵⁵ t͡sʰœːŋ²¹ sɵy̯³⁵ jyːn¹³/

/saːn⁵⁵ t͡sʰœːŋ²¹ sɵy̯³⁵ jyːn¹³/


wir sind wieder wer

/viːɐ̯ ˈzɪnt ˌviːdɐ ˈveːɐ̯/

Literally, “we are someone again”, that is, “we are respected again”.

(idiomatic) A phrase expressing the sentiment of West German society in the 1950s, particularly associated with winning the 1954 World Cup, but also more generally with developments like the economic revival and integration into the western alliance.


貼錯門神

/tʰiːp̚³ t͡sʰɔː³³ muːn²¹ sɐn²¹/

/tʰiːp̚³ t͡sʰɔː³³ muːn²¹ sɐn²¹/

(Cantonese, Liuzhou Mandarin, of two people) to not get along with each other; to be at odds with each other; to be nasty or hostile with each other


獨闢蹊徑

ㄉㄨˊ ㄆㄧˋ ㄒㄧ ㄐㄧㄥˋ

/tu³⁵ pʰi⁵¹ ɕi⁵⁵ t͡ɕiŋ⁵¹/

/tʊk̚² pʰɪk̚⁵ hɐi̯²¹ kɪŋ³³/

/tu³⁵ pʰi⁵¹ ɕi⁵⁵ t͡ɕiŋ⁵¹/

/tʊk̚² pʰɪk̚⁵ hɐi̯²¹ kɪŋ³³/

to blaze a trail; to pioneer a new approach


所到之處

ㄙㄨㄛˇ ㄉㄠˋ ㄓ ㄔㄨˋ

/su̯ɔ²¹⁴⁻²¹ tɑʊ̯⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰu⁵¹/

/sɔː³⁵ tou̯³³ t͡siː⁵⁵ t͡sʰyː³³/

/su̯ɔ²¹⁴⁻²¹ tɑʊ̯⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰu⁵¹/

/sɔː³⁵ tou̯³³ t͡siː⁵⁵ t͡sʰyː³³/


better for it

You said, "Forever," in the end I fought it / Please, be honest, are we better for it?

2020, “I Miss You, I'm Sorry”, in Gracie Abrams, Sarah Aarons (lyrics), minor (EP):

You’ve just received a hefty tax rebate? Show your appreciation with a gentle wiggle at the post office when you open your mail. You’ll feel better for it, I promise.

2014 September 2, Myf Warhurst, “Nicki Minaj's Anaconda elevates backside wobbling to a lifestyle choice”, in The Guardian, archived from the original on 2022-12-06:

America has struggled for centuries with increasing diversity and the resulting shifts of power. And we are better for it. As a daughter of Korean immigrants, I have greater faith in our businesses and government because today there are leaders whose stories reflect my own.

2010 February 19, Gina Kim, “America’s Elite, and the Discontented”, in The New York Times, archived from the original on 2022-06-17:

Whether women actually became more beautiful by applying Body Performance Anti-Cellulite Visible Contouring Serum, or whether they would have done as well with a quick douse in cold water, is impossible to say. Clearly, many felt better for it.

2004 April 29, “Estée Lauder, queen of cosmetics, died on April 24th, at a mature age”, in The Economist, archived from the original on 2018-02-16:

(idiomatic) In a more favorable position on the whole due to something, despite possible drawbacks.

When asked about the mission, he thought John is better for it.

Used other than figuratively or idiomatically: see better, for, it.


ܐܢ ܗܘܐ ܒܣܝܡܐ

aii-phrase

ܐܸܢ ܗܵܘܹܐ ܒܲܣܝܼܡܵܐ

ܐܸܢ ܗܵܘܹܐ ܒܲܣܝܼܡܵܐ • (in hāwē basīmā)

ܐܸܢ ܗܵܘܹܐ ܒܲܣܝܼܡܵܐ (canonical)
in hāwē basīmā (romanization)


course of events

en-noun

course of events (plural courses of events)

a sequence of actions or incidents that occur over time


pillit pussiin

panna pillit pussiin / laittaa pillit pussiin

(idiomatic) In expressions related to quitting


ei taito taakkana ole

Alternative forms: ei taito taakaksi ole, ei taito ole taakaksi, taito ei ole taakaksi


sika syö eväät

Alternative form: sika söi eväät

(regional, idiomatic) Said when something planned does not come to pass, especially when people are planning to leave or go somewhere, but nothing happens.


jos vanhat merkit pitävät paikkansa

Alternative form: mikäli vanhat merkit pitävät paikkansa

(idiomatic) if the past is anything to go by


never eat soggy waffles

never eat Shredded Wheat
never eat Shredded Wheat#English

(mnemonic) Alternative form of never eat Shredded Wheat


單人匹馬

ㄉㄢ ㄖㄣˊ ㄆㄧˇ ㄇㄚˇ

даньжэньпима

/tän⁵⁵ ʐən³⁵ pʰi²¹⁴⁻³⁵ mä²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/taːn⁵⁵ jɐn²¹ pʰɐt̚⁵ maː¹³/

/tän⁵⁵ ʐən³⁵ pʰi²¹⁴⁻³⁵ mä²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/taːn⁵⁵ jɐn²¹ pʰɐt̚⁵ maː¹³/


как огурчик

head

как огу́рчик

как огу́рчик • (kak ogúrčik)

как огу́рчик (canonical)
kak ogúrčik (romanization)

(colloquial) an expression describing a person with a healthy, vibrant appearance (lit. "like a little cucumber")


до лампочки

до ла́мпочки

до ла́мпочки • (do lámpočki)

до ла́мпочки (canonical)
do lámpočki (romanization)

[dɐ‿ˈɫampət͡ɕkʲɪ]

Твоё мнение уже мне до ла́мпочки.

(colloquial) an expression denoting indifference (lit. "to the lightbulb")


有行無市

ㄧㄡˇ ㄏㄤˊ ㄨˊ ㄕˋ

/joʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ xɑŋ³⁵ u³⁵ ʂʐ̩⁵¹/

/joʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ xɑŋ³⁵ u³⁵ ʂʐ̩⁵¹/


睡眼惺忪

ㄕㄨㄟˋ ㄧㄢˇ ㄒㄧㄥ ㄙㄨㄥ

шуйяньсинсун

/ʂu̯eɪ̯⁵¹ jɛn²¹⁴⁻²¹ ɕiŋ⁵⁵ sʊŋ⁵⁵/

/ʂu̯eɪ̯⁵¹ jɛn²¹⁴⁻²¹ ɕiŋ⁵⁵ sʊŋ⁵⁵/

drowsy-eyed (describing the state when a person just wakes up)


長袖善舞

ㄔㄤˊ ㄒㄧㄡˋ ㄕㄢˋ ㄨˇ

/ʈ͡ʂʰɑŋ³⁵ ɕi̯oʊ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʂän⁵¹ u²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/t͡sʰœːŋ²¹ t͡sɐu̯²² siːn²² mou̯¹³/

/ʈ͡ʂʰɑŋ³⁵ ɕi̯oʊ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʂän⁵¹ u²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/t͡sʰœːŋ²¹ t͡sɐu̯²² siːn²² mou̯¹³/

There was a saying that “Long sleeves make a good dance, more money makes better business.” This means that if you have more resources, you can do things easier.

Bǐyàn yuē: “Cháng xiù shàn wǔ, duō qián shàn gǔ.” Cǐ yán duō zī zhī yì wèi gōng yě.

鄙諺曰：「長袖善舞，多錢善賈。」此言多資之易為工也。

鄙谚曰：「长袖善舞，多钱善贾。」此言多资之易为工也。

to have tricks up one’s sleeve and be likely to succeed

(of businesspeople or politicians) be able to make good use of one's connections


às an dris anns an droigheann

out of the frying pan, into the fire
out of the frying pan, into the fire

(idiomatic) out of the frying pan, into the fire


thời thế tạo anh hùng

[tʰəːj˨˩ tʰe˧˦ taːw˧˨ʔ ʔajŋ̟˧˧ hʊwŋ͡m˨˩]

[tʰəːj˦˩ tʰej˨˩˦ taːw˨˩ʔ ʔɛɲ˧˧ hʊwŋ͡m˦˩]

[tʰəːj˨˩ tʰej˦˥ taːw˨˩˨ ʔan˧˧ hʊwŋ͡m˨˩]


eadar a' chlach is an sgrath

Literally, “between the stone and the turf”

lit

na cuir do làmh eadar a' chlach is an sgrath

between a rock and a hard place
between a rock and a hard place

between the devil and the deep blue sea
between the devil and the deep blue sea

(idiomatic) between a rock and a hard place, between the devil and the deep blue sea


eadar dà chloich

eadar dà chloich na dùthcha

in the entire country; from one end of the country to the other

(idiomatic) the length and breadth of; throughout (an area)


捉蟲入屎窟

to put an insect/worm into someone's asshole

/t͡sʊk̚⁵ t͡sʰʊŋ²¹ jɐp̚² siː³⁵ fɐt̚⁵/

/t͡sʊk̚⁵ t͡sʰʊŋ²¹ jɐp̚² siː³⁵ fɐt̚⁵/

shoot oneself in the foot
shoot oneself in the foot

(Cantonese) to make trouble for oneself; to shoot oneself in the foot


þær ys an to lafe

c. 1011, "Byrhtferth's Manual", line 125


老虎都打死幾隻

/lou̯¹³ fuː³⁵ tou̯⁵⁵ taː³⁵ sei̯³⁵ kei̯³⁵ t͡sɛːk̚³/


head

na cuir do làmh eadar a' chlach is an sgrath

Literally, “don't put your hand between the stone and the turf”

lit

there's many a slip twixt cup and lip
there's many a slip twixt cup and lip

(idiomatic) there's many a slip twixt cup and lip


了錢生理無人做，刣頭生理有人做

head

了錢生理無人做，刣頭生理有人做

了钱生理无人做，刣头生理有人做

/liau⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ t͡sĩ²³ siɪŋ⁴⁴⁻³³ li⁴¹ bɤ²³⁻³³ laŋ²³⁻³³ t͡sɤ²¹ tʰai²³⁻³³ tʰau²³ siɪŋ⁴⁴⁻³³ li⁴¹ u³³⁻²¹ laŋ²³⁻³³ t͡sɤ²¹/

/liau⁵³⁻⁴⁴ t͡sĩ²⁴ siɪŋ⁴⁴⁻³³ li⁵³ bo²⁴⁻¹¹ laŋ²⁴⁻¹¹ t͡so¹¹ tʰai²⁴⁻¹¹ tʰau²⁴ siɪŋ⁴⁴⁻³³ li⁵³ u³³⁻¹¹ laŋ²⁴⁻¹¹ t͡so¹¹/

(Southern Min, sarcastic) People are not willing to do business that does not make profit, but are willing to do business involving murder. (Used to satirize businesspeople who use evil means to profiteer)


ܐܠܗܐ ܡܚܣܐ ܠܗ

aii-phrase

ܐܲܠܵܗܵܐ ܡܚܲܣܹܐ ܠܹܗ

ܐܲܠܵܗܵܐ ܡܚܲܣܹܐ ܠܹܗ • (allāhā mḥassē lēh)

ܐܲܠܵܗܵܐ ܡܚܲܣܹܐ ܠܹܗ (canonical)
allāhā mḥassē lēh (romanization)

Literally, “May God absolve him.” Also found in Turoyo ܐܰܠܳܗܐ ܡܚܰܣܶܐ ܠܶܗ (aloho mḥase leh).

cog

ܐܰܠܳܗܐ ܡܚܰܣܶܐ ܠܶܗ

phrase used after a reference to a deceased man or boy


悲從中來

ㄅㄟ ㄘㄨㄥˊ ㄓㄨㄥ ㄌㄞˊ

бэйцунчжунлай

/peɪ̯⁵⁵ t͡sʰʊŋ³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʊŋ⁵⁵ laɪ̯³⁵/

/pei̯⁵⁵ t͡sʰʊŋ²¹ t͡sʊŋ⁵⁵ lɔːi̯²¹/

/peɪ̯⁵⁵ t͡sʰʊŋ³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʊŋ⁵⁵ laɪ̯³⁵/

/pei̯⁵⁵ t͡sʰʊŋ²¹ t͡sʊŋ⁵⁵ lɔːi̯²¹/

bottom of one's heart
bottom of one's heart

to feel sadness from the bottom of one's heart; to feel sorrow emanate from one's heart


caidé an dóigh atá ort

cad é an dóigh atá ort?
cad é an dóigh atá ort#Irish

Alternative spelling of cad é an dóigh atá ort?


cad é an dóigh atá ort

/kəˈdʲeː ənˠ d̪ˠoːj əˈt̪ˠaː ɔɾˠt̪ˠ/


一個招牌砸落嚟都砸死幾件

head

一個招牌砸落嚟都砸死幾件

一个招牌砸落嚟都砸死几件

even an advertisement sign falling down would kill several of them

jat¹ go³ ziu¹ paai⁴ zaak⁶ lok⁶ lei⁴ dou¹ zaak⁶ sei² gei² gin⁶

jat¹ go³ ziu¹ paai⁴ zaak⁶ lok⁶ lai⁴ dou¹ zaak⁶ sei² gei² gin⁶

yāt go jīu pàaih jaahk lohk lèih dōu jaahk séi géi gihn

yāt go jīu pàaih jaahk lohk làih dōu jaahk séi géi gihn

jat⁷ go³ dziu¹ paai⁴ dzaak⁹ lok⁹ lei⁴ dou¹ dzaak⁹ sei² gei² gin⁶

jat⁷ go³ dziu¹ paai⁴ dzaak⁹ lok⁹ lai⁴ dou¹ dzaak⁹ sei² gei² gin⁶

yed¹ go³ jiu¹ pai⁴ zag⁶ log⁶ léi⁴ dou¹ zag⁶ séi² géi² gin⁶

yed¹ go³ jiu¹ pai⁴ zag⁶ log⁶ lei⁴ dou¹ zag⁶ séi² géi² gin⁶

/jɐt̚⁵ kɔː³³ t͡siːu̯⁵⁵ pʰaːi̯²¹ t͡saːk̚² lɔːk̚² lei̯²¹ tou̯⁵⁵ t͡saːk̚² sei̯³⁵ kei̯³⁵ kiːn²²/

/jɐt̚⁵ kɔː³³ t͡siːu̯⁵⁵ pʰaːi̯²¹ t͡saːk̚² lɔːk̚² lɐi̯²¹ tou̯⁵⁵ t͡saːk̚² sei̯³⁵ kei̯³⁵ kiːn²²/

(Cantonese, of people) a dime a dozen; ten a penny


aika tavalla

Kiinalainen hygieniataso poikkeaa suomalaisesta aika tavalla.

The Chinese level of hygiene differs a lot from the Finnish one.


giống nhau như đúc

[zəwŋ͡m˧˦ ɲaw˧˧ ɲɨ˧˧ ʔɗʊwk͡p̚˧˦]

[jəwŋ͡m˦˧˥ ɲaw˧˧ ɲɨ˧˧ ʔɗʊwk͡p̚˦˧˥]

[jəwŋ͡m˦˥ ɲa(ː)w˧˧ ɲɨ˧˧ ʔɗʊwk͡p̚˦˥]

giống (“to resemble”) + nhau (“each other”) + như (“as if, like”) + đúc (“to cast, mold”).


tai qua nạn khỏi

[taːj˧˧ kwaː˧˧ naːn˧˨ʔ xɔj˧˩]

[taːj˧˧ kwaː˧˧ naːŋ˨˩ʔ kʰɔj˧˨]

[taːj˧˧ kwaː˧˧ naːŋ˨˩ʔ xɔj˧˨]

[taːj˧˧ waː˧˧ naːŋ˨˩˨ kʰɔj˨˩˦]

[taːj˧˧ waː˧˧ naːŋ˨˩˨ xɔj˨˩˦]

tai (“disaster (災)”) + qua (“to pass through (過)”) + nạn (“hardship (難)”) + khỏi (“to escape, recover from”).

af

disaster (<i class="Hani mention" lang="vi">災</i>)

to pass through (<i class="Hani mention" lang="vi">過</i>)

hardship (<i class="Hani mention" lang="vi">難</i>)

Khi con cháu ốm đau, các cụ già thường đến đền thờ cầu nguyện cho tai qua nạn khỏi.

When the children and grandchildren are sick, the old folks often go to the temple to pray for a full recovery.

to get out of danger; to get away unscathed


cad é mar tá tú

cad é mar atá tú?
cad é mar atá tú#Irish


老人變細蚊

/lou̯¹³ jɐn²¹ piːn³³ sɐi̯³³ mɐn⁵⁵/

/lou̯¹³ jɐn²¹ piːn³³ sɐi̯³³ mɐn⁵⁵/

(Cantonese) an elderly person acts like a child


妻離子散

ㄑㄧ ㄌㄧˊ ㄗˇ ㄙㄢˋ

/t͡ɕʰi⁵⁵ li³⁵ t͡sz̩²¹⁴⁻²¹ sän⁵¹/

/t͡sʰɐi̯⁵⁵ lei̯²¹ t͡siː³⁵ saːn³³/

/t͡ɕʰi⁵⁵ li³⁵ t͡sz̩²¹⁴⁻²¹ sän⁵¹/

/t͡sʰɐi̯⁵⁵ lei̯²¹ t͡siː³⁵ saːn³³/

The rulers of those States rob their people of their time, so that they cannot plough and weed their fields, in order to support their parents. Their parents suffer from cold and hunger. Brothers, wives, and children are separated and scattered abroad. Those rulers, as it were, drive their people into pit-falls, or drown them. Your Majesty will go to punish them. In such a case, who will oppose your Majesty?

Mencius, c. 4ᵗʰ century BCE, translated based on James Legge's version

Bǐ duó qí mín shí, shǐ bùdé gēng nòu yǐ yǎng qí fùmǔ, fùmǔ dòng'è, xiōngdì qīzǐ lísàn. Bǐ xiàn nì qí mín, wáng wǎng ér zhēng zhī, fú shuí yǔ wáng dí?

彼奪其民時，使不得耕耨以養其父母，父母凍餓，兄弟妻子離散。彼陷溺其民，王往而征之，夫誰與王敵？

彼夺其民时，使不得耕耨以养其父母，父母冻饿，兄弟妻子离散。彼陷溺其民，王往而征之，夫谁与王敌？


pmo

ock just pmo to the greatest chopped cheese i've ever had in my life

2022 November 7, @medicboogie, Twitter, archived from the original on 2023-08-19:

i miss u so much , i play the music u pmo to just to feel like u here 🕊

2022 November 15, @FanumTV, Twitter, archived from the original on 2023-08-19:

My nigga pmo to a song I got the lyrics memorized by the next day

2023 June 17, @aviahimdrunk, Twitter, archived from the original on 2023-08-19:

shout out missy for pmo to this beautiful song 👌🏾👌🏾👌🏾🤞🏽🤞🏽🤞🏽

2023 August 18, @keluziis, Twitter, archived from the original on 2023-08-19:

put/puts/putting me on (to)
put someone on to#English

(Internet slang) Initialism of put/puts/putting me on (to) (“to show; to draw someone's attention to something useful or interesting”).


senatus populusque romanus

[s̠ɛˈnäːt̪ʊs̠ pɔpʊˈɫ̪ʊs̠kʷɛ roːˈmäːnʊs̠]

From senātus (“senate”) populus (“people”) + -que (“and”) rōmānus (“Roman”). Hence literally, “The Roman Senate and People”.


貨不對板

ㄏㄨㄛˋ ㄅㄨˋ ㄉㄨㄟˋ ㄅㄢˇ

/xu̯ɔ⁵¹ pu⁵¹⁻³⁵ tu̯eɪ̯⁵¹ pän²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/fɔː³³ paːt̚⁵ tɵy̯³³ paːn²²⁻³⁵/

/xu̯ɔ⁵¹ pu⁵¹⁻³⁵ tu̯eɪ̯⁵¹ pän²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/fɔː³³ paːt̚⁵ tɵy̯³³ paːn²²⁻³⁵/

货不对板
貨不對版
貨不對辦

the goods do not match their descriptions


入不敷支

ㄖㄨˋ ㄅㄨˋ ㄈㄨ ㄓ

/ʐu⁵¹⁻⁵³ pu⁵¹ fu⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵/

/jɐp̚² pɐt̚⁵ fuː⁵⁵ t͡siː⁵⁵/

/ʐu⁵¹⁻⁵³ pu⁵¹ fu⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵/

/jɐp̚² pɐt̚⁵ fuː⁵⁵ t͡siː⁵⁵/

入不敷出 入不敷出#Chinese

Synonym of 入不敷出 (rùbùfūchū, “unable to make ends meet; income cannot cover expenditure; to spend more than one earns”)


與時並進

ㄩˇ ㄕˊ ㄅㄧㄥˋ ㄐㄧㄣˋ

юйшибинцзинь

/y²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʂʐ̩³⁵ piŋ⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡ɕin⁵¹/

/jyː¹³ siː²¹ pɪŋ²² t͡sɵn³³/

/y²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʂʐ̩³⁵ piŋ⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡ɕin⁵¹/

/jyː¹³ siː²¹ pɪŋ²² t͡sɵn³³/

與時俱進 與時俱進#Chinese

与时俱进 与时俱进#Chinese

Synonym of 與時俱進／与时俱进 (yǔshíjùjìn, “to move with the times; to keep abreast of current developments”)


I'll tell you what

My lord, I'll tell you what;/ If my young lord your son have not the day,/ Upon mine honour, for a silken point/ I'll give my barony: never talk of it.

c. 1596–1599 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Second Part of Henry the Fourth, […]”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act I, scene i]:


drumroll, please

And the winner is... drumroll, please... Eric!

Used to build up to a climactic pronouncement.


המבין יבין

if you know, you know
if you know, you know


if that's not

head

if that's not... (past tense if that wasn't)

if that's not ... (canonical)
if that wasn't (past)

Shortened from if that's not ___, I don't know what is! or similar construction.

Well if that's not the cutest McDonald's I've seen in my lifeǃ

expresses that something is obviously a genuine instance of something else.


rullo di tamburi

Literally, “roll of drums.” Compare French roulement de tambour.


sug min balle

sug (“suck”) + min (“my”) + balle (“schlong, cock”)


大安旨意

/taːi̯²² ɔːn⁵⁵ t͡siː³⁵ jiː³³/

/taːi̯²² ɔːn⁵⁵ t͡siː³⁵ jiː³³/

(Cantonese) to have a false sense of security; to assume that there is no risk or danger


誇誇其談

ㄎㄨㄚ ㄎㄨㄚ ㄑㄧˊ ㄊㄢˊ

куакуацитань

/kʰu̯ä⁵⁵ kʰu̯ä⁵⁵ t͡ɕʰi³⁵ tʰän³⁵/

/kʷʰaː⁵⁵ kʷʰaː⁵⁵ kʰei̯²¹ tʰaːm²¹/

/kʰu̯ä⁵⁵ kʰu̯ä⁵⁵ t͡ɕʰi³⁵ tʰän³⁵/

/kʷʰaː⁵⁵ kʷʰaː⁵⁵ kʰei̯²¹ tʰaːm²¹/


汲汲營營

ㄐㄧˊ ㄐㄧˊ ㄧㄥˊ ㄧㄥˊ

/t͡ɕi³⁵ t͡ɕi³⁵ iŋ³⁵ iŋ³⁵/

/kʰɐp̚⁵ kʰɐp̚⁵ jɪŋ²¹ jɪŋ²¹/

/t͡ɕi³⁵ t͡ɕi³⁵ iŋ³⁵ iŋ³⁵/

/kʰɐp̚⁵ kʰɐp̚⁵ jɪŋ²¹ jɪŋ²¹/

to be continuously busy pursuing fame and fortune

(Taiwan, Internet slang, neologism) Alternative form of 雞雞硬硬／鸡鸡硬硬 (jījī yìng yìng, “having a boner”)


行得正企得正

/haːŋ²¹ tɐk̚⁵ t͡sɛːŋ³³ kʰei̯¹³ tɐk̚⁵ t͡sɛːŋ³³/

(Cantonese) to act in a proper manner; to behave beyond reproach


YKW

(Internet slang, text messaging) Initialism of you know what.


皇帝唔急太監急

/wɔːŋ²¹ tɐi̯³³ m̩²¹ kɐp̚⁵ tʰaːi̯³³ kaːm³³ kɐp̚⁵/

(figurative) The person involved is calm and collected, but observers are very worried.


shining, shimmering, splendid

LL-Q1860 (eng)-Flame, not lame-shining, shimmering, splendid.wav

A lyric from "A Whole New World", the signature song from Disney's Aladdin (1992).

Shining, shimmering, splendid! she thought. The memory of watching that on VHS brought on the chuckles and she couldn't hold them back.

2012 June 1, M. J. Haider, Put Him Out for Good, →ISBN, page 228:

Soos: What is this new world? Shining, shimmering, splendid!

2015 November 23, "Weirdmageddon 2: Escape from Reality", season 2, episode 19 of Gravity Falls

Curiel's cloud was golden—shining, shimmering, splendid golden.

2018 April 24, E. L. Hound, The Heart of Time: An Almostbiography, page 14:

(often humorous) Something that is extraordinary, captivating or spectacular.

A Whole New World
Aladdin (1992 Disney film)


in Reinkultur

/ɪnˈʁaɪ̯nkʊlˌtuːɐ̯/

to a level or degree that cannot be surpassed


צום קל

צוֹם קַל (canonical)
tsom kal (romanization)


雞口牛後

CJKV/code

Sino-Xenic (雞口牛後):
* → Korean: 계구우후(雞口牛後) (gyeguuhu)

ㄐㄧ ㄎㄡˇ ㄋㄧㄡˊ ㄏㄡˋ

/t͡ɕi⁵⁵ kʰoʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ni̯oʊ̯³⁵ xoʊ̯⁵¹/

/t͡ɕi⁵⁵ kʰoʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ni̯oʊ̯³⁵ xoʊ̯⁵¹/

寧為雞口，無為牛後 寧為雞口，無為牛後#Chinese

宁为鸡口，无为牛后 宁为鸡口，无为牛后#Chinese

Synonym of 寧為雞口，無為牛後／宁为鸡口，无为牛后 (níng wéi jīkǒu, wú wéi niúhòu)


how see

Calque of Cantonese 點睇／点睇 (“what does sb. think”, literally “how does sb. view something”).

calque

How see this post?
What do you think of this post?

(Hong Kong, informal, Internet slang, text messaging) what do you think?, what say you?


YKINMKBYKIOK

You remember, YKINMKBYKIOK, don't you? Well, it's her kink, and it's okay.

1998 April 14, TyMeDwn1st, “::grumbles:: Stupid checker....”, in soc.subculture.bondage-bdsm (Usenet):

You must be younger and/or in better shape than me. Good for you, I guess.:-) YKINMKBYKIOK and all that.;-)

2002 December 11, Rosy B. Goode, “Video Licensing Act”, in soc.sexuality.spanking (Usenet):

I can see where you are coming from. I have to admit that I am personally not too concerned with the severity change. Given it is not release critical, it is not going to throw packages out of testing or anything like that. But as Enrico taught us: YKINMKBYKIOK :)

2015 August 24, Niels Thykier, “Raising the severity of reproduciblity issues to "important"”, in linux.debian.devel (Usenet):

(Internet slang) Initialism of your kink is not my kink, but your kink is OK: an acknowledgement that people have different sexual preferences.


через не могу

head

че́рез не могу́

че́рез не могу́ • (čérez ne mogú)

че́рез не могу́ (canonical)
čérez ne mogú (romanization)

[ˈt͡ɕerʲɪs nʲɪ‿mɐˈɡu]

Я допила чайный квас до дна через не могу

I drank up the whole kombucha despite all struggles with it

Ja dopila čajnyj kvas do dna čerez ne mogu

Эту формулу я не вызубрил даже через не могу

I've not managed to learn this (mathematical) formula, even when I tried my best

Etu formulu ja ne vyzubril daže čerez ne mogu


vom Fleck weg

Sie war so beeindruckt von seinen Fähigkeiten, dass sie ihn vom Fleck weg engagierte.

She was so impressed with his skills that she hired him on the spot.


互不相讓

ㄏㄨˋ ㄅㄨˋ ㄒㄧㄤ ㄖㄤˋ

/xu⁵¹⁻⁵³ pu⁵¹ ɕi̯ɑŋ⁵⁵ ʐɑŋ⁵¹/

/xu⁵¹⁻⁵³ pu⁵¹ ɕi̯ɑŋ⁵⁵ ʐɑŋ⁵¹/


добре дошли

добре́ дошли́

добре́ дошли́

добре́ дошли́ • (dobré došlí) (добре́ дошли́)

добре́ дошли́ (canonical)
dobré došlí (romanization)


добре дошъл

добре́ дошъ́л

добре́ дошъ́л

добре́ дошъ́л • (dobré došǎ́l) (добре́ дошъ́л)

добре́ дошъ́л (canonical)
dobré došǎ́l (romanization)


naragsak a Paskua

ilo-head

naragsak a Paskua (Kur-itan spelling ᜈᜎᜄ᜔ᜐᜃ᜔ ᜀ ᜉᜐ᜔ᜃᜓᜀ)

naragsak a Paskua ken naragsak a Baro a Tawen


добре дошла

head

добре́ дошла́

добре́ дошла́

добре́ дошла́ • (dobré došlá) (добре́ дошла́)

добре́ дошла́ (canonical)
dobré došlá (romanization)


一句起，兩句止

start from first sentence and stop at second sentence

/jɐt̚⁵ kɵy̯³³ hei̯³⁵ lœːŋ¹³ kɵy̯³³ t͡siː³⁵/

(Cantonese) unable to maintain a long conversation


million and one

How many teardrops / Have I cried over you / A million and one / A million and two

1966, “A Million and One”, Yvonne Devaney (lyrics), performed by Billy Walker:

A million and one reasons why going into business with a friend is doomed to failure.

1987, Linder Pender, “The Partners: Profiting Through Teamwork”, in Cincinnati Magazine, volume 20, number 12, page 39:

There is absolutely no end to the things that one can hear and see in Paris—and I have a million and one things that I want to see before I have to leave.

2012, Lee Erwin, edited by Micheal Hix, An American Organist in Paris: The Letters of Lee Orville Erwin, 1930-1931, Scarecrow Press, →ISBN, page 82:

thousand and one
thousand and one#English


please find attached

Please find attached the amended employment contract.

(formal) The following item or items are attached to this message.


kuin puujumala Piikkiön kirkossa

(simile) very serious(ly) or stern(ly) (of a facial expression)


kauhistuksen kanahäkki

(idiomatic, often humorous) holy ravioli


kuin Manulle illallinen

Literally, “like dinner/supper to Manu” (as in it's as obvious as that Manu deserves his dinner); Manu is perhaps from an archaic manu (“handyman”), possibly from Swedish man (“man”), but has been folk-etymologically associated with the nickname Manu.


一枝竹篙壓倒一船人

一枝竹篙压倒一船人
一枝竹篙摃倒一船人
一枝竹篙壓倒一船載

/t͡sit̚⁴⁻³² ki⁴⁴⁻³³ tiɪk̚³²⁻⁴ kɤ⁴⁴ a(ʔ)³²⁻⁴¹ tɤ⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ t͡sit̚⁴⁻³² t͡sun²³⁻³³ laŋ²³/

/t͡sit̚⁴⁻³² ki⁴⁴⁻³³ tiɪk̚³²⁻⁴ ko⁴⁴ a(ʔ)³²⁻⁵³ to⁵³⁻⁴⁴ t͡sit̚⁴⁻³² t͡sun²⁴⁻¹¹ laŋ²⁴/

/t͡sit̚⁴⁻³² ki⁴⁴⁻²² tiɪk̚³²⁻⁴ ko⁴⁴ a(ʔ)³²⁻⁵³ to⁵³⁻⁴⁴ t͡sit̚⁴⁻³² t͡sun²⁴⁻²² laŋ²⁴/

tar everyone with the same brush
tar with the same brush

(Southern Min) to tar everyone with the same brush


無彼號尻川，想欲食彼號瀉藥

無彼號尻川，想欲食彼號瀉藥

无彼号尻川，想欲食彼号泻药
無彼種尻川，想欲食彼種瀉藥

want to take that kind of laxative without such a kind of buttocks

/bo²⁴⁻¹¹ hit̚³²⁻⁴ lo³³⁻¹¹ kʰa⁴⁴⁻³³ t͡sʰŋ̍⁴⁴ siũ³³⁻¹¹ be(ʔ)³²⁻⁵³ t͡sia(ʔ)⁴⁻¹¹ hit̚³²⁻⁴ lo³³⁻¹¹ sia¹¹⁻⁵³ ioʔ⁴/

/bɤ²³⁻³³ hit̚³²⁻⁴ lɤ³³⁻²¹ kʰa⁴⁴⁻³³ t͡sʰŋ̍⁴⁴ siũ³³⁻²¹ be(ʔ)³²⁻⁴¹ t͡sia(ʔ)⁴⁻²¹ hit̚³²⁻⁴ lɤ³³⁻²¹ sia²¹⁻⁴¹ iɤʔ⁴/

/bo²⁴⁻²² hit̚³²⁻⁴ lo²²⁻²¹ kʰa⁴⁴⁻²² t͡sʰŋ̍⁴⁴ siũ²²⁻²¹ be(ʔ)³²⁻⁵³ t͡sia(ʔ)⁴⁻²¹ hit̚³²⁻⁴ lo²²⁻²¹ sia²¹⁻⁵³ ioʔ⁴/

(Southern Min) to want to do something without the ability

冇咁大個頭，唔好戴咁大頂帽／冇咁大个头，唔好戴咁大顶帽

mou5 gam3 daai6 go3 tau4, m4 hou2 daai3 gam3 daai6 deng2 mou6-2


bách phát bách trúng

[ʔɓajk̟̚˧˦ faːt̚˧˦ ʔɓajk̟̚˧˦ t͡ɕʊwŋ͡m˧˦]

[ʔɓat̚˦˧˥ faːk̚˦˧˥ ʔɓat̚˦˧˥ ʈʊwŋ͡m˦˧˥]

[ʔɓat̚˦˥ faːk̚˦˥ ʔɓat̚˦˥ ʈʊwŋ͡m˦˥]

LL-Q9199 (vie)-Penn Zero MSSJ-bách phát bách trúng.wav

Sino-Vietnamese word from 百 (“hundred”), 發 (“shots”), 百 and 中 (“hits”), from Chinese 百發百中／百发百中 (bǎifābǎizhòng, “a hundred shots, a hundred hits”).

der

the person in question is a highly skilled marksman and they almost never miss


嚼完鬆

/t͡siːu̯²² jyːn²¹ sʊŋ⁵⁵/

/t͡siːu̯²² jyːn²¹ sʊŋ⁵⁵/

(Cantonese) to hump and dump; to smash and dash


病榻纏綿

ㄅㄧㄥˋ ㄊㄚˋ ㄔㄢˊ ㄇㄧㄢˊ

бинтачаньмянь

/piŋ⁵¹⁻⁵³ tʰä⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʰän³⁵ mi̯ɛn³⁵/

/piŋ⁵¹⁻⁵³ tʰä⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʰän³⁵ mi̯ɛn³⁵/

bedridden (from illness) for a long time


what someone is about

to see what someone is about

I'd like to know what this guy's about.

I wonder what this person is about.

What someone is like; someone's character; someone's intentions, interests or purpose in life.


其樂融融

ㄑㄧˊ ㄌㄜˋ ㄖㄨㄥˊ ㄖㄨㄥˊ

/t͡ɕʰi³⁵ lɤ⁵¹ ʐʊŋ³⁵ ʐʊŋ³⁵/

/kʰei̯²¹ lɔːk̚² jʊŋ²¹ jʊŋ²¹/

/t͡ɕʰi³⁵ lɤ⁵¹ ʐʊŋ³⁵ ʐʊŋ³⁵/

/kʰei̯²¹ lɔːk̚² jʊŋ²¹ jʊŋ²¹/

From Zuo Zhuan. Duke Zhuang of Zheng had exiled his mother and swore that he shall not see her until he "reaches the yellow spring (黃泉)", i.e. until he dies. But then he repented this. An officer, Ying Kao Shu, had a solution (《左傳·隱公元年》)

"Why should you be distressed about that?" said the officer. "If you dig into the earth to the yellow springs, and then make a subterranean passage, where you can meet each other, who can say that your oath is not fulfilled?" The duke followed this suggestion; and as he entered the passage sang, "This great tunnel, within, With joy doth run." When his mother came out, she sang, "This great tunnel, without, The joy flies about." After this, they were mother and son as before.

Commentary of Zuo, c. 4ᵗʰ century BCE, translated based on James Legge's version

Duì yuē: “Jūn hé huàn yān? Ruò què dì jí quán, suì ér xiàngjiàn, qí shéi yuē bùrán?” Gōng cóng zhī. Gōng rù ér fù: “Dà suì zhī zhōng, qí lè yě róngróng!” Jiāng chū ér fù: “Dà suì zhī wài, qí lè yě yìyì!” Suì wéi mǔzǐ rú chū.

對曰：「君何患焉？若闕地及泉，隧而相見，其誰曰不然？」公從之。公入而賦：「大隧之中，其樂也融融！」姜出而賦：「大隧之外，其樂也洩洩！」遂為母子如初。

对曰：「君何患焉？若阙地及泉，隧而相见，其谁曰不然？」公从之。公入而赋：「大隧之中，其乐也融融！」姜出而赋：「大隧之外，其乐也泄泄！」遂为母子如初。


물 만난 고기

Literally "a fish meeting water", compare Chinese 如魚得水／如鱼得水 (rúyúdéshuǐ) and Japanese 水(みず)を得(え)た魚(うお) (mizu o eta uo)

zh-l

如魚得水／如鱼得水 (rúyúdéshuǐ)

(idiomatic) to find oneself in a suitable environment where one can perform well, up someone's alley, in one's element


非異人任

ㄈㄟ ㄧˋ ㄖㄣˊ ㄖㄣˋ

фэйижэньжэнь

fɛjižɛnʹžɛnʹ

/feɪ̯⁵⁵ i⁵¹ ʐən³⁵ ʐən⁵¹/

/fei̯⁵⁵ jiː²² jɐn²¹ jɐm²²/

/feɪ̯⁵⁵ i⁵¹ ʐən³⁵ ʐən⁵¹/

/fei̯⁵⁵ jiː²² jɐn²¹ jɐm²²/


神又係……，鬼又係……

The god is someone, the demon is someone too

/sɐn²¹ jɐu̯²² hɐi̯²² kʷɐi̯³⁵ jɐu̯²² hɐi̯²²/

(Cantonese) One is both the hero and the villain. (Used to describe two-faced people)

(Cantonese) Used when someone says self-contradictory things.


一親芳澤

ㄧ ㄑㄧㄣ ㄈㄤ ㄗㄜˊ

/i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ t͡ɕʰin⁵⁵ fɑŋ⁵⁵ t͡sɤ³⁵/

/jɐt̚⁵ t͡sʰɐn⁵⁵ fɔːŋ⁵⁵ t͡saːk̚²/

/i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ t͡ɕʰin⁵⁵ fɑŋ⁵⁵ t͡sɤ³⁵/

/jɐt̚⁵ t͡sʰɐn⁵⁵ fɔːŋ⁵⁵ t͡saːk̚²/

to get close to; to get on intimate terms with (someone or something that one likes)


毀家紓難

ㄏㄨㄟˇ ㄐㄧㄚ ㄕㄨ ㄋㄢˋ

хуэйцзяшунань

/xu̯eɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕi̯ä⁵⁵ ʂu⁵⁵ nän⁵¹/

/wɐi̯³⁵ kaː⁵⁵ syː⁵⁵ naːn²¹/

/xu̯eɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕi̯ä⁵⁵ ʂu⁵⁵ nän⁵¹/

/wɐi̯³⁵ kaː⁵⁵ syː⁵⁵ naːn²¹/

lang

(《左傳·莊公三十年》)

(《左傳·莊公三十年》)

In autumn, Dou Ban (w:zh:鬬班), duke of Shen, put Ziyuan (w:zh:子元) to death. Dou Guwutu (w:zh:鬬㝅於菟) became chief minister, and emptied his house of everything to alleviate the difficulties of the State.

Qiū, Shēn Gōng Dǒu Bān shā Zǐyuán, Dǒu Gǔwūtú wéi lìngyǐn, zì huǐ qí jiā yǐ shū Chǔ guó zhī nàn.

秋，申公鬭班殺子元，鬭谷於菟爲令尹，自毀其家以紓楚國之難。

秋，申公鬭班杀子元，鬭谷於菟为令尹，自毁其家以纾楚国之难。

sacrifice one's family wealth to save the state


OS&D

(logistics) Initialism of over, short and damaged.


人如其名

ㄖㄣˊ ㄖㄨˊ ㄑㄧˊ ㄇㄧㄥˊ

/ʐən³⁵ ʐu³⁵ t͡ɕʰi³⁵ miŋ³⁵/

/ʐən³⁵ ʐu³⁵ t͡ɕʰi³⁵ miŋ³⁵/

to live up to one's name; true to one's name


Used since the 1990s. From the number of letters in each word of the phrase.

143 637 ― I love you always and forever

AZN pride 637

(chiefly pager slang) always and forever


蠨蛸滿堂

ㄒㄧㄠ ㄕㄠ ㄇㄢˇ ㄊㄤˊ

сяошаоманьтан

/ɕi̯ɑʊ̯⁵⁵ ʂɑʊ̯⁵⁵ män²¹⁴⁻²¹ tʰɑŋ³⁵/

/ɕi̯ɑʊ̯⁵⁵ ʂɑʊ̯⁵⁵ män²¹⁴⁻²¹ tʰɑŋ³⁵/


蝸步龜移

ㄨㄛ ㄅㄨˋ ㄍㄨㄟ ㄧˊ

ㄍㄨㄚ ㄅㄨˋ ㄍㄨㄟ ㄧˊ

/wɔ⁵⁵ pu⁵¹ ku̯eɪ̯⁵⁵ i³⁵/

/ku̯ä⁵⁵ pu⁵¹ ku̯eɪ̯⁵⁵ i³⁵/

/wɔ⁵⁵ pu⁵¹ ku̯eɪ̯⁵⁵ i³⁵/

/ku̯ä⁵⁵ pu⁵¹ ku̯eɪ̯⁵⁵ i³⁵/


fr-phrase

cela m'en touche une sans faire bouger l'autre

cela m’en touche une sans faire bouger l’autre

Literally "it touches one [of my testicles] without moving the other". Of pied noir origin. Popularised by Jacques Chirac, who used it in November 1987 to express his indifference to criticism from François Mitterrand.

like water off a duck's back
like water off a duck's back

(vulgar, idiomatic) I don't give a fuck; it's like water off a duck's back to me

ça m’en touche une sans faire bouger l’autre

ça m’en touche une sans me bouger l’autre


lock it in, Eddie

A phrase commonly used by contestants on the Australian version of the Who Wants to Be a Millionaire? gameshow, hosted by Eddie McGuire. See Who Wants to Be a Millionaire? on Wikipedia.Wikipedia

pedia

Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?#Catchphrase

You can register here. Session will be delivered via Teams. Lock it in Eddie.

2023 August 22, Gareth Furber, Flinders University:

No idea who either of them are, but it's a rumour on the internet so it's got to be 100% legit. Lock it in Eddie.

Once we’ve met, you'll need to pay the non-refundable retainer to lock it in Eddie!

We have a winner. Dual Brownlow medallist. Lock it in Eddie.

(Australia) Used to signal certainty, commitment.


不棄糟糠

ㄅㄨˋ ㄑㄧˋ ㄗㄠ ㄎㄤ

/pu⁵¹⁻³⁵ t͡ɕʰi⁵¹ t͡sɑʊ̯⁵⁵ kʰɑŋ⁵⁵/

/pu⁵¹⁻³⁵ t͡ɕʰi⁵¹ t͡sɑʊ̯⁵⁵ kʰɑŋ⁵⁵/

糟糠之妻不下堂 糟糠之妻不下堂#Chinese

Synonym of 糟糠之妻不下堂 (zāokāng zhī qī bù xiàtáng).


與狐謀皮

ㄩˇ ㄏㄨˊ ㄇㄡˊ ㄆㄧˊ

/y²¹⁴⁻²¹ xu³⁵ moʊ̯³⁵ pʰi³⁵/

/jyː¹³ wuː²¹ mɐu̯²¹ pʰei̯²¹/

/y²¹⁴⁻²¹ xu³⁵ moʊ̯³⁵ pʰi³⁵/

/jyː¹³ wuː²¹ mɐu̯²¹ pʰei̯²¹/

Quoted from Zuo Qiuming, the author of Master Zuo's Spring and Autumn Annals

There was a man from Zhou who loved fur coats and delicacies. He would ask foxes for their skin for splendid fur coats, and ask lambs for its meat to make a feast. But before he finished saying this, the foxes fled to under mountains following each other, and the lambs hid themselves deep in forests whining. As a results, that man from Zhou could never make a coat even after ten years, and could never have a feast even after five years. Why? It was because he discussed with the wrong person.

Taiping Yulan (Readings of the Taiping Era), 977 – 983 CE

Zhōu rén yǒu ài qiú ér hǎo zhēnxiū, yù wèi qiānjīn zhī qiú ér yǔ hú móu qí pí, yù jù shàoláo zhī zhēn ér yǔ yáng móu qí xiū. Yán wèi zú, hú xiàng lǜ táo yú zhòng qiū zhīxià, yáng xiàng hū cáng yú shēnlín zhī zhōng. Gù zhōu rén shí nián bù zhì yī qiú, wǔ nián bù jù yī láo. Hézhě? Zhōu rén zhī móu shī zhī yǐ.

周人有愛裘而好珍羞，欲為千金之裘而與狐謀其皮，欲具少牢之珍而與羊謀其羞。言未卒，狐相率逃於重丘之下，羊相呼藏於深林之中。故周人十年不制一裘，五年不具一牢。何者？周人之謀失之矣。

周人有爱裘而好珍羞，欲为千金之裘而与狐谋其皮，欲具少牢之珍而与羊谋其羞。言未卒，狐相率逃于重丘之下，羊相呼藏于深林之中。故周人十年不制一裘，五年不具一牢。何者？周人之谋失之矣。

與虎謀皮 與虎謀皮#Chinese

与虎谋皮 与虎谋皮#Chinese


al la fiŝo ne instruu naĝarton

Literally, “don't teach the art of swimming to the fish”.

lit

don't try to teach grandma how to suck eggs


karjan kynteen

(idiomatic) of a brief rain shower in the morning, originally as the cows are going to pasture


faire les cent dix-neuf coups

Nana, ravie de voir ses parents se manger, se sentant excusée à l’avance, commettait les cent dix-neuf coups.

[S]i dans un concert de charité elles apercevaient Mme Swann, elles détournaient la tête jugeant impossible de saluer sous les yeux de Mme de Rochechouart, une femme qui était bien capable d’être allée à Bayreuth – ce qui voulait dire faire les cent dix-neuf coups.

1921, Marcel Proust, Sodome et Gomorrhe:

faire les quatre cents coups
faire les quatre cents coups#French

Obsolete form of faire les quatre cents coups.


да так

head

да та́к • (da ták)

да та́к (canonical)
da ták (romanization)

Чё тако́е? — Да так. ― Čo takóje? — Da tak. ― What's going on? — Oh, nothing.

Куда́ э́то ты идёшь? — Да так, я про́сто гуля́ю. ― Kudá éto ty idjóšʹ? — Da tak, ja prósto guljáju. ― Where are you going? — Oh, nowhere, I'm just walking.

Чем тебе́ э́то не понра́вилось? — Да так. ― Čem tebé éto ne ponrávilosʹ? — Da tak. ― Why didn't you like it? — Oh, no particular reason.

Как дела́? — Да так. ― Kak delá? — Da tak. ― How are you? — Oh, fine, I guess.

(colloquial) oh, nothing (special); oh, no one (special); oh, nowhere (special); oh, no reason; etc. (Used as a dismissive or unwilling response)


the turns have tabled

LL-Q1860 (eng)-Flame, not lame-the turns have tabled.wav

Modeled on "the tables have turned," it emerged shortly after the similar phrase "how the turntables," which originates from the episode “Broke” of the American mockumentary sitcom television series The Office, which aired on 23 April 2009.

Ohhh how the turns have tabled

2009 April 28, @thecarissaclark, Twitter, archived from the original on 2024-07-22:

The turns have tabled on this glorious fable.

2010, Ross M. Hudson, “No Air Play”, in Paid Admission for One: Collected Poems and Prose, […], page 33:

i say 'turns have tabled' a lot and now it feels weird to say 'tables have turned'and it seems like the turns have tabled indeed idk why im tweeting this

2020 August 13, @AshkeaKurt, Twitter, archived from the original on 2023-08-29:

Just four months ago, Ubisoft seemingly had no plans to release a third season pass for Anno 1800, at least according to comments made by brand manager Marcel Hatam(opens in new tab) at the time. But with the success of Season 2, the turns have tabled, and Season 3 has become a reality.

2020 November 19, Malindy Hetfeld, “Anno 1800 announces Season 3 pass with beautiful teaser”, in PC Gamer, archived from the original on 2023-01-28:

Its almost as if the turns have tabled as well in this regard. We want more gaming functionality in our portable multimedia devices.

2021 April 7, u/godcheese, “The Rise and Fall of Multimedia Gaming Devices”, in Reddit, r/truegaming, archived from the original on 2023-08-29:

But I thought if they took a "break" they would give others a chance... oh how the turns have tabled

2022 June 21, @JoseOchoaTV, Twitter, archived from the original on 2023-08-29:

the tables have turned
the tables have turned#English

(Internet slang, humorous) Synonym of the tables have turned.


beauty is in the eye of the beer holder

A jocular play on the phrase beauty is in the eye of the beholder. First use appears c. 1972, although the exact date of its first appearance and its author are uncertain.

REGULARS at the 760 Scottish and Newcastle pubs in the North-East have been asked to nominate their best-looking barmaid for a bonny barmaid contest. Up to now, I learn, a fair number of the 100 or so females entered for the £100 top prize are considerably on the wrong side of 40. “Mind,” says a brewery spokesman, “some of them are very attractive indeed. They’ll give the younger girls a run for their money.” Anyway, it just goes to prove what I’ve always said: Beauty is in the eye of the beer holder.

1972 October 20, Mike Amos, “It just goes to prove…”, in The Northern Echo, 3 A.M. edition, number 31,924, Darlington, County Durham, page 12, column 8:

1997, Department of Natural Resources, Division of Forestry (publisher), Roots, page 7:

We noticed a T-shirt for sale at one of the bars that said, "Beauty is in the eye of the beer holder."

1999, Janet Kuypers, Changing Gears, page 99:

A sign on the wall said, "BEAUTY IS IN THE EYE OF THE BEER HOLDER." I looked over at the man who'd recommended the Hef.

2008, Daryl Farmer, Bicycling Beyond the Divide - Two Journeys Into the West, page 143:

"If you want beer puns, I can go on forever," Mac said, raising his pint glass. "Like, Beauty is in the eye of the beer holder." He glanced in my direction. I glared at him.

2018, Ellie Alexander, The Pint of No Return - A Mystery:

If you thought beauty was in the eye of the beer holder, think again.

2023 August 30, Linda Geddes, “‘Beer goggles’ study finds alcohol does not make people seem better looking”, in The Guardian, →ISSN:

(humorous) One's perception of beauty is influenced by the consumption of alcohol.


ці што

ці што • (ci što)

or something, perhaps, maybe, as if (or something like that - usually used in a question)


mẹwaa n ṣẹlẹ

mẹ́wàá ń ṣẹlẹ̀

mẹ́wàá ń ṣẹlẹ̀

yo-pos

mẹ́wàá ń ṣẹlẹ̀

mẹ́wàá ń ṣẹlẹ̀

/mɛ́.ꜜwá ŋ́ ʃɛ̄.lɛ̀/

Mẹ́wàá ń ṣẹlẹ̀ ní dúníyàn.

Mẹ́wàá ń ṣẹlẹ̀ lórí ayélujára.

(idiomatic) so much drama is happening; trouble is going down; scandalous events are taking place.


head

rin in die Kartoffeln, raus aus die Kartoffeln

rin in die Kartoffeln, raus aus den Kartoffeln#German

Alternative form of rin in die Kartoffeln, raus aus den Kartoffeln


口同鼻拗

/hɐu̯³⁵ tʰʊŋ²¹ pei̯²² aːu̯³³/

/hɐu̯³⁵ tʰʊŋ²¹ pei̯²² aːu̯³³/

(Cantonese) to have unnecessary strife within a group of people

(Cantonese) to have a pointless argument because neither side can prove their point


哀爸叫母

/ai⁴⁴⁻³³ pe³³⁻¹¹ kio¹¹⁻⁵³ bu⁵³/

/ai⁴⁴⁻³³ pe³³⁻²¹ kiɤ²¹⁻⁴¹ bu⁴¹/

/ai⁴⁴⁻³³ pe³³⁻¹¹ kio¹¹⁻⁵³ bo⁵³/

/ai⁴⁴⁻³³ pe³³⁻²¹ kiɤ²¹⁻⁴¹ bɤ⁴¹/

/ai⁴⁴⁻³³ pe³³⁻¹¹ kio¹¹⁻⁵³ bu⁵³/

/ai⁴⁴⁻³³ pe³³⁻²¹ kiɤ²¹⁻⁴¹ bu⁴¹/

/ai⁴⁴⁻³³ pe³³⁻¹¹ kio¹¹⁻⁵³ bo⁵³/

/ai⁴⁴⁻³³ pe³³⁻²¹ kiɤ²¹⁻⁴¹ bɤ⁴¹/

(Hokkien, vulgar) to be full of complaints; to complain to high heaven; to complain bitterly


rin in die Kartoffeln, raus aus den Kartoffeln

Rin in die Kartoffeln, raus aus die Kartoffeln: Christa Wolf ist nach gut einem Jahr wieder zum Luchterhand Verlag zurückgekehrt und verläßt Kiepenheuer & Witsch damit.

1995 April 21, “Unterm Strich”, in Die Tageszeitung: taz, →ISSN, page 16:

(colloquial) back and forth, merry-go-round (meaningless cycle; a bustle of activity that gets nowhere)


懵到上心口

/mʊŋ³⁵ tou̯³³ sœːŋ¹³ sɐm⁵⁵ hɐu̯³⁵/

/mʊŋ³⁵ tou̯³³ sœːŋ¹³ sɐm⁵⁵ hɐu̯³⁵/

(Cantonese) to be extremely muddleheaded or foolish


飽到上心口

/paːu̯³⁵ tou̯³³ sœːŋ¹³ sɐm⁵⁵ hɐu̯³⁵/

/paːu̯³⁵ tou̯³³ sœːŋ¹³ sɐm⁵⁵ hɐu̯³⁵/

(Cantonese) to be very full (after a meal)


હું શાકાહારી છું

હું શાકાહારી છું • (hũ śākāhārī chũ)


出神入化

ㄔㄨ ㄕㄣˊ ㄖㄨˋ ㄏㄨㄚˋ

/ʈ͡ʂʰu⁵⁵ ʂən³⁵ ʐu⁵¹⁻⁵³ xu̯ä⁵¹/

/t͡sʰɵt̚⁵ sɐn²¹ jɐp̚² faː³³/

/ʈ͡ʂʰu⁵⁵ ʂən³⁵ ʐu⁵¹⁻⁵³ xu̯ä⁵¹/

/t͡sʰɵt̚⁵ sɐn²¹ jɐp̚² faː³³/


香車寶馬

ㄒㄧㄤ ㄔㄜ ㄅㄠˇ ㄇㄚˇ

/ɕi̯ɑŋ⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰɤ⁵⁵ pɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻³⁵ mä²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/hœːŋ⁵⁵ t͡sʰɛː⁵⁵ pou̯³⁵ maː¹³/

/hœːŋ⁵⁵ t͡sʰɛː⁵⁵ pou̯³⁵ maː¹³/

寶馬香車 寶馬香車#Chinese

宝马香车 宝马香车#Chinese

Alternative form of 寶馬香車／宝马香车 (bǎomǎ xiāngchē, “lavishly decorated carriages and horses”)


寶馬香車

ㄅㄠˇ ㄇㄚˇ ㄒㄧㄤ ㄔㄜ

/pɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻³⁵ mä²¹⁴⁻²¹ ɕi̯ɑŋ⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰɤ⁵⁵/

/pou̯³⁵ maː¹³ hœːŋ⁵⁵ t͡sʰɛː⁵⁵/

/pɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻³⁵ mä²¹⁴⁻²¹ ɕi̯ɑŋ⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰɤ⁵⁵/

/pou̯³⁵ maː¹³ hœːŋ⁵⁵ t͡sʰɛː⁵⁵/


count 'em

Passing the Congregation Shearith Israel on Central Park West (a white whale of a building with a triangular pediment supported by four count ’em four massive Corinthian columns), Professor Solanka scurrying through the downpour remembered the newly bat-mitzvahed thirteen-year-old girl he’d glimpsed through the side door, […]

2001, Salman Rushdie, Fury: A Novel, London: Jonathan Cape, →ISBN, page 5:

Once I went to Greece with a man who had left his wife and six—count 'em, six—children.

2001, Suzanne Ostro, “Antisocial Baby Notes”, in Rochelle Ratner, editor, Bearing Life: Women's Writings on Childlessness, page 66:

(informal) Emphasizes a number; literally, check the number yourself.


the spirit moves someone

Reflecting the senses of spirit as enthusiasm, as energy or will ( ≈ notion), or as mood (compare in the mood); sometimes also taken to be a reference to the Holy Spirit.

'I may possibly say a few words,' said Psmith carelessly, 'if the spirit moves me. Who am I that I should deny people a simple pleasure?'

1910, P. G. Wodehouse, Psmith in the City:

Let me say that we are open at this point for questions and let's have an interchange as the spirit moves you with respect to bringing out whatever points you are interested in.

1963, United States. Congress. House. Committee on Foreign Affairs, Winning the Cold War: The U.S. Ideological Offensive, page 218:

Don't just think about the content of your publication whenever the spirit moves you. Think content FIRST. Then think about HOW you can present all that good CONTENT with some contemporary design strategies.

1984, Military Media Review, volume 11, number 4, page 18:

If the spirit moves me, I can stand in the center of the room. If the spirit moves me in another direction, I can stand in any one of the four corners and in this way bring myself into contact with two walls at the same time.

2016, Emmanuelle Peraldo, Literature and Geography, page 224:

the spirit is willing but the flesh is weak


आगे कुआँ पीछे खाई

hi-phrase

आगे कुआँ पीछे खाई • (āge kuā̃ pīche khāī)

/ɑː.ɡeː kʊ.ɑ̃ː piː.t͡ʃʰeː kʰɑː.iː/

[äː.ɡeː‿kʊ.ä̃ː‿piː.t͡ʃʰeː‿kʰäː.iː]

between the devil and the deep blue sea (Literally, "A well ahead, a chasm behind")


畫黛彎蛾

ㄏㄨㄚˋ ㄉㄞˋ ㄨㄢ ㄜˊ

/xu̯ä⁵¹⁻⁵³ taɪ̯⁵¹ wän⁵⁵ ˀɤ³⁵/

/xu̯ä⁵¹⁻⁵³ taɪ̯⁵¹ wän⁵⁵ ˀɤ³⁵/

This Mr. Kong acceded to, and accordingly saw Miss Jiaonuo come out with a lovely girl―her black eyebrows beautifully arched, and her tiny feet encased in phoenix-shaped shoes―as like one another as they well could be.

1740, Pu Songling, 聊齋志異 (Strange Tales from a Chinese Studio)

Shēng rú qí jiào, guǒ jiàn Jiāonuó xié lì rén lái, huàdàiwān'é, lián gōu cù fèng, yǔ Jiāonuó xiàng bózhòng yě.

生如其教，果見嬌娜偕麗人來，畫黛彎蛾，蓮鉤蹴鳳，與嬌娜相伯仲也。

生如其教，果见娇娜偕丽人来，画黛弯蛾，莲钩蹴凤，与娇娜相伯仲也。

(of a woman) having thin and curved eyebrows


cheers my dears

'Cheers, my dears,' chuckles Dottie, raising a glass and chinking it against ours.

2021, Erin Green, From Shetland, With Love:

(UK, informal) Alternative form of cheers (“toast to drinking”)


head

more than someone has had cooked dinners

more than someone has had hot dinners#English

Alternative form of more than someone has had hot dinners


IHTFP

Initialism of I hate this fucking place.


fröhliche Urständ feiern

Literally, “to celebrate a happy resurrection”.

lit

Leider feiert der Nepotismus immer noch fröhliche Urständ.

Unfortunately, nepotism is still very much alive.

Faulheit und Unwilligkeit feiern fröhliche Urständ in diesem Amt.

Laziness and unwillingness have made a comeback in this office.

(humorous, derogatory) the persistence or comeback of something believed to be forgotten, bygone or overcome


hwænne bið he acenned

c. 992, Ælfric, "ON THE PURIFICATION OF ST. MARY"
"Ela, hwænne cymð se Hælend? Hwænne bið hē acenned? Hwænne mōt ic hine geseon? Hwæðer ic mote lybban oðþæt ic hine geseo?"

Ah! when will the Saviour come? When will he be born? When may I see him? May I live until I see him?"

When will he be born?
When will he be born?


hwænne mot ic hine geseon

c. 992, Ælfric, "ON THE PURIFICATION OF ST. MARY"
"Ela, hwænne cymð se Hælend? Hwænne bið he acenned? Hwænne mōt ic hine geseon? Hwæðer ic mote lybban oðþæt ic hine geseo?"


dziyń dobry

/ˈd͡ʑɪɲ ˈdɔbrɪ/


兵凶戰危

ㄅㄧㄥ ㄒㄩㄥ ㄓㄢˋ ㄨㄟ

ㄅㄧㄥ ㄒㄩㄥ ㄓㄢˋ ㄨㄟˊ

бинсюнчжаньвэй

/piŋ⁵⁵ ɕi̯ʊŋ⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂän⁵¹ weɪ̯⁵⁵/

/piŋ⁵⁵ ɕi̯ʊŋ⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂän⁵¹ weɪ̯³⁵/

/piŋ⁵⁵ ɕi̯ʊŋ⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂän⁵¹ weɪ̯⁵⁵/

/piŋ⁵⁵ ɕi̯ʊŋ⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂän⁵¹ weɪ̯³⁵/


dobrydzień

/dɔbˈrɘ.d͡ʑɛɲ/

Univerbation of dobry dzień. Compare dobranoc. Congate with Ukrainian добри́день (dobrýdenʹ), Belarusian дабры́дзень (dabrýdzjenʹ).

(dated or regional) Alternative form of dobry dzień.


dobri dzéń

Inherited from Proto-Slavic *dobrъ dьnь. By surface analysis, literally, “good day”.


dobry dzień

/ˈdɔb.rɘ d͡ʑɛɲ/

Inherited from Old Polish *dobry dzień. By surface analysis, literally, “good day”.

(idiomatic, dated) Alternative form of dzień dobry.


dobry dzień

Polish: (dated) dobry dzień

desctree

⇒ Polish: dzień dobry
→ Belarusian: дзе́нь до́бры (dzjénʹ dóbry) (calque)
→ Silesian: dziyń dobry (calque)
→ Ukrainian: де́нь до́брий (dénʹ dóbryj) (calque)

Silesian: dobry dziyń

/dɔbrɨː d͡ʑɛːɲ/


逢凶化吉

ㄈㄥˊ ㄒㄩㄥ ㄏㄨㄚˋ ㄐㄧˊ

фэнсюнхуацзи

/fɤŋ³⁵ ɕi̯ʊŋ⁵⁵ xu̯ä⁵¹ t͡ɕi³⁵/

/fʊŋ²¹ hʊŋ⁵⁵ faː³³ kɐt̚⁵/

/fɤŋ³⁵ ɕi̯ʊŋ⁵⁵ xu̯ä⁵¹ t͡ɕi³⁵/

/fʊŋ²¹ hʊŋ⁵⁵ faː³³ kɐt̚⁵/

to get through a dangerous crisis; to land on one's feet


Hu þonne

c. 992, Ælfric, "ON THE PURIFICATION OF ST. MARY"
Ðam ungeleaffullum mannum com Crist to hryre, and þam geleaffullum to æriste; and eac anum gehwilcum gelyfedum men wæs Cristes to-cyme ægðer ge hryre ge ærist. Hu ðonne? He com to ðy þæt he wolde ælc yfel towurpan, and ælc góod aræran.

Christ came for the fall of unbelieving men, and for the rising of the faithful; and also to every believing man was Christ's coming both a fall and a rising. But how? He came because he would cast down every evil, and rear up every good."


有眼睇

/jɐu̯¹³ ŋaːn¹³ tʰɐi̯³⁵/

/jɐu̯¹³ ŋaːn¹³ tʰɐi̯³⁵/


有紋有路

/jɐu̯¹³ mɐn²¹ jɐu̯¹³ lou̯²²/

/jɐu̯¹³ mɐn²¹ jɐu̯¹³ lou̯²²/

佢講嘢有紋有路。

佢讲嘢有纹有路。

(Cantonese) to be clear and logical; to be orderly; to be systematic


反其道而行

ㄈㄢˇ ㄑㄧˊ ㄉㄠˋ ㄦˊ ㄒㄧㄥˊ

фань ци дао эр син

/fän²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕʰi³⁵ tɑʊ̯⁵¹ ˀɤɻ³⁵ ɕiŋ³⁵/

/faːn³⁵ kʰei̯²¹ tou̯²² jiː²¹ hɐŋ²¹/

/fän²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕʰi³⁵ tɑʊ̯⁵¹ ˀɤɻ³⁵ ɕiŋ³⁵/

/faːn³⁵ kʰei̯²¹ tou̯²² jiː²¹ hɐŋ²¹/

to do just the opposite; to act in a diametrically opposite way


wyżej sra, niż dupę ma

Rhyme, literally, “[s/he] shits higher than where [s/he] has [their] ass”. Compare French péter plus haut que son cul.

m-g

􂀿s/he􂁀 shits higher than where 􂀿s/he􂁀 has 􂀿their􂁀 ass

lit

they have their head up their ass
have one's head up one's ass

they are full of themselves
full of oneself

(idiomatic, vulgar) used when someone considers themselves better than the speaker thinks they ought to; (roughly) they have their head up their ass; they are full of themselves


dobry dziyń

/ˈdɔbrɪ ˈd͡ʑɪɲ/


無私無畏

/u³⁵ sz̩⁵⁵ u³⁵ weɪ̯⁵¹/

/u³⁵ sz̩⁵⁵ u³⁵ weɪ̯⁵¹/


hu mæg beon butan

c. 992, Ælfric, "On the Lord's Ascension"
Hū mæġ bēon būtan strece and neadunge, þæt gehwá mid clænnysse þæt gále gecynd þurh Godes gife gewylde?

How can it be without violence and compulsion, that any one by chastity overcomes libidinous nature through God's grace?


if I may

Without any following verb, implies a request to interrupt, to speak at length, or to take control, often when the speaker can introduce new, unexpected information or, alternatively, when the speaker disapproves of how a task was done and proposes to redo it.


ic beo mid eow

c. 992, Ælfric, "On the Lord's Ascension"
Eft he cwæð, "Ic bēo mid ēow eallum dagum, ōð þisre worulde geendunge," seðe lyfað and rixað mid þam Ælmihtigan Fæder and ðam Halgum Gaste á on ecnysse. Amen.

Again he said, "I will be with you on all days, until the ending of this world," who liveth and reigneth with the Almighty Father and the Holy Ghost ever to eternity. Amen.


hu mæg þæt beon

c. 992, Ælfric, "On the Lord's Ascension"
Þa cwæð Maria to ðam engle, "Hū mæġ þæt bēon þæt ic cild hæbbe, forðan ðe ic nanes weres ne bruce?

Then said Mary to the angel, "How can that be that I have a child, for I have known no man?


三頭唔埋兩日

/saːm⁵⁵ tʰɐu̯²¹ m̩²¹ maːi̯²¹ lœːŋ¹³ jɐt̚²/


好狗唔攔路

/hou̯³⁵ kɐu̯³⁵ m̩²¹ laːn²¹ lou̯²²/

/hou̯³⁵ kɐu̯³⁵ m̩²¹ laːn²¹ lou̯²²/

out of someone's way
out of someone's way

(Cantonese, derogatory) out of someone's way


自家屙屎自家食

one has shitted and now eats the shit oneself

/t͡sʰit̚² ka²⁴⁻¹¹ o²⁴ sɨ³¹ t͡sʰit̚² ka²⁴⁻¹¹ sɨt̚⁵/

/t͡sʰit̚⁵ ka²⁴⁻¹¹ o²⁴ sɨ³¹ t͡sʰit̚⁵ ka²⁴⁻¹¹ sɨt̚⁵/

/t͡sʰz̩⁵³ ka⁴⁴ o⁴⁴⁻³⁵ sz̩³¹ t͡sʰz̩⁵³ ka⁴⁴ sət̚⁵/

made one's bed and lie in it
make one's bed and lie in it

(Hakka, mildly vulgar, derogatory) to reap what one sows; to have made one's bed and lie in it


聽教聽話

/tʰɛːŋ⁵⁵ kaːu̯³³ tʰɛːŋ⁵⁵ waː²²/

/tʰɛːŋ⁵⁵ kaːu̯³³ tʰɛːŋ⁵⁵ waː²²/

(Cantonese, of children, pupils, etc.) to be obedient


早走早著

/t͡sou̯³⁵ t͡sɐu̯³⁵ t͡sou̯³⁵ t͡sœːk̚²/

/t͡sou̯³⁵ t͡sɐu̯³⁵ t͡sou̯³⁵ t͡sœːk̚²/

(Cantonese) when problem(s) are bound to occur, the earlier one leaves or escapes from the situation, the better it will be


ar do sheanléim

bʹɛ mʹə ərʹ mə hæNʹLʹeimʹ əmα:rαχ

1906, E. C. Quiggin, A Dialect of Donegal (overall work in English), Cambridge University Press, page 91:

feeling like oneself, in form, recovered


wuna mid me

late 10th century, Ælfric, the Old English Hexateuch, Genesis 29:19

I'd rather give her to you than to someone else. Stay with me!

Lēofre mē is þæt iċ hīe selle þē þonne ōðrum menn. Wuna mid mē!


MSLP

mean sea level pressure
mean sea level pressure#English

(meteorology) Abbreviation of mean sea level pressure.


好狗不擋路

ㄏㄠˇ ㄍㄡˇ ㄅㄨˋ ㄉㄤˇ ㄌㄨˋ

hǎo gǒu bù dǎnglù [Phonetic:háogǒubùdǎnglù]

хао гоу бу данлу

/xɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻³⁵ koʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ pu⁵¹ tɑŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹ lu⁵¹/


斷紙餘墨

ㄉㄨㄢˋ ㄓˇ ㄩˊ ㄇㄛˋ

дуаньчжиюймо

/tu̯än⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩²¹⁴⁻²¹ y³⁵ mu̯ɔ⁵¹/

/tu̯än⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩²¹⁴⁻²¹ y³⁵ mu̯ɔ⁵¹/


尸居餘氣

/ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ t͡ɕy⁵⁵ y³⁵ t͡ɕʰi⁵¹/

/ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ t͡ɕy⁵⁵ y³⁵ t͡ɕʰi⁵¹/


ܒܩܕܡܝܬܐ

aii-phrase

ܒܩܲܕ݇ܡܵܝܬܵܐ • (bqammāytā)

ܒܩܲܕ݇ܡܵܝܬܵܐ (canonical)
bqammāytā (romanization)

ܒܩܲܕ݇ܡܵܝܬܵܐ ܟܹܐ ܢܵܟ݂ܦܸܢ ܗ݇ܘܵܐ ܡܸܢܗܘܿܢ

ܒܩܲܕ݇ܡܵܝܬܵܐ ܠܵܐ ܚܲܕ݇ ܠܵܐ ܟܹܐ ܝܵܕ݂ܸܥ ܗ݇ܘܵܐ ܠܝܼ

ܒܩܲܕ݇ܡܵܝܬܵܐ ܟܘܼܠܗܹܝܢ ܢܸܫܹ̈ܐ ܕܡܵܬ݂ܲܢ ܟܹܐ ܙܵܩܪܝܼܢ݇ ܗ݇ܘܵܐ

In the olden times, all the women in our village used to weave.

bqammāytā kulhēn niššē dmāṯan kē zāqrī wā


gecyrr ham

c. 992, Ælfric, "The Assumption of St. John the Apostle"
Ða het se apostol ða bære settan, and cwæð, "Min Drihten, Hælend Crist! Arære ðe, Drusiana; aris, and ġecyrr hām, and gearca ús gereordunge on þinum hūse." Drusiana þa arás swilce of slæpe awreht, and, carfull be ðæs apostoles hæse, hām gewende.

Then the apostle bade them set down the bier, and said, "My Lord, Jesus Christ! Raise thee, Drusiana; arise, and return home, and prepare refection for us in thy house." Drusiana then arose as if from sleep awakened, and, mindful of the apostle's command, returned home.


beo sibb betwux eow

c. 992, Ælfric, "The First Sunday after Easter"
Se Hǣlend cwæð to him, "Bēo sibb betwux ēow." For sibbe cōm Crist tō mannum, and sibbe hē bead and tǣhte, and nis nān ðing him ġecwēme þe bið būtan sibbe ġedōn.

Jesus said to them, "Peace be among you." For peace Christ came to men, and peace he enjoined and taught, and nothing is to him acceptable which is done without peace.


睬你都有味

/t͡sʰɔːi̯³⁵ nei̯¹³ tou̯⁵⁵ jɐu̯¹³ mei̯²²/

睬你都傻 睬你都傻#Chinese


sy hælo

c. 992, Ælfric, "For Palm Sunday"
Þæt folc ðe Criste beforan stóp, and þæt ðe him fyligde, ealle hí sungon, "Osanna Filio Dauid," þæt is on urum ġeðēdode, "Sȳ hǣlo Dauides Bearne."

The people who walked before Christ, and those who followed him, all sung "Osanna Filio David," that is, in our tongue, "Hail, Son of David."


antes hoy que mañana

no time like the present
no time like the present


que es para hoy

step on it!; get a move on!; no dilly-dallying!


tengamos la fiesta en paz

Literally, "let's have this party in peace"

everybody keep cool!; everyone stay cool!; let's not let this get out of hand!


ese es el cuento

therein lies the rub
therein lies the rub


beauty is only skin-deep

beauty is only skin deep
beauty is only skin deep#English

Alternative form of beauty is only skin deep


skitjakt

From skit + jakt. Literally, “shitty hunt”. Said to wish opposite luck on the performer so as not to jinx the statement (similar to Russian ни пуха ни пера (ni puxa ni pera)).

good luck, break a leg (especially before hunt on animals)


le bec dans l'eau

être le bec dans l’eau

se retrouver le bec dans l’eau

(informal, figuratively) high and dry, in the lurch; with egg on one's face


ܡܢ ܪܝܫܐ ܕܦܘܩܢܗ

ܡܸܢ ܪܹܝܫܵܐ ܕܦܘܼܩܵܢܹܗ

ܡܸܢ ܪܹܝܫܵܐ ܕܦܘܼܩܵܢܹܗ • (min rēšā dpūqānēh)

ܡܸܢ ܪܹܝܫܵܐ ܕܦܘܼܩܵܢܹܗ (canonical)
min rēšā dpūqānēh (romanization)

ܟܸܡ ܛܵܪܹܐ ܠܝܼ ܠܐܵܟ݂ܵܐ ܡܸܢ ܪܹܝܫܵܐ ܕܦܘܼܩܵܢܹܗ
kim ṭārē lī l-āḵā min rēšā dpūqānēh
He drove me here begrudgingly
(literally, “He drove me here from the tip of his nose.”)

phrase used to express someone’s begrudging unwillingness in doing a task, begrudgingly


拚生盡死

ㄆㄢˋ ㄕㄥ ㄐㄧㄣˋ ㄙˇ

паньшэнцзиньсы

/pʰän⁵¹ ʂɤŋ⁵⁵ t͡ɕin⁵¹ sz̩²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/pʰän⁵¹ ʂɤŋ⁵⁵ t͡ɕin⁵¹ sz̩²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/


一夔已足

ㄧ ㄎㄨㄟˊ ㄧˇ ㄗㄨˊ

/i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ kʰu̯eɪ̯³⁵ i²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡su³⁵/

/jɐt̚⁵ kʷʰɐi̯²¹ jiː¹³ t͡sʊk̚⁵/

/i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ kʰu̯eɪ̯³⁵ i²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡su³⁵/

/jɐt̚⁵ kʷʰɐi̯²¹ jiː¹³ t͡sʊk̚⁵/

In Chinese mythology, Kui, who Emperor Shun appointed to be his Music Minister, invented classical Chinese music and dancing.


滿拚自盡

ㄇㄢˇ ㄆㄢˋ ㄗˋ ㄐㄧㄣˋ

маньпаньцзыцзинь

/män²¹⁴⁻²¹ pʰän⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡sz̩⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡ɕin⁵¹/

Tonight the Northern troops breached the north wall, and I determined to take my own life.

1699, Kong Shangren, The Peach Blossom Fan, scene 38, translated by Harold Acton

Běi bīng jīnyè gōngpò běichéng, ǎn yǐ mǎnpīnzìjìn.

北兵今夜攻破北城，俺已滿拚自盡。

北兵今夜攻破北城，俺已满拚自尽。

wholeheartedly determined to commit suicide


貪如饕餮

ㄊㄢ ㄖㄨˊ ㄊㄠ ㄊㄧㄝˋ

/tʰän⁵⁵ ʐu³⁵ tʰɑʊ̯⁵⁵ tʰi̯ɛ⁵¹/

/tʰän⁵⁵ ʐu³⁵ tʰɑʊ̯⁵⁵ tʰi̯ɛ⁵¹/


樂而不淫

ㄌㄜˋ ㄦˊ ㄅㄨˋ ㄧㄣˊ

/lɤ⁵¹ ˀɤɻ³⁵ pu⁵¹ in³⁵/

/lɔːk̚² jiː²¹ pɐt̚⁵ jɐm²¹/

/lɤ⁵¹ ˀɤɻ³⁵ pu⁵¹ in³⁵/

/lɔːk̚² jiː²¹ pɐt̚⁵ jɐm²¹/

The Master said, "The Guan Ju (《關雎》) is expressive of enjoyment without being licentious, and of grief without being hurtfully excessive."

The Analects of Confucius, c. 475 – 221 BCE, translated based on James Legge's version

Zǐyuē: ““Guān Jū”, lè ér bù yín, āi ér bù shāng.”

子曰：「《關雎》，樂而不淫，哀而不傷。」

子曰：「《关雎》，乐而不淫，哀而不伤。」


一以貫之

/i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ i²¹⁴⁻²¹ ku̯än⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵/

/jɐt̚⁵ jiː¹³ kuːn³³ t͡siː⁵⁵/

/i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ i²¹⁴⁻²¹ ku̯än⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵/

/jɐt̚⁵ jiː¹³ kuːn³³ t͡siː⁵⁵/

The Master said, "Shen, my doctrine is that of an all-pervading unity."

子曰：「參乎！吾道一以貫之。」

子曰：「参乎！吾道一以贯之。」

1900 July 24, 梁啟超 [Liang Qichao], chapter 16, in 和文漢讀法 [The Chinese Method of Reading Japanese], Tokyo: 秀英舍, page 10:

The method of their conjugation is to use kana in the same row. Having understood this rule, [you can conjugate all verbs] with the same principle with no obstructions whatsoever.

Qí biànhuà zhī fǎ, bì yǐ tóng yī xíng zhī zìmǔ. Jì tōng cǐ lì, yīyǐguànzhī, háowú zhì'ài yǐ.

其變化之法，必以同一行之字母。既通此例，一以貫之，毫無窒礙矣。

其变化之法，必以同一行之字母。既通此例，一以贯之，毫无窒碍矣。

to go through all things with the same principle


哀而不傷

/ˀaɪ̯⁵⁵ ˀɤɻ³⁵ pu⁵¹ ʂɑŋ⁵⁵/

/ɔːi̯⁵⁵ jiː²¹ pɐt̚⁵ sœːŋ⁵⁵/

/ˀaɪ̯⁵⁵ ˀɤɻ³⁵ pu⁵¹ ʂɑŋ⁵⁵/

/ɔːi̯⁵⁵ jiː²¹ pɐt̚⁵ sœːŋ⁵⁵/

子曰：「《關雎》，樂而不淫，哀而不傷。」

子曰：「《关雎》，乐而不淫，哀而不伤。」


登堂入室

ㄉㄥ ㄊㄤˊ ㄖㄨˋ ㄕˋ

/tɤŋ⁵⁵ tʰɑŋ³⁵ ʐu⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʂʐ̩⁵¹/

/tɐŋ⁵⁵ tʰɔːŋ²¹ jɐp̚² sɐt̚⁵/

/tɤŋ⁵⁵ tʰɑŋ³⁵ ʐu⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʂʐ̩⁵¹/

/tɐŋ⁵⁵ tʰɔːŋ²¹ jɐp̚² sɐt̚⁵/

The Master said, "What has the lute of You to do in my door?" The other disciples began not to respect Zilu. The Master said, "You has ascended to the hall, though he has not yet passed into the inner apartments."

Zǐyuē: “Yóu zhī sè, xī wèi yú Qiū zhī mén?” Ménrén bùjìng Zǐlù. Zǐyuē: “Yóu yě shēng táng yǐ, wèi rù yú shì yě.”

子曰：「由之瑟，奚為於丘之門？」門人不敬子路。子曰：「由也升堂矣，未入於室也。」

子曰：「由之瑟，奚为于丘之门？」门人不敬子路。子曰：「由也升堂矣，未入于室也。」

to ascend to the hall and enter the inner room

(figurative) to attain a high level in one's learning


待價而沽

ㄉㄞˋ ㄐㄧㄚˋ ㄦˊ ㄍㄨ

/taɪ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡ɕi̯ä⁵¹ ˀɤɻ³⁵ ku⁵⁵/

/tɔːi̯²² kaː³³ jiː²¹ kuː⁵⁵/

/taɪ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡ɕi̯ä⁵¹ ˀɤɻ³⁵ ku⁵⁵/

/tɔːi̯²² kaː³³ jiː²¹ kuː⁵⁵/

Zigong said, "There is a beautiful gem here. Should I lay it up in a case and keep it? or should I seek for a good price and sell it?" The Master said, "Sell it! Sell it! But I would wait for one to offer the price."

子貢曰：「有美玉於斯，韞匵而藏諸？求善賈而沽諸？」子曰：「沽之哉！沽之哉！我待賈

to wait for the highest bid before selling an item; to wait for the best job offer before providing one's service


kenen voima, senen voitto

Literally: "Whose strength, that one's victory".

(idiomatic) He who is strongest wins the conflict.


kenen voima, senen voli

kenen voima, senen voitto
kenen voima, senen voitto#Ingrian


friend過夾band

/fɛːn⁵⁵ kʷɔː³³ kaːp̚³ pɛːn⁵⁵/

/fɛːn⁵⁵ kʷɔː³³ kaːp̚³ pɛːn⁵⁵/

(Hong Kong Cantonese, simile) in a very close or friendly relationship


je pense, donc je suis

/ʒə pɑ̃s dɔ̃ ʒə sɥi/

First expressed by René Descartes, a 17th century French philosopher.

I think, therefore I am
I think, therefore I am


se oli siinä

that was that, that was it; there is nothing more to do or to be done

it's over, it's all over, there is nothing more that can be done

Used other than figuratively or idiomatically: se oli siinä: it/that was there


一雞兩味

/jɐt̚⁵ kɐi̯⁵⁵ lœːŋ¹³ mei̯²²⁻³⁵/

/jɐt̚⁵ kɐi̯⁵⁵ lœːŋ¹³ mei̯²²⁻³⁵/

kill two birds with one stone
kill two birds with one stone

(Cantonese) to kill two birds with one stone


北港香爐——人人插

the incense burner atChaotian Temple of Beigang - everyone puts (incenses) into it

ㄅㄟˇ ㄍㄤˇ ㄒㄧㄤ ㄌㄨˊ

Бэйган сянлу

/peɪ̯²¹⁴⁻³⁵ kɑŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹ ɕi̯ɑŋ⁵⁵ lu³⁵ ʐən³⁵ ʐən³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰä⁵⁵/

(Taiwan, figurative, derogatory) a sexually promiscuous woman; a town bicycle


嘈到拆天

/t͡sʰou̯²¹ tou̯³³ t͡sʰaːk̚³ tʰiːn⁵⁵/

/t͡sʰou̯²¹ tou̯³³ t͡sʰaːk̚³ tʰiːn⁵⁵/


clgt

[kəː˨˩ ləː˨˩ ɣəː˨˩ təː˨˩]

[kəː˦˩ ləː˦˩ ɣəː˦˩ təː˦˩]

[kəː˨˩ ləː˨˩ ɣəː˨˩ təː˨˩]

cái lồn gì thế?
cái lồn gì thế#Vietnamese

(Internet slang, minced oath) Initialism of cái lồn gì thế? (“the fuck is/was that?”); WTF


同人唔同命

same kind of person, different kinds of fates

/tʰʊŋ²¹ jɐn²¹ m̩²¹ tʰʊŋ²¹ mɛːŋ²²/

/tʰʊŋ²¹ jɐn²¹ m̩²¹ tʰʊŋ²¹ mɛːŋ²²/

(Cantonese) Everyone has different fates. (Used especially when someone sees other's success)


買棺材唔知埞

/maːi̯¹³ kuːn⁵⁵ t͡sʰɔːi̯²¹ m̩²¹ t͡siː⁵⁵ tɛːŋ²²/

(Cantonese) to be unaware of risks; to fail to recognize the seriousness of a situation


breakfast, lunch, and dinner

breakfast, lunch and dinner
breakfast, lunch and dinner#English

Alternative form of breakfast, lunch and dinner


cái lề gì thốn?

[kaːj˨˩˦ lej˦˩ jɪj˦˩ tʰoŋ˦˧˥]

[kaːj˦˥ lej˨˩ jɪj˨˩ tʰoŋ˦˥]

From cái lồn gì thế?, generated through the nói lái process.

vi-etym-lai

(minced oath) Alternative form of cái lồn gì thế? (“the fuck is/was that?”)


cần lời giải thích

[kən˨˩ ləːj˨˩ zaːj˧˩ tʰïk̟̚˧˦]

[kəŋ˦˩ ləːj˦˩ jaːj˧˨ tʰɨt̚˦˧˥]

[kəŋ˨˩ ləːj˨˩ jaːj˨˩˦ tʰɨt̚˦˥]

A euphemistic, yet cogent, reinterpretation of clgt.

(literal) I need explanation; this needs explanation


cái lồn gì thế?

[kaːj˨˩˦ loŋ˦˩ jɪj˦˩ tʰej˨˩˦]

[kaːj˦˥ loŋ˨˩ jɪj˨˩ tʰej˦˥]

cái (“whatsit; whatchamacallit”) + lồn (“vulva; cunt”) + gì (“what”) + thế (emphatic particle).


breakfast, lunch and dinner

The typical clinical finding is several erythematous papules or urticarial lesions grouped together. Often three appear in a row (breakfast, lunch and dinner), but of course the bedbug does not keep count and both solitary bites and many lesions are common.

2012, Otto Braun-Falco, Gerd Plewig, Helmut Heinrich Wolff, Walter H.C. Burgdorf, Dermatology, second edition, Springer Science & Business Media, →ISBN, page 364:

(dermatology, informal) A group of three bedbug bites appearing together.


không vào hang cọp sao bắt được cọp con

[xəwŋ͡m˧˧ vaːw˨˩ haːŋ˧˧ kɔp̚˧˨ʔ saːw˧˧ ʔɓat̚˧˦ ʔɗɨək̚˧˨ʔ kɔp̚˧˨ʔ kɔn˧˧]

[kʰəwŋ͡m˧˧ vaːw˦˩ haːŋ˧˧ kɔp̚˨˩ʔ ʂaːw˧˧ ʔɓak̚˦˧˥ ʔɗɨək̚˨˩ʔ kɔp̚˨˩ʔ kɔŋ˧˧]

[xəwŋ͡m˧˧ vaːw˦˩ haːŋ˧˧ kɔp̚˨˩ʔ saːw˧˧ ʔɓak̚˦˧˥ ʔɗɨək̚˨˩ʔ kɔp̚˨˩ʔ kɔŋ˧˧]

[kʰəwŋ͡m˧˧ vaːw˨˩ haːŋ˧˧ kɔp̚˨˩˨ ʂaːw˧˧ ʔɓak̚˦˥ ʔɗɨək̚˨˩˨ kɔp̚˨˩˨ kɔŋ˧˧]

[xəwŋ͡m˧˧ jaːw˨˩ haːŋ˧˧ kɔp̚˨˩˨ saːw˧˧ ʔɓak̚˦˥ ʔɗɨək̚˨˩˨ kɔp̚˨˩˨ kɔŋ˧˧]

Calque of Chinese 不入虎穴，焉得虎子 (bất nhập hổ huyệt, yên đắc hổ tử).

cal

nothing ventured, nothing gained
nothing ventured, nothing gained

no pain, no gain; nothing ventured, nothing gained


夜深人靜

ㄧㄝˋ ㄕㄣ ㄖㄣˊ ㄐㄧㄥˋ

ешэньжэньцзин

/jɛ⁵¹ ʂən⁵⁵ ʐən³⁵ t͡ɕiŋ⁵¹/

/jɛː²² sɐm⁵⁵ jɐn²¹ t͡sɪŋ²²/

/mẽ⁵⁵⁻¹¹ t͡sʰim³³⁻²³ naŋ⁵⁵⁻¹¹ t͡sẽ³⁵/

/jɛ⁵¹ ʂən⁵⁵ ʐən³⁵ t͡ɕiŋ⁵¹/

/jɛː²² sɐm⁵⁵ jɐn²¹ t͡sɪŋ²²/

/mẽ⁵⁵⁻¹¹ t͡sʰim³³⁻²³ naŋ⁵⁵⁻¹¹ t͡sẽ³⁵/


TBW

Abbreviation of terabytes written (often in reference to how many terabytes can be written to a solid-state drive within its warranty service)


有圖有真相

ㄧㄡˇ ㄊㄨˊ ㄧㄡˇ ㄓㄣ ㄒㄧㄤˋ

ю ту ю чжэньсян

/joʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ tʰu³⁵ joʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂən⁵⁵ ɕi̯ɑŋ⁵¹/

/jɐu̯¹³ tʰou̯²¹ jɐu̯¹³ t͡sɐn⁵⁵ sœːŋ³³/

/jɐu̯¹³ tʰou̯²¹ jɐu̯¹³ t͡sɐn⁵⁵ sœːŋ³³/

pics or it didn't happen
pics or it didn't happen

(Internet slang) pics or it didn't happen


allarxama

Inherited from Arabic الله يَرْحَمُهَا (allāh yarḥamuhā).

inh

الله يَرْحَمُهَا

inh+

الله يَرْحَمُهَا

Coordinate term: allérixmu


allerixmu

Inherited from Arabic الله يَرْحَمُهُ (allāh yarḥamuhu).

inh

الله يَرْحَمُهُ

inh+

الله يَرْحَمُهُ

Coordinate term: allarxáma


lasciate ogni speranza, voi ch'entrate

lasciate ogni speranza voi ch'entrate (canonical)

Literally, “leave every hope, you who enter.”

lit

lasciate ogni speranza, voi ch'entrate
#English


舚脣咂嘴

ㄊㄧㄢˋ ㄔㄨㄣˊ ㄗㄚ ㄗㄨㄟˇ

тяньчуньцзацзуй

/tʰi̯ɛn⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʰu̯ən³⁵ t͡sä⁵⁵ t͡su̯eɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/


ܚܕ ܝܘܡܐ ܡܢ ܝܘܡܬܐ

aii-phrase

ܚܲܕ݇ ܝܲܘܡܵܐ ܡܸܢ ܝܲܘ̈ܡܵܬ݂ܵܐ

ܚܲܕ݇ ܝܲܘܡܵܐ ܡܸܢ ܝܲܘ̈ܡܵܬ݂ܵܐ • (ḥa yawmā min yawmāṯā)

ܚܲܕ݇ ܝܲܘܡܵܐ ܡܸܢ ܝܲܘ̈ܡܵܬ݂ܵܐ (canonical)
ḥa yawmā min yawmāṯā (romanization)

Introduction to stories, tales, or fables; once upon a time


肉隨砧板上

ㄖㄡˋ ㄙㄨㄟˊ ㄓㄣ ㄅㄢˇ ㄕㄤˋ

жоу суй чжэньбань шан

/ʐoʊ̯⁵¹ su̯eɪ̯³⁵ ʈ͡ʂən⁵⁵ pän²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʂɑŋ⁵¹/

/jʊk̚² t͡sʰɵy̯²¹ t͡sɐm⁵⁵ paːn³⁵ sœːŋ²²/

/jʊk̚² t͡sʰɵy̯²¹ t͡sɐm⁵⁵ paːn³⁵ sœːŋ²²/

to have one's fate decided by some other person


夫目前犯

ㄈㄨ ㄇㄨˋ ㄑㄧㄢˊ ㄈㄢˋ

фумуцяньфань

/fu⁵⁵ mu⁵¹ t͡ɕʰi̯ɛn³⁵ fän⁵¹/

/fuː⁵⁵ mʊk̚² t͡sʰiːn²¹ faːn²²/

/fu⁵⁵ mu⁵¹ t͡ɕʰi̯ɛn³⁵ fän⁵¹/

/fuː⁵⁵ mʊk̚² t͡sʰiːn²¹ faːn²²/

From Japanese adult video series 夫の目の前で犯されて (“Raped in front of her husband”).

(neologism, of a wife) to have sex with a male, in the presence of the husband


從一而終

ㄘㄨㄥˊ ㄧ ㄦˊ ㄓㄨㄥ

/t͡sʰʊŋ³⁵ i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ ˀɤɻ³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʊŋ⁵⁵/

/t͡sʰʊŋ²¹ jɐt̚⁵ jiː²¹ t͡sʊŋ⁵⁵/

/t͡sʰoŋ⁵⁵⁻¹¹ t͡sek̚⁴⁻² d͡zɯ⁵⁵⁻¹¹ t͡soŋ³³/

/t͡sʰʊŋ³⁵ i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ ˀɤɻ³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʊŋ⁵⁵/

/t͡sʰʊŋ²¹ jɐt̚⁵ jiː²¹ t͡sʊŋ⁵⁵/

(of a woman) to be faithful to one's husband and not remarry

to be fully devoted to someone or something


朝行晚拆

to assemble in the morning and dismantle at night

/t͡siːu̯⁵⁵ hɔːŋ²¹ maːn¹³ t͡sʰaːk̚³/

/t͡siːu̯⁵⁵ hɔːŋ²¹ maːn¹³ t͡sʰaːk̚³/


倒屣相迎

ㄉㄠˋ ㄒㄧˇ ㄒㄧㄤ ㄧㄥˊ

/tɑʊ̯⁵¹ ɕi²¹⁴⁻²¹ ɕi̯ɑŋ⁵⁵ iŋ³⁵/

/tou̯³³ saːi̯³⁵ sœːŋ⁵⁵ jɪŋ²¹/

/tɑʊ̯⁵¹ ɕi²¹⁴⁻²¹ ɕi̯ɑŋ⁵⁵ iŋ³⁵/

/tou̯³³ saːi̯³⁵ sœːŋ⁵⁵ jɪŋ²¹/

When Emperor Xian moved the capital west to Chang'an, Wang Can followed the emperor and also moved there. When Cai Yong, the Left Commander of the Palace Guards met him, he was surprised at him. At that time, Cai was already known for his rich knowledge and was highly valued by the imperial court. The alleys near his house was often full of carriages and horses of his visitors, and his house was full of guests. One day, when he heard that Wang Can was in front of his house's door, he was too eager to welcome him that he put his shoes on the wrong feet.

Chen Shou, Records of the Three Kingdoms, circa 3ʳᵈ century CE

Xiàndì xī qiān, Càn xǐ Cháng'ān, zuǒ zhōnglángjiàng Cài Yōng jiàn ér qí zhī. Shí Yōng cáixué xiǎnzhù, guìzhòng cháotíng, cháng jūjì tián xiàng, bīnkè yíng zuò. Wén Càn zài mén, dào xǐ yíng zhī.

獻帝西遷，粲徙長安，左中郎將蔡邕見而奇之。時邕才學顯著，貴重朝廷，常車騎填巷，賓客盈坐。聞粲在門，倒屣迎之。

献帝西迁，粲徙长安，左中郎将蔡邕见而奇之。时邕才学显著，贵重朝廷，常车骑填巷，宾客盈坐。闻粲在门，倒屣迎之。


how are you diddling

Popularised by comedian Ken Dodd (1927–2018).

Repeats many sentences and hundreds of words, including the following: […] “Hello, are you working? How are you diddling?”

1905 October 21, “King of wild beast merchants, Cross, Liverpool. Wonderful talking grey parrot”, in The Illustrated London News, volume 127, number 347, page 588:

Hello old 'un, how you diddling?

1983 December 25, John Sullivan, “Thicker than Water” (2:52 from the start), in Only Fools and Horses (television production), spoken by Reg Trotter (Peter Woodthorpe), via BBC1:

Yo yo yo. How are you diddling then? And wasn't Zoe fantastic this morning?

2019 January 14, Sara Cox, Sara Cox (radio broadcast), via BBC Radio 2:

(UK, colloquial, humorous, dated) How are you doing?


飛蛾撲火

ㄈㄟ ㄜˊ ㄆㄨ ㄏㄨㄛˇ

/feɪ̯⁵⁵ ˀɤ³⁵ pʰu⁵⁵ xu̯ɔ²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/fei̯⁵⁵ ŋɔː²¹ pʰɔːk̚³ fɔː³⁵/

/feɪ̯⁵⁵ ˀɤ³⁵ pʰu⁵⁵ xu̯ɔ²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/fei̯⁵⁵ ŋɔː²¹ pʰɔːk̚³ fɔː³⁵/

(figurative) to court self-destruction; to look for someone's own demise


搭通天地線

/taːp̚³ tʰʊŋ⁵⁵ tʰiːn⁵⁵ tei̯²² siːn³³/

/taːp̚³ tʰʊŋ⁵⁵ tʰiːn⁵⁵ tei̯²² siːn³³/

(Cantonese) to build up numerous connections and contacts


上面蒸鬆糕，下面賣涼粉

to steam sponge cakes above and sell grass jelly below

soeng⁶ min⁶ zing¹ sung¹ gou¹, haa⁶ min⁶ maai⁶ loeng⁴ fan²

seuhng mihn jīng sūng gōu, hah mihn maaih lèuhng fán

soeng⁶ min⁶ dzing¹ sung¹ gou¹, haa⁶ min⁶ maai⁶ loeng⁴ fan²

sêng⁶ min⁶ jing¹ sung¹ gou¹, ha⁶ min⁶ mai⁶ lêng⁴ fen²

/sœːŋ²² miːn²² t͡sɪŋ⁵⁵ sʊŋ⁵⁵ kou̯⁵⁵ haː²² miːn²² maːi̯²² lœːŋ²¹ fɐn³⁵/

(Cantonese, figurative) wearing much on top but little on the bottom


唔多唔少

/m̩²¹ tɔː⁵⁵ m̩²¹ siːu̯³⁵/

/m̩²¹ tɔː⁵⁵ m̩²¹ siːu̯³⁵/


SCANDAL

(biology, evolution, taxonomy, pathology) Acronym of speciated by cancer development animals.


تینگری تعالی

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تینگری تعالی

From Proto-Turkic *teŋri (“god, sky”) + Arabic تَعَالَى (taʕālā). From older Chagatai تینگری تعالی (tengri ta'ala) attested in Baburnama.

bor

Arabic تَعَالَى (taʕālā)

cog

تینگری تعالی

(Afghanistan, Islam) Allah may he be exalted


g/g

There's a "healthy" serving of g/g action in each movie, similiar to Andrew Blake, but the action's a little heavier, ie the scenes are generally slightly longer and more explicit than (especially) Andrew Blake's later movies, this applies to the hetero as well as g/g stuff.

1995 March 27, Nigel Taylor, “Request: Review/storyline of Cameron Grant films”, in alt.sex.movies (Usenet):

I wish they would have shown much more of Nancy Vee and you when you did the initial g/g in the car... what little we saw was premo, absolutely premo!

1998 May 31, voya...@ix.netcom.com, “tina tyler posts again”, in rec.arts.movies.erotica (Usenet):

I love girl/girl porn also - and Vivid used to have really great g/g kissing scenes.

2003 February 10, Sam Slater, “Lack Of Kissing”, in rec.arts.movies.erotica (Usenet):

(slang, pornography) Initialism of girl-on-girl.


there is no free lunch

there's no such thing as a free lunch#English

Alternative form of there's no such thing as a free lunch


on ne peut pas être contre la vertu

Literally, "one cannot be against virtue."

Le gouvernement, qui crie haut et fort qu'il se porte à la défense des victimes et de leur famille, fait plutôt diversion en tenant une Semaine de sensibilisation aux victimes d'actes criminels. On ne peut pas être contre la vertu, mais ce geste consiste tout simplement en un écran de fumée pour camoufler l'inaction et l'indifférence des conservateurs face aux besoins monétaires des familles des victimes. La vérité, c'est que les personnes qui ont le plus besoin de sensibilisation à cet effet, ce sont les députés de ce gouvernement.

2010 April 21, France Bonsant, MP, “Statements by Members”, in parliamentary debates (w:House of Commons of Canada):

The government, which loudly proclaims that it defends victims and their families, is instead creating a diversion by holding Victims of Crime Awareness Week. We cannot oppose virtue. However, this gesture is simply a smokescreen for the Conservatives' inaction and indifference towards the financial needs of victims' families. The truth is that it is the awareness of this government's members that needs to be raised.

the devil is in the details
the devil is in the details

It is hard to oppose or criticize a proposal so framed as to seem inherently good, or the obvious good parts of a proposal (with the implication that the devil is in the details or that the proposal does not go far enough or is a mere sop).

One must admit the goodness of an obviously good proposal, even when it comes from a source one opposes.


火燒旗杆——長嘆

/fɔː³⁵ siːu̯⁵⁵ kʰei̯²¹ kɔːn⁵⁵ t͡sʰœːŋ²¹ tʰaːn³³/

A wooden flagpole after being burnt is a long piece of charcoal (長炭／长炭 (coeng⁴ taan³)), which is homophonic pun on 長嘆／长叹 (coeng⁴ taan³).
嘆／叹 (taan³) can mean "sigh" or "to enjoy" in Cantonese.

火燒旗桿——長嘆
火燒旗杆——長歎
火燒旗桿——長歎
火烧旗杆——长叹

when fire burns a flagpole - a long piece of charcoal

(Cantonese) to have a long sigh (because of helplessness, etc.)

(Cantonese) to enjoy life for a long time


難聽過粗口

more unpleasant to the ear than obscene language

/naːn²¹ tʰɛːŋ⁵⁵ kʷɔː³³ t͡sʰou̯⁵⁵ hɐu̯³⁵/


火燒棺材——大嘆

/fɔː³⁵ siːu̯⁵⁵ kuːn⁵⁵ t͡sʰɔːi̯²¹ taːi̯²² tʰaːn³³/

A coffin after being burnt is a big piece of charcoal (大炭 (daai⁶ taan³)), which is homophonic pun on 大嘆／大叹.

火燒棺材——大歎
火烧棺材——大叹

when fire burns a coffin - a big piece of charcoal (enjoy life greatly)


ijbol

(Internet slang) Alternative letter-case form of IJBOL


LMSC

like my status, chat
like my status, chat#English

(Internet slang) Initialism of like my status, chat; used to ask friends to check the latest status post, to like and to engage.


lmsc

(Internet slang) Alternative letter-case form of LMSC


trèo cao té đau

[t͡ɕɛw˨˩ kaːw˧˧ tɛ˧˦ ʔɗaw˧˧]

[ʈɛw˦˩ kaːw˧˧ tɛ˨˩˦ ʔɗaw˧˧]

[ʈɛw˨˩ kaːw˧˧ tɛ˦˥ ʔɗa(ː)w˧˧]

Mày đừng có trèo cao té đau, tao sẽ đá mày xuống mà không cần nhìn lại.

Don't you dare climb high and fall hard, I will kick you down and not look back.

(Southern Vietnam) the higher you climb, the harder/further you fall


det spelar inga rolle

Literally, “it plays no role”. Compare Swedish det spelar ingen roll and Norwegian Bokmål det spiller ingen rolle. Also similar to Russian это не играет никакой роли (eto ne igrajet nikakoj roli).

это не играет никакой роли


慳水慳力

/haːn⁵⁵ sɵy̯³⁵ haːn⁵⁵ lɪk̚²/

/haːn⁵⁵ sɵy̯³⁵ haːn⁵⁵ lɪk̚²/


梁新記牙刷——一毛不拔

/lœːŋ²¹ sɐn⁵⁵ kei̯³³ ŋaː²¹ t͡sʰaːt̚³⁻³⁵ jɐt̚⁵ mou̯²¹ pɐt̚⁵ pɐt̚²/

From the commercial of Leung Sun Kee Toothbrush Factory in Guangzhou in 1920-30s. The slogan 一毛不拔 (jat¹ mou⁴ bat¹ bat⁶) here meant "no single bristle will fall from the toothbrush" and was used to promote the quality of their products.

Leung Sun Kee's toothbrushes - no single bristle will fall / very stingy


無心插柳

ㄨˊ ㄒㄧㄣ ㄔㄚ ㄌㄧㄡˇ

/u³⁵ ɕin⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰä⁵⁵ li̯oʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/mou̯²¹ sɐm⁵⁵ t͡sʰaːp̚³ lɐu̯¹³/

/u³⁵ ɕin⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰä⁵⁵ li̯oʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/mou̯²¹ sɐm⁵⁵ t͡sʰaːp̚³ lɐu̯¹³/

無心插柳柳成蔭 無心插柳柳成蔭#Chinese

无心插柳柳成荫 无心插柳柳成荫#Chinese

Short for 無心插柳柳成蔭／无心插柳柳成荫 (wúxīn chā liǔ liǔ chéng yìn).


天妒英才

ㄊㄧㄢ ㄉㄨˋ ㄧㄥ ㄘㄞˊ

/tʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵ tu⁵¹ iŋ⁵⁵ t͡sʰaɪ̯³⁵/

/tʰiːn⁵⁵ tou̯²² jɪŋ⁵⁵ t͡sʰɔːi̯²¹/

/tʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵ tu⁵¹ iŋ⁵⁵ t͡sʰaɪ̯³⁵/

/tʰiːn⁵⁵ tou̯²² jɪŋ⁵⁵ t͡sʰɔːi̯²¹/

The Heaven is jealous of talents. (used to express regret to a talented person who died young)


inna lillahi wa inna ilaihi raji'un

Alternative form of innalillahiwainnailaihirojiun


有心栽花花不開，無心插柳柳成蔭

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有心栽花花不開，無心插柳柳成蔭

有心栽花花不开，无心插柳柳成荫

Paid effort to plant flowers but the flowers don't bloom, no intention to plant a willow tree but it later grows into a shade

ㄧㄡˇ ㄒㄧㄣ ㄗㄞ ㄏㄨㄚ ㄏㄨㄚ ㄅㄨˋ ㄎㄞ

ㄨˊ ㄒㄧㄣ ㄔㄚ ㄌㄧㄡˇ ㄌㄧㄡˇ ㄔㄥˊ ㄧㄣˋ

jau⁵ sam¹ zoi¹ faa¹ faa¹ bat¹ hoi¹, mou⁴ sam¹ caap³ lau⁵ lau⁵ sing⁴ jam³

yǒuxīn zāi huā huā bù kāi, wúxīn chā liǔ liǔ chéng yìn [Phonetic:yǒuxīnzāihuāhuābùkāi,wúxīnchāliúliǔchéngyìn]

юсинь цзай хуа хуа бу кай

усинь ча лю лю чэн инь

/joʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ɕin⁵⁵ t͡saɪ̯⁵⁵ xu̯ä⁵⁵ xu̯ä⁵⁵ pu⁵¹ kʰaɪ̯⁵⁵ u³⁵ ɕin⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰä⁵⁵ li̯oʊ̯²¹⁴⁻³⁵ li̯oʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂʰɤŋ³⁵ in⁵¹/

yáuh sām jōi fā fā bāt hōi, mòuh sām chaap láuh láuh sìhng yam

jau⁵ sam¹ dzoi¹ faa¹ faa¹ bat⁷ hoi¹, mou⁴ sam¹ tsaap⁸ lau⁵ lau⁵ sing⁴ jam³

yeo⁵ sem¹ zoi¹ fa¹ fa¹ bed¹ hoi¹, mou⁴ sem¹ cab³ leo⁵ leo⁵ xing⁴ yem³

/jɐu̯¹³ sɐm⁵⁵ t͡sɔːi̯⁵⁵ faː⁵⁵ faː⁵⁵ pɐt̚⁵ hɔːi̯⁵⁵ mou̯²¹ sɐm⁵⁵ t͡sʰaːp̚³ lɐu̯¹³ lɐu̯¹³ sɪŋ²¹ jɐm³³/

Sometimes when one tried to do things wholeheartedly, the results may not be good; but on the contrary, sometimes when one has no intention to do something, the results may be positive.


蒙主寵召

ㄇㄥˊ ㄓㄨˇ ㄔㄨㄥˇ ㄓㄠˋ

мэнчжучунчжао

/mɤŋ³⁵ ʈ͡ʂu²¹⁴⁻³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰʊŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂɑʊ̯⁵¹/

/mʊŋ²¹ t͡syː³⁵ t͡sʰʊŋ³⁵ t͡siːu̯²²/

/mʊŋ²¹ t͡syː³⁵ t͡sʰʊŋ³⁵ t͡siːu̯²²/

被難

to be killed in a disaster, political incident


當街當巷

/tɔːŋ⁵⁵ kaːi̯⁵⁵ tɔːŋ⁵⁵ hɔːŋ²²/

/tɔːŋ⁵⁵ kaːi̯⁵⁵ tɔːŋ⁵⁵ hɔːŋ²²/


not to put too fine a word on it

not to put too fine a point on it#English

Synonym of not to put too fine a point on it


hyvää yötä, Jeesus myötä, kiitos tästä päivästä

Literally, “good night, Jesus [be] by [me/you/us/one], thank you for the day”.

m-g

good night, Jesus 􂀿be􂁀 by 􂀿me/you/us/one􂁀, thank you for the day

lit

Alternative form: hyvää yötä, Jeesus myötä


此消彼長

ㄘˇ ㄒㄧㄠ ㄅㄧˇ ㄓㄤˇ

/t͡sʰz̩²¹⁴⁻²¹ ɕi̯ɑʊ̯⁵⁵ pi²¹⁴⁻³⁵ ʈ͡ʂɑŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/t͡sʰiː³⁵ siːu̯⁵⁵ pei̯³⁵ t͡sœːŋ³⁵/

/t͡sʰiː³⁵ siːu̯⁵⁵ pei̯³⁵ t͡sœːŋ³⁵/

something declines while something else rises


hyvää yötä, Jeesus myötä

hyvää yötä, Jeesus myötä, kiitos tästä päivästä#Finnish

Ellipsis of hyvää yötä, Jeesus myötä, kiitos tästä päivästä (an evening prayer).


w to graj

(idiomatic) something is someone's jam (someone very much likes something) [with dative ‘whose jam’]


kiszki marsza grają

Literally, “[someone's] guts of are playing [the] march”.

m-g

􂀿someone's􂁀 guts of are playing 􂀿the􂁀 march

lit

(humorous, idiomatic) someone is starving; someone is very hungry [with dative ‘who is hungry’]


daj żyć

(colloquial, idiomatic) used when someone wants to express impatience with someone's statement and persuade someone to change the topic of conversation or stop asking about something; get a life!

(colloquial, idiomatic) used when someone wants to express their disbelief and surprise; no way!


don't spend it all at once

don't spend it all in one place
don't spend it all in one place#English

Synonym of don't spend it all in one place


指點迷津

ㄓˇ ㄉㄧㄢˇ ㄇㄧˊ ㄐㄧㄣ

чжидяньмицзинь

/ʈ͡ʂʐ̩²¹⁴⁻³⁵ ti̯ɛn²¹⁴⁻²¹ mi³⁵ t͡ɕin⁵⁵/

/t͡siː³⁵ tiːm³⁵ mɐi̯²¹ t͡sɵn⁵⁵/

/ʈ͡ʂʐ̩²¹⁴⁻³⁵ ti̯ɛn²¹⁴⁻²¹ mi³⁵ t͡ɕin⁵⁵/

/t͡siː³⁵ tiːm³⁵ mɐi̯²¹ t͡sɵn⁵⁵/

to provide the solution; to point out the right way


黑白天鵝——日哦夜哦

/hɐk̚⁵ paːk̚² tʰiːn⁵⁵ ŋɔː²¹ jɐt̚² ŋɔː²¹ jɛː²² ŋɔː²¹/

/haːk̚⁵ paːk̚² tʰiːn⁵⁵ ŋɔː²¹ jɐt̚² ŋɔː²¹ jɛː²² ŋɔː²¹/

A xiehouyu playing on the homophones 鵝／鹅 (ngo⁴, “goose”) and 哦 (ngo⁴, “to nag”), thus the first part being able to be interpreted as black and white sky-geese (swans) or as black (night) and white (day) sky nagging.

black and white swans — to nag day and night


車馬駢闐

ㄔㄜ ㄇㄚˇ ㄆㄧㄢˊ ㄊㄧㄢˊ

чэмапяньтянь

/ʈ͡ʂʰɤ⁵⁵ mä²¹⁴⁻²¹ pʰi̯ɛn³⁵ tʰi̯ɛn³⁵/

/ʈ͡ʂʰɤ⁵⁵ mä²¹⁴⁻²¹ pʰi̯ɛn³⁵ tʰi̯ɛn³⁵/

車馬駢溢 車馬駢溢#Chinese

车马骈溢 车马骈溢#Chinese


駢四儷六

ㄆㄧㄢˊ ㄙˋ ㄌㄧˋ ㄌㄧㄡˋ

/pʰi̯ɛn³⁵ sz̩⁵¹⁻⁵³ li⁵¹⁻⁵³ li̯oʊ̯⁵¹/

/pʰi̯ɛn³⁵ sz̩⁵¹⁻⁵³ li⁵¹⁻⁵³ li̯oʊ̯⁵¹/


佗手褦腳

佗手褦脚
佗手掕腳
陀手褦腳
陀手掕腳

/tʰɔː²¹ sɐu̯³⁵ lɐŋ³³ kœːk̚³/

/tʰɔː²¹ sɐu̯³⁵ lɐŋ³³ kœːk̚³/

(Cantonese) to cause hindrance or burden


cleanup in aisle

cleanup on aisle
cleanup on aisle#English


車馬駢溢

ㄔㄜ ㄇㄚˇ ㄆㄧㄢˊ ㄧˋ

/ʈ͡ʂʰɤ⁵⁵ mä²¹⁴⁻²¹ pʰi̯ɛn³⁵ i⁵¹/

/ʈ͡ʂʰɤ⁵⁵ mä²¹⁴⁻²¹ pʰi̯ɛn³⁵ i⁵¹/


TL-DNR

(Internet slang) Alternative form of tl;dr


lede to kum

(journalism) A placeholder for ‘lead to come’, spelled this way so it is not inadvertently thought to be part of the article.


Marsch durch die Institutionen

Literally, “[the] march through the institutions”, popularized by Rudi Dutschke.

Im Westen begannen die 68er den langen Marsch durch die Institutionen und schafften es am Ende bis ins Bundeskanzleramt. Den 68ern in der DDR blieben die großen Karrieren versagt.

2017 June 5, Jana Simon, “Frei hinter geschlossener Tür”, in Die Zeit:

Es ist aber gerade kein Naturgesetz, dass die Partei, deren einziges Alternativangebot im Gestern besteht, einen „Marsch durch die Institutionen“ antritt.

2023 September 25, Michael Bartsch, “OB-Wahl in Nordhausen: Wie es anders geht”, in Die Tageszeitung: taz, →ISSN:

(politics) a long-term strategy to reform society from “within”, by (democratically) entering and changing its institutions (the parliament, courts, etc.)


TIH

Initialism of their Imperial Highnesses.