破釜沉舟

ㄆㄛˋ ㄈㄨˇ ㄔㄣˊ ㄓㄡ

пофучэньчжоу

/pʰu̯ɔ⁵¹ fu²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂʰən³⁵ ʈ͡ʂoʊ̯⁵⁵/

/pʰɔː³³ fuː³⁵ t͡sʰɐm²¹ t͡sɐu̯⁵⁵/

/pʰo¹¹⁻⁵³ hu⁵³ tim²⁴⁻¹¹ t͡siu⁴⁴/

/pʰɤ²¹⁻⁴¹ hu⁴¹ tim²³⁻³³ t͡siu⁴⁴/

/pʰo²¹⁻⁵³ hu⁵³ tim²⁴⁻²² t͡siu⁴⁴/

/pʰɔ⁴¹⁻⁵⁵⁴ hu⁵⁵⁴ tim²⁴⁻²² t͡siu³³/

/pʰu̯ɔ⁵¹ fu²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂʰən³⁵ ʈ͡ʂoʊ̯⁵⁵/

/pʰɔː³³ fuː³⁵ t͡sʰɐm²¹ t͡sɐu̯⁵⁵/

/pʰo¹¹⁻⁵³ hu⁵³ tim²⁴⁻¹¹ t͡siu⁴⁴/

/pʰɤ²¹⁻⁴¹ hu⁴¹ tim²³⁻³³ t͡siu⁴⁴/

/pʰo²¹⁻⁵³ hu⁵³ tim²⁴⁻²² t͡siu⁴⁴/

/pʰɔ⁴¹⁻⁵⁵⁴ hu⁵⁵⁴ tim²⁴⁻²² t͡siu³³/

In reference to an incident which occurred during the Battle of Julu

Thus Xiang Yu led his entire army across the River He (i.e. the Yellow River). He had all the boats sunk, the caldrons and clay boilers broken, and the camp lodgings burned. He further ordered that only three days' provisions should be carried. With these measures, he showed that every man was now ready to die and none of them would entertain the very idea of returning.

Xiàng Yǔ nǎi xī yǐn bīng dù Hé, jiē chén chuán, pò fǔ zèng, shāo lúshè, chí sān rì liáng, yǐ shì shìzú bì sǐ, wú yī huán xīn.

項羽乃悉引兵渡河，皆沈船，破釜甑，燒廬舍，持三日糧，以示士卒必死，無一還心。

项羽乃悉引兵渡河，皆沉船，破釜甑，烧庐舍，持三日粮，以示士卒必死，无一还心。

break the (cooking) pots and sink the boat

to burn one's boats; to cross the Rubicon; to reach the point of no return


CMIIW

correct me if I'm wrong
correct me if I'm wrong#English

(chiefly Internet slang) Initialism of correct me if I'm wrong.


怨天尤人

ㄩㄢˋ ㄊㄧㄢ ㄧㄡˊ ㄖㄣˊ

юаньтяньюжэнь

/ɥɛn⁵¹ tʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵ joʊ̯³⁵ ʐən³⁵/

/jyːn³³ tʰiːn⁵⁵ jɐu̯²¹ jɐn²¹/

/i̯en⁵⁵ tʰi̯en²⁴ i̯u¹¹ ŋin¹¹/

/uan²¹⁻⁴¹ tʰĩ⁴⁴ iu²³⁻³³ zin²³/

/uan¹¹⁻⁵³ tʰĩ⁴⁴ iu²⁴⁻¹¹ lin²⁴/

/ɥɛn⁵¹ tʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵ joʊ̯³⁵ ʐən³⁵/

/jyːn³³ tʰiːn⁵⁵ jɐu̯²¹ jɐn²¹/

/i̯en⁵⁵ tʰi̯en²⁴ i̯u¹¹ ŋin¹¹/

/uan²¹⁻⁴¹ tʰĩ⁴⁴ iu²³⁻³³ zin²³/

/uan¹¹⁻⁵³ tʰĩ⁴⁴ iu²⁴⁻¹¹ lin²⁴/

The Master replied, "I do not murmur against Heaven. I do not grumble against men. My studies lie low, and my penetration rises high. But there is Heaven - that knows me!"

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

Zǐyuē: “Bù yuàn tiān, bù yóu rén, xià xué ér shàng dá, zhī wǒ zhě, qí tiān hū!”

子曰：「不怨天，不尤人，下學而上達，知我者，其天乎！」

子曰：「不怨天，不尤人，下学而上达，知我者，其天乎！」

to blame god and man; to blame everyone and everything but oneself


курение запрещено

head

куре́ние запрещено́

куре́ние запрещено́ • (kurénije zapreščenó)

куре́ние запрещено́ (canonical)
kurénije zapreščenó (romanization)


est-il

Est-il dans la cuisine ?


I stand corrected

The Battle of Hastings was fought in 1055.
No it wasn’t! Look in the textbook!
Oh, sorry. I stand corrected—it was fought in 1066.


付之一炬

/fu⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ i⁵⁵⁻³⁵ t͡ɕy⁵¹/

/fuː²² t͡siː⁵⁵ jɐt̚⁵ kɵy̯²²/

/fu⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ i⁵⁵⁻³⁵ t͡ɕy⁵¹/

/fuː²² t͡siː⁵⁵ jɐt̚⁵ kɵy̯²²/

付諸一炬 付諸一炬#Chinese

付诸一炬 付诸一炬#Chinese

Synonym of 付諸一炬／付诸一炬 (fùzhūyījù, “to be burnt down”)


換湯不換藥

ㄏㄨㄢˋ ㄊㄤ ㄅㄨˋ ㄏㄨㄢˋ ㄧㄠˋ

huàn tāng bù huàn yào [Phonetic:huàn tāng bú huàn yào]

хуань тан бу хуань яо

/xu̯än⁵¹ tʰɑŋ⁵⁵ pu⁵¹⁻³⁵ xu̯än⁵¹⁻⁵³ jɑʊ̯⁵¹/

/wuːn²² tʰɔːŋ⁵⁵ pɐt̚⁵ wuːn²² jœːk̚²/

/wuːn²² tʰɔːŋ⁵⁵ pɐt̚⁵ wuːn²² jœːk̚²/

to change only the form but not the content; same old stuff but with a different label


一心一意

/i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ ɕin⁵⁵ i⁵⁵⁻³⁵ i⁵¹/

/jɐt̚⁵ sɐm⁵⁵ jɐt̚⁵ jiː³³/

/it̚³²⁻⁴ sim⁴⁴⁻²² it̚³²⁻⁴ i²¹/

/it̚⁵⁻²⁴ sim³³ it̚⁵⁻²⁴ i⁴¹/

/it̚³²⁻⁵ sim⁴⁴⁻²² it̚³²⁻⁵ i²¹/

/it̚³²⁻⁴ sim⁴⁴⁻³³ it̚³²⁻⁴ i¹¹/

/it̚³²⁻⁴ sim⁴⁴⁻³³ it̚³²⁻⁴ i²¹/

/t͡sek̚⁴⁻² sim³³⁻²³ t͡sek̚⁴⁻² i²¹³/

/i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ ɕin⁵⁵ i⁵⁵⁻³⁵ i⁵¹/

/jɐt̚⁵ sɐm⁵⁵ jɐt̚⁵ jiː³³/

/it̚³²⁻⁴ sim⁴⁴⁻²² it̚³²⁻⁴ i²¹/

/it̚⁵⁻²⁴ sim³³ it̚⁵⁻²⁴ i⁴¹/

/it̚³²⁻⁵ sim⁴⁴⁻²² it̚³²⁻⁵ i²¹/

/it̚³²⁻⁴ sim⁴⁴⁻³³ it̚³²⁻⁴ i¹¹/

/it̚³²⁻⁴ sim⁴⁴⁻³³ it̚³²⁻⁴ i²¹/

/t͡sek̚⁴⁻² sim³³⁻²³ t͡sek̚⁴⁻² i²¹³/

heart and soul; wholeheartedly; with great devotion


冷嘲熱諷

ㄌㄥˇ ㄔㄠˊ ㄖㄜˋ ㄈㄥˇ

ㄌㄥˇ ㄔㄠˊ ㄖㄜˋ ㄈㄥˋ

/lɤŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂʰɑʊ̯³⁵ ʐɤ⁵¹ fɤŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/lɤŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂʰɑʊ̯³⁵ ʐɤ⁵¹⁻⁵³ fɤŋ⁵¹/

/laːŋ¹³ t͡saːu̯⁵⁵ jiːt̚² fʊŋ³³/

/lɤŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂʰɑʊ̯³⁵ ʐɤ⁵¹ fɤŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/lɤŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂʰɑʊ̯³⁵ ʐɤ⁵¹⁻⁵³ fɤŋ⁵¹/

/laːŋ¹³ t͡saːu̯⁵⁵ jiːt̚² fʊŋ³³/

Grandma always makes sarcastic remarks towards Mother.

Nǎinǎi jīngcháng duì māmā lěngcháorèfěng.

奶奶經常對媽媽冷嘲熱諷。

奶奶经常对妈妈冷嘲热讽。

burning satire and freezing irony; to sarcastically ridicule


深溝高壘

ㄕㄣ ㄍㄡ ㄍㄠ ㄌㄟˇ

шэньгоугаолэй

/ʂən⁵⁵ koʊ̯⁵⁵ kɑʊ̯⁵⁵ leɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/ʂən⁵⁵ koʊ̯⁵⁵ kɑʊ̯⁵⁵ leɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

This means large-scale mobile warfare, and not positional warfare depending exclusively on defence works with deep trenches, high fortresses and successive rows of defensive positions.

1938, 毛澤東 (Mao Zedong), 《論持久戰》 (On Protracted War), 《毛澤東選集》. English translation based on the Foreign Languages Press edition

Zhè jiù shì dàguīmó de yùndòngzhàn, ér bù shì shēngōugāolěi, céngcéngshèfáng, zhuān kào fángyù gōngshì de zhèndìzhàn.

這就是大規模的運動戰，而不是深溝高壘、層層設防、專靠防禦工事的陣地戰。

这就是大规模的运动战，而不是深沟高垒、层层设防、专靠防御工事的阵地战。

to dig deep trenches and build high defensive walls; to fortify one's position; to dig in


ctn

(Internet slang, text messaging) Abbreviation of can't talk now.


c'est de l'hébreu

it's all Greek to me
it's all Greek to me

it's all Greek to me (a phrase indicating that something's impossible to understand)


c'est du chinois

Les femmes c’est du chinois / Le comprenez-vous ? Moi pas.

1961, Serge Gainsbourg, Les femmes c'est du chinois:

Women are all Greek to me / Do you understand? Not I.

it's all Greek to me (a phrase indicating that something is impossible to understand)


gdzie Rzym, gdzie Krym

/ɡd͡ʑɛ ˈʐɘm ɡd͡ʑɛ ˈkrɘm/

Literally, “Where is Rome, where is Crimea?”.

lit

(humorous, idiomatic) what does that have to do with the price of tea in China?


ha något på tungan

Jag har det på tungan.

on the tip of one's tongue
on the tip of one's tongue

have something on the tip of one's tongue


the boot is on the other foot

The appointment of Huw Merriman as Minister for Rail and HS2 means the boot is on the other foot for the former chairman of the influential House of Commons Transport Select Committee (TSC).

2022 November 16, Mel Holley, “Network News: Settling rail disputes the priority for new Rail Minister”, in RAIL, number 970, page 10:

the shoe is on the other foot
the shoe is on the other foot#English

Alternative form of the shoe is on the other foot


comme les doigts de la main

Literally, “like the fingers of the hand”.

unis comme les doigts de la main

like two peas in a pod
like two peas in a pod

(simile) like two peas in a pod (very close)


do zobaczenia

Compare Ukrainian до побачення (do pobačennja, “goodbye”)

cog

до побачення


萬家燈火

ㄨㄢˋ ㄐㄧㄚ ㄉㄥ ㄏㄨㄛˇ

ваньцзядэнхо

/wän⁵¹ t͡ɕi̯ä⁵⁵ tɤŋ⁵⁵ xu̯ɔ²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/maːn²² kaː⁵⁵ tɐŋ⁵⁵ fɔː³⁵/

/ban³³⁻²¹ ka⁴⁴⁻³³ tiɪŋ⁴⁴⁻³³ hue⁴¹/

/buaŋ¹¹ ke³³⁻²³ teŋ³³⁻²³ hue⁵²/

/wän⁵¹ t͡ɕi̯ä⁵⁵ tɤŋ⁵⁵ xu̯ɔ²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/maːn²² kaː⁵⁵ tɐŋ⁵⁵ fɔː³⁵/

/ban³³⁻²¹ ka⁴⁴⁻³³ tiɪŋ⁴⁴⁻³³ hue⁴¹/

/buaŋ¹¹ ke³³⁻²³ teŋ³³⁻²³ hue⁵²/


金鼓齊鳴

ㄐㄧㄣ ㄍㄨˇ ㄑㄧˊ ㄇㄧㄥˊ

цзиньгу ци мин

/t͡ɕin⁵⁵ ku²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕʰi³⁵ miŋ³⁵/

/kɐm⁵⁵ kuː³⁵ t͡sʰɐi̯²¹ mɪŋ²¹/

/t͡ɕin⁵⁵ ku²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕʰi³⁵ miŋ³⁵/

/kɐm⁵⁵ kuː³⁵ t͡sʰɐi̯²¹ mɪŋ²¹/

Based on a quote from Zuozhuan, "Xi 22":
*

lw

s:春秋左氏傳/僖公#傳_22

The three armies make use of sharp weapons / advantages; the instruments of brass and the drums rouse the men's spirits.

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

Sānjūn yǐ lì yòng yě, jīngǔ yǐ shēng qì yě.

三軍以利用也，金鼓以聲氣也。

三军以利用也，金鼓以声气也。

The gongs and drums sounded out in unison, and men yelled and shouted, as loudly as rushing rivers and churning seas.

Romance of the Three Kingdoms, circa 14ᵗʰ century CE

Jīngǔqímíng, hǎnshēng rú jiāngfānhǎifèi.

金鼓齊鳴，喊聲如江翻海沸。

金鼓齐鸣，喊声如江翻海沸。

the gongs and drums of war sound out in unison


לה״ו

Abbreviation of ליהוה הארץ ומלואה from Psalms 24:1.

abbrev

ליהוה הארץ ומלואה

Abbreviation of ליהוה הארץ ומלואה

(Judaism) The universe and all in it is God’s.


ע״ה

Abbreviation of עָלָיו הַשָּׁלוֹם (with a masculine singular subject),
עָלֶיהָ הַשָּׁלוֹם (with a feminine singular subject),
עֲלֵיהֶם הַשָּׁלוֹם (with a masculine plural subject), or
עֲלֵיהֶן הַשָּׁלוֹם (with a feminine plural subject). Hence literally “peace be upon him/her/them”.

עָלָיו הַשָּׁלוֹם

Abbreviation of עָלָיו הַשָּׁלוֹם

On whom should be peace; used after the name of a dead person.


יב״ל

Abbreviation of יבדל לחיים (“literally, may he be separated for life”).

(Judaism) Attached to the mention of a live person, when it is near mention of a dead person, to distinguish between the living and the dead.


垂手可得

ㄔㄨㄟˊ ㄕㄡˇ ㄎㄜˇ ㄉㄜˊ

/ʈ͡ʂʰu̯eɪ̯³⁵ ʂoʊ̯²¹⁴⁻³⁵ kʰɤ²¹⁴⁻²¹ tɤ³⁵/

/sɵy̯²¹ sɐu̯³⁵ hɔː³⁵ tɐk̚⁵/

/ʈ͡ʂʰu̯eɪ̯³⁵ ʂoʊ̯²¹⁴⁻³⁵ kʰɤ²¹⁴⁻²¹ tɤ³⁵/

/sɵy̯²¹ sɐu̯³⁵ hɔː³⁵ tɐk̚⁵/

(Taiwanese Mandarin) extremely easy to obtain


唾手可得

ㄊㄨㄛˋ ㄕㄡˇ ㄎㄜˇ ㄉㄜˊ

/tʰu̯ɔ⁵¹ ʂoʊ̯²¹⁴⁻³⁵ kʰɤ²¹⁴⁻²¹ tɤ³⁵/

/tʰœː³³ sɐu̯³⁵ hɔː³⁵ tɐk̚⁵/

/tʰɔː³³ sɐu̯³⁵ hɔː³⁵ tɐk̚⁵/

/tʰu̯ɔ⁵¹ ʂoʊ̯²¹⁴⁻³⁵ kʰɤ²¹⁴⁻²¹ tɤ³⁵/

/tʰœː³³ sɐu̯³⁵ hɔː³⁵ tɐk̚⁵/

/tʰɔː³³ sɐu̯³⁵ hɔː³⁵ tɐk̚⁵/


I came, I saw, I conquered

Calque of Latin vēnī, vīdī, vīcī (“I came, I saw, I conquered”).

cal

I have gained a total and swift victory.

我来つ、我見つ、我勝ちつ

われきつ、われみつ、われかちつ, ware kitsu, ware mitsu, ware kachitsu

prišĭlŭ esmĭ, uzĭrělŭ esmĭ, pobědilŭ esmĭ

пришьлъ есмь, оузьрѣлъ есмь, побѣдилъ есмь

prišĭla esmĭ, uzĭrěla esmĭ, pobědila esmĭ

пришьла есмь, оузьрѣла есмь, побѣдила есмь


縱橫天下

ㄗㄨㄥˋ ㄏㄥˊ ㄊㄧㄢ ㄒㄧㄚˋ

ㄗㄨㄥ ㄏㄥˊ ㄊㄧㄢ ㄒㄧㄚˋ

цзунхэн тянься

/t͡sʊŋ⁵¹ xɤŋ³⁵ tʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵ ɕi̯ä⁵¹/

/t͡sʊŋ⁵⁵ xɤŋ³⁵ tʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵ ɕi̯ä⁵¹/

/t͡sʊŋ⁵⁵ waːŋ²¹ tʰiːn⁵⁵ haː²²/

/t͡sʊŋ⁵¹ xɤŋ³⁵ tʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵ ɕi̯ä⁵¹/

/t͡sʊŋ⁵⁵ xɤŋ³⁵ tʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵ ɕi̯ä⁵¹/

/t͡sʊŋ⁵⁵ waːŋ²¹ tʰiːn⁵⁵ haː²²/

to enjoy free rein across the nation; to have license to do as one pleases anywhere in the country


皮笑肉不笑

ㄆㄧˊ ㄒㄧㄠˋ ㄖㄡˋ ㄅㄨˋ ㄒㄧㄠˋ

pí xiào ròu bù xiào [Phonetic:pí xiào ròu bú xiào]

пи сяо жоу бу сяо

/pʰi³⁵ ɕi̯ɑʊ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʐoʊ̯⁵¹ pu⁵¹⁻³⁵ ɕi̯ɑʊ̯⁵¹/


quota hora est

From quota the feminine of quotus (“what number of”) + hōra (“hour”) + est (“it is”) the third person singular of sum (“I am”). Literally meaning "what is the number of the hour?".

Quota hora est? - Hora septima minuta tertia decima est.

Quota hora est? - Decima hora est cum quadrante.

What time is it? - It's a quarter past ten.

Quota hora est? - Decima hora est cum sēmisse.

What time is it? - It's thirty minutes past ten.

Quota hora est? - Hora undecima cum sēmisse.

What time is it? - It's half past eleven.

Quota hora est? - Hora prima cum dodrante.

What time is it? - It's a quarter to two.

A glossary of Latin words and phrases pertaining to time


như nước đổ lá khoai

[ɲɨ˧˧ nɨək̚˧˦ ʔɗo˧˩ laː˧˦ xwaːj˧˧]

[ɲɨ˧˧ nɨək̚˦˧˥ ʔɗow˧˨ laː˨˩˦ kʰwaːj˧˧]

[ɲɨ˧˧ nɨək̚˦˧˥ ʔɗow˧˨ laː˨˩˦ xwaːj˧˧]

[ɲɨ˧˧ nɨək̚˦˥ ʔɗow˨˩˦ laː˦˥ kʰwaːj˧˧]

[ɲɨ˧˧ nɨək̚˦˥ ʔɗow˨˩˦ laː˦˥ xwaːj˧˧]

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


talk of the devil

speak of the devil
speak of the devil#English

(idiomatic) Alternative form of speak of the devil


speak of the devil and he shall appear

En-au-speak of the devil and he shall appear.ogg


水深火熱

ㄕㄨㄟˇ ㄕㄣ ㄏㄨㄛˇ ㄖㄜˋ

/ʂu̯eɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʂən⁵⁵ xu̯ɔ²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʐɤ⁵¹/

/sɵy̯³⁵ sɐm⁵⁵ fɔː³⁵ jiːt̚²/

/ʂu̯eɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʂən⁵⁵ xu̯ɔ²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʐɤ⁵¹/

/sɵy̯³⁵ sɐm⁵⁵ fɔː³⁵ jiːt̚²/

If you make the water more deep and the fire more fierce, they will in like manner make another revolution.

Rú shuǐ yì shēn, rú huǒ yì rè, yì yùn éryǐ yǐ.

如水益深，如火益熱，亦運而已矣。

如水益深，如火益热，亦运而已矣。

to be in deep distress; to live with great misery and hardship


鋒不可當

ㄈㄥ ㄅㄨˋ ㄎㄜˇ ㄉㄤˋ

фэн букэ дан

/fɤŋ⁵⁵ pu⁵¹ kʰɤ²¹⁴⁻²¹ tɑŋ⁵¹/

/fɤŋ⁵⁵ pu⁵¹ kʰɤ²¹⁴⁻²¹ tɑŋ⁵¹/

Literally: the tips (of their spears) cannot be stopped

(they) cannot be stopped; to be an unstoppable force


ça y est

Ça y est ! On est arrivé !

Ça y est ! J’ai finalement compris !

Ça y est ! Ça marche !

there we go, there you go, there you have it, that's it, etc.

Alors, voilà, ça y est.


don't let the bedbugs bite

LL-Q1860 (eng)-Flame, not lame-don't let the bedbugs bite.wav

Sleep tight […] don’t let the bedbugs bite!

(colloquial, humorous) Used to wish a person a good night’s sleep.


引虎入羊群

ㄧㄣˇ ㄏㄨˇ ㄖㄨˋ ㄧㄤˊ ㄑㄩㄣˊ

yǐn hǔ rù yáng qún [Phonetic:yínhǔrùyángqún]

инь ху жу ян цюнь

/in²¹⁴⁻³⁵ xu²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʐu⁵¹ jɑŋ³⁵ t͡ɕʰyn³⁵/

/in²¹⁴⁻³⁵ xu²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʐu⁵¹ jɑŋ³⁵ t͡ɕʰyn³⁵/

Literally: to bring a tiger into the middle of a group of lambs


будь верен сам себе

head

будь ве́рен сам себе́

будь ве́рен сам себе́ • (budʹ véren sam sebé)

будь ве́рен сам себе́ (canonical)
budʹ véren sam sebé (romanization)

to thine own self be true
to thine own self be true


虎入羊群

atiger in the middle of a flock of lambs

ㄏㄨˇ ㄖㄨˋ ㄧㄤˊ ㄑㄩㄣˊ

/xu²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʐu⁵¹ jɑŋ³⁵ t͡ɕʰyn³⁵/

/fuː³⁵ jɐp̚² jœːŋ²¹ kʷʰɐn²¹/

/xu²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʐu⁵¹ jɑŋ³⁵ t͡ɕʰyn³⁵/

/fuː³⁵ jɐp̚² jœːŋ²¹ kʷʰɐn²¹/


INBD

(Internet slang, text messaging) Initialism of it's no big deal.


one country, two systems

Coined by Chinese politician and paramount leader from 1978 to 1989 Deng Xiaoping in 1982 as part of the People's Republic of China proposal to reunify Taiwan. Calque of Chinese 一國兩制／一国两制 (yī guó liǎng zhì).

cal

The principle of “one country, two systems” was first proposed by Deng Xiaoping in the early 1980s as way to reconcile the communist mainland with historically Chinese territories—Taiwan, Hong Kong and Macau—that had capitalist economies.

2017 June 29, “Has “one country, two systems” been a success for Hong Kong?”, in The Economist, →ISSN:

Policy for the reunification of China as one country, but with areas like Hong Kong and Taiwan with separate economic and political systems.

一國兩制

slogan for the reunification of China as one country


says who

(colloquial) Who says so; on whose authority?


szezám, tárulj

From its use in Ali Baba and the Forty Thieves, translating French Sésame, ouvre-toi in Antoine Galland's version of the Ali Baba story in the One Thousand and One Nights, possibly based on an oral Arabic source.

Ali Baba and the Forty Thieves
Antoine Galland
One Thousand and One Nights


I know you are but what am I

Uncertain, but dates back at least to the June 15th, 1957 issue of The New Yorker (Vol. 33 No. 17, page 23). In "The Talk of the Town", which was a collaborative effort by the magazine's staff writers: "INTERROGATIVE WISP FOUND IN GUTTER OF MACDOUGAL STREET: 'I know you are but what am I?'" The phrase is often attributed to Pee-Wee Herman.

I know you are but what am I? Jeannie would say out loud, whenever I mouthed a name at her.

At this point Johnny changes tactics and hollers, "I know you are, but what am I?" and the voice echoes, "I know you are, but what am I?"

2003, Mark E. Jones, Echoes of Heaven, page 7:

So when Mr. Macchia states that people who collect state quarters are fools, my son says I should reply, "I know you are, but what am I?"

2005, American Numismatic Association, The Numismatist, page 14:

(rhetorical question, colloquial, childish) Assertion that an insult made by the party to whom the phrase is directed is actually true of that party, and not of the person using the phrase. Usually considered to be a playground taunt.

assertion that an insult made by the party to whom the phrase is directed is actually true of that party

kdo to říká ten to je, tomu se to rýmuje


nie ma mowy

Potem pijemy herbatę między wersalką, na której leży gigantyczny stos pościeli, a stołem obciążonym mnogością różnych weselnych ciast i dlatego nie ma mowy, żeby gorącą szklankę postawić, trzeba ją trzymać, chociaż parzy palce.

Then we drink tea between the sofa, on which lies a giant pile of bedding, and the table laden with a multitude of different wedding cakes, and so there is no way to put the hot glass down, you have to hold it even though it steams your fingers.

(idiomatic) there is no way to (something is impossible and cannot happen)


狼心狗行

ㄌㄤˊ ㄒㄧㄣ ㄍㄡˇ ㄒㄧㄥˊ

лан синь гоу син

/lɑŋ³⁵ ɕin⁵⁵ koʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ɕiŋ³⁵/

/lɔŋ²⁴⁻²² sim⁴⁴⁻²² kau⁵³⁻⁴⁴ hiɪŋ²²/

/lɔŋ²⁴⁻²² sim³³ kau⁵⁵⁴⁻²⁴ hiɪŋ⁴¹/

/lɔŋ¹³⁻²² sim⁴⁴⁻²² kau⁵³⁻⁴⁴ hiɪŋ²²/

/lɔŋ²⁴⁻¹¹ sim⁴⁴⁻³³ kau⁵³⁻⁴⁴ hiɪŋ³³/

/lɔŋ²³⁻³³ sim⁴⁴⁻³³ kau⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ hiɪŋ³³/

/lɑŋ³⁵ ɕin⁵⁵ koʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ɕiŋ³⁵/

/lɔŋ²⁴⁻²² sim⁴⁴⁻²² kau⁵³⁻⁴⁴ hiɪŋ²²/

/lɔŋ²⁴⁻²² sim³³ kau⁵⁵⁴⁻²⁴ hiɪŋ⁴¹/

/lɔŋ¹³⁻²² sim⁴⁴⁻²² kau⁵³⁻⁴⁴ hiɪŋ²²/

/lɔŋ²⁴⁻¹¹ sim⁴⁴⁻³³ kau⁵³⁻⁴⁴ hiɪŋ³³/

/lɔŋ²³⁻³³ sim⁴⁴⁻³³ kau⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ hiɪŋ³³/


有何面目

ㄧㄡˇ ㄏㄜˊ ㄇㄧㄢˋ ㄇㄨˋ

/joʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ xɤ³⁵ mi̯ɛn⁵¹⁻⁵³ mu⁵¹/

/joʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ xɤ³⁵ mi̯ɛn⁵¹⁻⁵³ mu⁵¹/

how can you have respect for yourself; how can you look at yourself in the mirror


nighty night

LL-Q1860 (eng)-Flame, not lame-nighty night.wav

(colloquial, usually childish) Good night.


dba

His company is "Simon Enterprises, Inc. (2007)", dba "Simon's Party Spot".

(business) Initialism of doing business as: used to indicate the public alias of a business legally constituted under a different name


nighty-night

(colloquial, usually childish) Alternative spelling of nighty night


nighty

(childish) Good night. Abbreviation of nighty night.


en vacker dag

en (“one”) + vacker (“beautiful”) + dag (“day”)

af

En vacker dag när du minst anar det kommer jag ta hämnd

One day, when you least expect it, I will take my revenge

En vacker dag lär han blanda fel där ute i kemilabbet och spränga sig själv i luften

One day, he's bound to accidentally mix the wrong stuff [mix wrong] out there in the chemistry lab and blow himself up [in the air] [not implying it's a good thing]

En vacker dag kom Nisse på besök

One day, Nisse came to visit [adds a bit of a "out of the blue" tone compared to "en dag"]

(idiomatic) one day, someday, one of these days (just like that)


LWYL

(Internet slang, text messaging) Initialism of laugh with you later, used as a sign-off


BTDT

been there, done that
been there, done that#English


klart som korvspad

(idiomatic) obvious (very easily understood)


lange Rede, kurzer Sinn

Literally, “long speech, short meaning”.


隨機應變

CJKV/code

Sino-Xenic (隨機應變):
* → Vietnamese: tùy cơ ứng biến (隨機應變)

ㄙㄨㄟˊ ㄐㄧ ㄧㄥˋ ㄅㄧㄢˋ

суйцзиинбянь

/su̯eɪ̯³⁵ t͡ɕi⁵⁵ iŋ⁵¹⁻⁵³ pi̯ɛn⁵¹/

/t͡sʰɵy̯²¹ kei̯⁵⁵ jɪŋ³³ piːn³³/

/su̯eɪ̯³⁵ t͡ɕi⁵⁵ iŋ⁵¹⁻⁵³ pi̯ɛn⁵¹/

/t͡sʰɵy̯²¹ kei̯⁵⁵ jɪŋ³³ piːn³³/

to adjust to changing circumstance; to act according to circumstances


PSK

Initialism of "Pahulay sa Kalinaw" (literally "rest in peace").

pahulay sa kalinaw
pahulay sa kalinaw#Cebuano


DNQ

(science fiction fandom) Initialism of do not quote.


one should be so lucky

Calque of Yiddish מען זאָל זיין אזוי מזלדיק (men zol zeyn azoy mazldik, “one should be so lucky”)

calque

מען זאָל זיין אזוי מזלדיק

So now I'm the Beverly Sills of Broadway, right? Hah! I should be so lucky!

1970, The New York Times Biographical Service, New York Times & Arno Press, page 660:

I laugh uncontrollably when I meet women who say, "What if we get equal rights; we'll all be drafted!" My reply is, "You should be so lucky." The male-dominated military are not about to open their last sanctuary to 51 percent of the population.

1971, Equal Rights for Men and Women 1971: Hearings, Ninety-second Congress, First Session, U.S. Government Printing Office, page 131:

I play my heart out. To have me on his team, he should be so lucky. That's right. When I get chosen, I give everything.

1983, Larry Ketron, Asian Shade, Dramatists Play Service, page 37:

"You take pictures in here and you're liable to get a rat in one of them!" "I should be so lucky. I've been trying for years to get a picture of a rat at the Intervale Jewish Center without any luck. They refuse to pose."

1988, Jack Kugelmass, editor, Between Two Worlds, Cornell University Press, page 311:

(informal, sarcastic) It is highly doubtful: indicating that something is not likely to happen to the person specified.

(ugyan/vajon) mikor lesz/van neked olyan/akkora szerencséd?


左衝右突

ㄗㄨㄛˇ ㄔㄨㄥ ㄧㄡˋ ㄊㄨ

ㄗㄨㄛˇ ㄔㄨㄥ ㄧㄡˋ ㄊㄨˊ

/t͡su̯ɔ²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂʰʊŋ⁵⁵ joʊ̯⁵¹ tʰu⁵⁵/

/t͡su̯ɔ²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂʰʊŋ⁵⁵ joʊ̯⁵¹ tʰu³⁵/

/t͡su̯ɔ²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂʰʊŋ⁵⁵ joʊ̯⁵¹ tʰu⁵⁵/

/t͡su̯ɔ²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂʰʊŋ⁵⁵ joʊ̯⁵¹ tʰu³⁵/

Literally: to charge to the left and dash to the right


斬將搴旗

ㄓㄢˇ ㄐㄧㄤˋ ㄑㄧㄢ ㄑㄧˊ

чжаньцзянцяньци

/ʈ͡ʂän²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕi̯ɑŋ⁵¹ t͡ɕʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵ t͡ɕʰi³⁵/

Literally: to behead the (enemy) general and take down (the enemy's) flag


IDM

"IDM" in general conversations is the abbreviated form of "I don't mind." It is a part of the lingo of popular networking applications like Snapchat, Whatsapp, or Instagram.

[2022 February 2, Haripriya, “What does IDM mean on Snapchat and How to use it”, in Nerds Chalk:

While it isn't confirmed which brand of honey supplement the woman used, viewers were taken aback at the woman's brazen approach to get her partner to last longer. "idm if she made a joke or not it’s still weird asf to put something in somebody else’s drink without them knowing," one user commented.

2022 May 8, Gisselle Hernandez, “A woman made a joke about slipping her boyfriend a supplement to make him last longer in bed, sparking a debate on consent”, in Daily Dot:

(Internet slang, text messaging) Initialism of I don't mind.


呵呵大笑

ㄏㄜ ㄏㄜ ㄉㄚˋ ㄒㄧㄠˋ

/xɤ⁵⁵ xɤ⁵⁵ tä⁵¹⁻⁵³ ɕi̯ɑʊ̯⁵¹/

/hɔː⁵⁵ hɔː⁵⁵ taːi̯²² siːu̯³³/

/xɤ⁵⁵ xɤ⁵⁵ tä⁵¹⁻⁵³ ɕi̯ɑʊ̯⁵¹/

/hɔː⁵⁵ hɔː⁵⁵ taːi̯²² siːu̯³³/


Jacke wie Hose

Nicht alles kann über den Bundeszuschuß geregelt werden. Im übrigen, bei 90% der Leute ist es Jacke wie Hose, ob sie Beiträge zahlen oder Steuern; gezahlt werden muß es.

1991 April 26, Anke Fuchs (SPD), “Erste Beratung des von den Fraktionen der CDU/CSU und FDP eingebrachten Entwurfs eines Gesetzes […] ”, in parliamentary debates (Deutscher Bundestag), Bonn, page 1636, column A:

six of one, half a dozen of the other
six of one, half a dozen of the other

(idiomatic) six of one, half a dozen of the other


ITYM

(Internet slang) Initialism of I think/thought you mean/meant.


GBTW

(Internet slang) Initialism of get back to work.


TBF

(Internet slang, text messaging) Initialism of to be fair.


best of

A rubber consists of the best of three games, unless one side wins the first two games.

1911, Hugh Chisholm, The encyclopædia britannica: a dictionary of arts, sciences, literature and ...:

The attainment of a majority of wins in (an odd-numbered series of games).

He was listening to The Best of the Pink Floyd, smoking a joint.

The marketed-as-best works of (a particular artist) in compilation.


未知生，焉知死

/weɪ̯⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ ʂɤŋ⁵⁵ jɛn⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ sz̩²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

Jilu asked about serving the spirits of the dead. The Master said, "While you are not able to serve men, how can you serve their spirits?" Ji Lu added, "I venture to ask about death?" He was answered, "While you do not know life, how can you know about death?"

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

Jìlù wèn shì guǐshén. Zǐyuē: “Wèi néng shì rén, yān néng shì guǐ?” Gǎnwèn sǐ. Yuē: “Wèi zhī shēng, yān zhī sǐ?”

季路問事鬼神。子曰：「未能事人，焉能事鬼？」敢問死。曰：「未知生，焉知死？」

季路问事鬼神。子曰：「未能事人，焉能事鬼？」敢问死。曰：「未知生，焉知死？」


účel světí prostředky

the end justifies the means
the end justifies the means


魂飛天外

ㄏㄨㄣˊ ㄈㄟ ㄊㄧㄢ ㄨㄞˋ

хуньфэйтяньвай

/xu̯ən³⁵ feɪ̯⁵⁵ tʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵ waɪ̯⁵¹/

/xu̯ən³⁵ feɪ̯⁵⁵ tʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵ waɪ̯⁵¹/

to practically leap out of one's skin (with shock or surprise)


早聞道，夕死可矣

ㄒㄧ ㄙˇ ㄎㄜˇ ㄧˇ

ㄒㄧˋ ㄙˇ ㄎㄜˇ ㄧˇ

цзао вэнь дао

/t͡sɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ wən³⁵ tɑʊ̯⁵¹ ɕi⁵⁵ sz̩²¹⁴⁻³⁵ kʰɤ²¹⁴⁻³⁵ i²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/t͡sɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ wən³⁵ tɑʊ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ ɕi⁵¹ sz̩²¹⁴⁻³⁵ kʰɤ²¹⁴⁻³⁵ i²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/t͡sou̯³⁵ mɐn²¹ tou̯²² t͡sɪk̚² sei̯³⁵ hɔː³⁵ jiː¹³/

朝聞道，夕死可矣 朝聞道，夕死可矣#Chinese

朝闻道，夕死可矣 朝闻道，夕死可矣#Chinese

Alternative form of 朝聞道，夕死可矣／朝闻道，夕死可矣 (zhāo wén dào, xī sǐ kě yǐ)


雪上加霜

CJKV/code

Sino-Xenic (雪上加霜):
* → Korean: 설상가상(雪上加霜) (seolsanggasang)

ㄒㄩㄝˇ ㄕㄤˋ ㄐㄧㄚ ㄕㄨㄤ

сюэшанцзяшуан

/ɕy̯ɛ²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʂɑŋ⁵¹ t͡ɕi̯ä⁵⁵ ʂu̯ɑŋ⁵⁵/

/syːt̚³ sœːŋ²² kaː⁵⁵ sœːŋ⁵⁵/

/si̯et̚² soŋ⁵⁵ ka²⁴⁻¹¹ soŋ²⁴/

/suat̚³²⁻⁴ siɔŋ³³⁻²¹ ka⁴⁴⁻³³ sɔŋ⁴⁴/

/suat̚³²⁻⁴ siɔŋ³³⁻¹¹ ka⁴⁴⁻³³ sɔŋ⁴⁴/

/suat̚³²⁻⁴ siaŋ³³⁻²¹ ka⁴⁴⁻³³ sɔŋ⁴⁴/

/suat̚³²⁻⁴ siaŋ³³⁻¹¹ ka⁴⁴⁻³³ sɔŋ⁴⁴/

/ɕy̯ɛ²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʂɑŋ⁵¹ t͡ɕi̯ä⁵⁵ ʂu̯ɑŋ⁵⁵/

/syːt̚³ sœːŋ²² kaː⁵⁵ sœːŋ⁵⁵/

/si̯et̚² soŋ⁵⁵ ka²⁴⁻¹¹ soŋ²⁴/

/suat̚³²⁻⁴ siɔŋ³³⁻²¹ ka⁴⁴⁻³³ sɔŋ⁴⁴/

/suat̚³²⁻⁴ siɔŋ³³⁻¹¹ ka⁴⁴⁻³³ sɔŋ⁴⁴/

/suat̚³²⁻⁴ siaŋ³³⁻²¹ ka⁴⁴⁻³³ sɔŋ⁴⁴/

/suat̚³²⁻⁴ siaŋ³³⁻¹¹ ka⁴⁴⁻³³ sɔŋ⁴⁴/

add insult to injury
add insult to injury

rub salt in the wound
rub salt in the wound

(figurative) to make a bad situation worse; to add insult to injury; to rub salt in the wound


NTP

(Internet slang) initialism of no te preocupes (“don’t worry”)


köpa grisen i säcken

Literally, "to buy the pig in the sack".


ਤੁਹਾਡਾ ਕੀ ਹਾਲ ਹੈ

head

تہاڈا کیہہ حال اے

ਤੁਹਾਡਾ ਕੀ ਹਾਲ ਹੈ?

ਤੁਹਾਡਾ ਕੀ ਹਾਲ ਹੈ? • (tuhāḍā kī hāl hai?) (Shahmukhi تہاڈا کیہہ حال اے)

tuhāḍā kī hāl hai? (romanization)
تہاڈا کیہہ حال اے (Shahmukhi)


nie ma za co

Ellipsis of nie ma za co dziękować (literally “there is no reason to [thank me]”).


premier arrivé, premier servi

first come, first served
first come, first served

l’avenir appartient à ceux qui se lèvent tôt


孤立無援

ㄍㄨ ㄌㄧˋ ㄨˊ ㄩㄢˊ

/ku⁵⁵ li⁵¹ u³⁵ ɥɛn³⁵/

/kuː⁵⁵ lɐp̚² mou̯²¹ wuːn²¹/

/ku⁵⁵ li⁵¹ u³⁵ ɥɛn³⁵/

/kuː⁵⁵ lɐp̚² mou̯²¹ wuːn²¹/


kali lipat

harganya naik empat kali lipat


kali ini

From Malay kali ini,
from Classical Malay kali ini. Equivalent kali + ini (“this”).


read my lips

Read my lips: no new taxes

Read my lips. Star Trek is retarded. It's retarded.

2016, Kenneth Lonergan, Manchester by the Sea, spoken by Joel (Oscar Wahlberg):

Used to emphasize a following statement.


完璧歸趙

ㄨㄢˊ ㄅㄧˋ ㄍㄨㄟ ㄓㄠˋ

ваньбигуйчжао

/wän³⁵ pi⁵¹ ku̯eɪ̯⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂɑʊ̯⁵¹/

/jyːn²¹ pɪk̚⁵ kʷɐi̯⁵⁵ t͡siːu̯²²/

/wän³⁵ pi⁵¹ ku̯eɪ̯⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂɑʊ̯⁵¹/

/jyːn²¹ pɪk̚⁵ kʷɐi̯⁵⁵ t͡siːu̯²²/

For the full story behind this idiom, see He Shi Bi.

to return thejade disc intact to the State of Zhao

1989 June 1, 严卫民, “古稀老翁爱收藏”, in People's Daily:

During the Kuomintang era, he hid his collection suspected of being "pro-Communist" under the roof tiles. During the Cultural Revolution, his home was ransacked, but since he had handed over his collection to the museum for safekeeping a few days earlier in a mountain cave repository, the collection was spared. In 1979 Shanghai Museum returned it intact to Mr. Wu. Appreciating their careful preservation, the old gentleman donated over 5,000 valuable pieces to the museum.

Guómíndǎng shíqī, tā bǎ zhèxiē yǒu “tōnggòng” xiányí de cángpǐn cáng zài wūdǐng wǎpiàn xià. Dào le Wéngé, tā jiāzhōng cáiwù bèi chāo, dàn tā de cángpǐn yīn zǎo jǐtiān jiāo bówùguǎn bǎocún, cáng zài shāndòng lǐ cái miǎn zāo jiénàn. 1979 nián “wánbìguīzhào” hòu, wú lǎoxiānshēng gǎn shànghǎi bówùguǎn tuǒshàn bǎoguǎn zhī ēn, jiāng 5000 duō zhāng jīngpǐn xiàn gěi le gāi guǎn.

國民黨時期，他把這些有“通共”嫌疑的藏品藏在屋頂瓦片下。到了文革，他家中財物被抄，但他的藏品因早幾天交博物館保存，藏在山洞裏才免遭劫難。1979年“完璧歸趙”後，吳老先生感上海博物館妥善保管之恩，將5000多張精品獻給了該館。

国民党时期，他把这些有“通共”嫌疑的藏品藏在屋顶瓦片下。到了文革，他家中财物被抄，但他的藏品因早几天交博物馆保存，藏在山洞里才免遭劫难。1979年“完璧归赵”后，吴老先生感上海博物馆妥善保管之恩，将5000多张精品献给了该馆。

to return something to its owner in good condition


mark my words

Mrs. Bowls cautioned her lodger against venturing into the lion's den, "wherein you will rue it, Miss B., mark my words, and as sure as my name is Bowls."

1847 January – 1848 July, William Makepeace Thackeray, chapter XL, in Vanity Fair […], London: Bradbury and Evans […], published 1848, →OCLC:

(idiomatic) Listen to me; used before or after a statement one wishes to emphasize, especially a prediction.


ily

Alternative form: ILY

(Internet slang, text messaging) Initialism of I love you.


מה שלומך

head

מַה שְּׁלוֹמְךָ?

מַה שְּׁלוֹמְךָ? • (ma sh'lomkhá?)

מַה שְּׁלוֹמְךָ (canonical)
ma sh'lomkhá? (romanization)


מה שלומך

מַה שְּׁלוֹמֵךְ?

מַה שְּׁלוֹמֵךְ? • (ma sh'lomékh?)

מַה שְּׁלוֹמֵךְ (canonical)
ma sh'lomékh? (romanization)


気にくわない

気にくわない (canonical)
ki ni kuwanai (romanization)

私は彼が気にくわない。

新入りのくせにでかい態度で気に食わない野郎だぜ。

Shin'iri no kuse ni dekai taido de ki ni kuwanai yarō da ze.

It makes me sick the way the new guy swaggers around like he owns the place.

(idiomatic) to be unable to stomach, sticking in one's throat


ears are burning

His ears are burning.

(idiomatic, colloquial) Being the topic of discussion in another place; or sensing that this is happening.


nước chảy đá mòn

[nɨək̚˧˦ t͡ɕaj˧˩ ʔɗaː˧˦ mɔn˨˩]

[nɨək̚˦˧˥ t͡ɕaj˧˨ ʔɗaː˨˩˦ mɔŋ˦˩]

[nɨək̚˦˥ ca(ː)j˨˩˦ ʔɗaː˦˥ mɔŋ˨˩]


puheen ollen

Politiikasta puheen ollen...

(idiomatic) speaking of, regarding, concerning, apropos


ei missään tapauksessa

[ˈe̞i̯ ˈmis̠ːæːn̪ ˈt̪ɑ̝pɑ̝ˌuks̠e̞s̠ːɑ̝]

En tee sitä missään tapauksessa.

Älä missään tapauksessa tee sitä!

under no circumstance
under no circumstance

under no circumstances
under no circumstances

under no circumstance, under no circumstances; absolutely not; on no account; never


insya Allah

From Malay insya Allah,
from Classical Malay insya Allah, from Arabic إِنْ شَاءَ اَللَّه (ʔin šāʔa l-lah).

der

إِنْ شَاءَ اَللَّه

God willing; if it is God’s will, if God wills.


je vous en prie

LL-Q150 (fra)-LoquaxFR-je vous en prie.wav

—Puis-je fermer la porte ? —Je vous en prie !


hyvää iltaa

/ˈhyʋæː ˈiltɑː/

[ˈhyʋæː ˈil̪t̪ɑ̝ː]


BIG

(business) Abbreviation of business is a game.


更待何時

ㄍㄥˋ ㄉㄞˋ ㄏㄜˊ ㄕˊ

гэн дай хэши

/kɤŋ⁵¹⁻⁵³ taɪ̯⁵¹ xɤ³⁵ ʂʐ̩³⁵/

/kɤŋ⁵¹⁻⁵³ taɪ̯⁵¹ xɤ³⁵ ʂʐ̩³⁵/

there's no time like the present
there's no time like the present

there's no time like the present; if not now then when


BOMDAS

order of operations
order of operations#English

(mathematics, mnemonic) An acronym for arithmetic order of operations, with B first and AS last: Brackets, then order or 'of' in some curricula, then multiplication and division, then addition and subtraction


BEDMAS

order of precedence
order of precedence#English

(mathematics, mnemonic) An acronym for arithmetic order of precedence, with B first and AS last: Brackets, exponents, division, multiplication, addition, subtraction.


İngilizce biliyor musun

Do you know English?
do you speak English

(informal) Do you know English? (It's used instead of "Do you speak ...").


BODMAS

(mathematics, mnemonic) An acronym for the arithmetic order of precedence, with the highest precedence first: Brackets, order, division, multiplication, addition, subtraction


İngilizce konuşabiliyor musunuz

Can you speak English?
do you speak English

Can you speak English? (It’s used instead of “Do you speak ...”).


İngilizce biliyor musunuz

(formal, or to a group of people) Do you know English? (It's used instead of "Do you speak ...").


İngilizce konuşabiliyor musun

(informal) Can you speak English? (It's used instead of "Do you speak ...").


your wish is my command

"Your Highness's wish is my command," says Sir Joshua suavely, for he is intensely curious as to the contents of the document.

1900 March 31, The Sydney Mail and New South Wales Advertiser, NSW, page 6, column 4:

(often humorous) Whatever you say you wish for I will treat as a command and do straight away.

zure nahiak aginduak dira niretzat

what you wish for I will effect as if it were a command

слу́шаю и повину́юсь (slúšaju i povinújusʹ, literally “I listen and obey”)

твоё жела́ние — для меня́ зако́н (tvojó želánije — dlja menjá zakón, literally “your wish is a law for me”)


ROFLOL

(Internet slang) Initialism of Rolling on the floor laughing out loud.


Delivered Ex Quay

(Incoterm) The seller pays for all transportation and insurance until the goods have been unloaded at the port of destination.


head

there ain't no such thing as a free lunch

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

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


Delivered Ex Ship

(Incoterm) The seller pays for all transportation and insurance until the transporting ship has arrived at the port of destination.


there's no such thing as a free lunch

In use since the 1930s. Popularized by the American economist Milton Friedman through the title of a 1975 book, and frequently misattributed to him.

Nothing is free; even things that appear free often have to be paid in the end.

беспла́тный сыр быва́ет то́лько в мышело́вке (besplátnyj syr byvájet tólʹko v myšelóvke, literally “free cheese may be only in a mouse-trap”)

немає такої речі, як безкоштовний обід

nemaje takoji reči, jak bezkoštovnyj obid


mobilia sequuntur personam

Latin mōbilia (“chattels”) + sequuntur (“they follow”) + persōnam (“person”) = “chattels follow the person”.

(law, archaic) Common law doctrine holding that personal property held by a person is governed by the same law that governs that person, so that if a person who is legally domiciled in one jurisdiction dies with property in a second jurisdiction, that property is legally treated as though it were in the first jurisdiction.


поради това

поради́ това́

поради́ това́ • (poradí tová)

поради́ това́ (canonical)
poradí tová (romanization)

given to connect a reason (first) to a conclusion, which can be in the form of a suggestion


猫に小判

猫に小判 (canonical)
neko ni koban (romanization)

Phrase composed of 猫 (neko, “cat, cats”) + に (ni, “to”, directional particle) + 小判 (koban, a kind of traditional gold coin). Literally, “gold coins to cats”.
First cited to a text from 1687.

cast pearls before swine
cast pearls before swine

to give something valuable to someone who does not understand that value: to cast pearls before swine


豚に真珠

豚に真珠 (canonical)
buta ni shinju (romanization)

Phrase composed of 豚 (buta, “pig”) + に (ni, directional particle) + 真珠 (shinju, “pearl”), calque of English cast pearls before swine.

cal

(idiomatic) "pearls to swine" → to cast pearls before swine


扯弓搭箭

ㄔㄜˇ ㄍㄨㄥ ㄉㄚ ㄐㄧㄢˋ

чэ гун да цзянь

/ʈ͡ʂʰɤ²¹⁴⁻²¹ kʊŋ⁵⁵ tä⁵⁵ t͡ɕi̯ɛn⁵¹/

/ʈ͡ʂʰɤ²¹⁴⁻²¹ kʊŋ⁵⁵ tä⁵⁵ t͡ɕi̯ɛn⁵¹/

to nock an arrow; to place an arrow on one's bow in preparation for firing


jó szerencsét

jó (“good”) + szerencse (“luck”) + -t (accusative suffix)

affix

good luck! (the traditional greeting of Hungarian coalminers)


ຂ້ອຍຮັກເຈົ້າ

head

ຂ້ອຍຮັກເຈົ້າ

ຂ້ອຍຮັກເຈົ້າ • (khööj hak cao)

[kʰɔːj˥˥˨.hak̚˧˨.t͡ɕaw˧˦]

ຂ້ອຍ-ຮັກ-ເຈົ້າ


ยอมงอ ไม่ยอมหัก

th-phrase

ยอมงอ ไม่ยอมหัก

ยอมงอ ไม่ยอมหัก • (yɔɔm-ngɔɔ-mâi-yɔɔm-hàk)

Literally: Willing to bend, but never break.

better bend than break
better bend than break


ตีเหล็กเมื่อแดง กินแกงเมื่อร้อน

ตีเหล็กเมื่อแดง กินแกงเมื่อร้อน

ตีเหล็กเมื่อแดง กินแกงเมื่อร้อน • (dtii-lèk-mʉ̂ʉa-dɛɛng-gin-gɛɛng-mʉ̂ʉa-rɔ́ɔn)

/tiː˧.lek̚˨˩.mɯa̯˥˩.dɛːŋ˧.kin˧.kɛːŋ˧.mɯa̯˥˩.rɔːn˦˥/

Literally: Strike the iron when it's red, and eat the curry when it's hot.

strike while the iron is hot
strike while the iron is hot

(idiomatic) strike while the iron is hot.

en-ตีเหล็กเมื่อแดง_กินแกงเมื่อร้อน-th-phrase-K6zxODyB


สามีเป็นช้างเท้าหน้า ภรรยาเป็นช้างเท้าหลัง • (sǎa-mii-bpen-cháang-táao-nâa-pan-rá-yaa-bpen-cháang-táao-lǎng)

/saː˩˩˦.miː˧.pen˧.t͡ɕʰaːŋ˦˥.tʰaːw˦˥.naː˥˩.pʰan˧.ra˦˥.jaː˧.pen˧.t͡ɕʰaːŋ˦˥.tʰaːw˦˥.laŋ˩˩˦/

Literally: Husband is elephant's front legs, wife is elephant's hind legs. (Husbands always lead, and wives always follow.)

(idiomatic) it's a sad house where the hen crows louder than the cock.

en-สามีเป็นช้างเท้าหน้า_ภรรยาเป็นช้างเท้าหลัง-th-phrase-WfFjaxx9


兵臨城下

ㄅㄧㄥ ㄌㄧㄣˊ ㄔㄥˊ ㄒㄧㄚˋ

бинлиньчэнся

/piŋ⁵⁵ lin³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰɤŋ³⁵ ɕi̯ä⁵¹/

/pɪŋ⁵⁵ lɐm²¹ sɪŋ²¹ haː²²/

/piŋ⁵⁵ lin³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰɤŋ³⁵ ɕi̯ä⁵¹/

/pɪŋ⁵⁵ lɐm²¹ sɪŋ²¹ haː²²/

(literal, figurative) the enemy army is just outside of the walls of the city


束手待斃

ㄕㄨˋ ㄕㄡˇ ㄉㄞˋ ㄅㄧˋ

/ʂu⁵¹ ʂoʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ taɪ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ pi⁵¹/

/ʂu⁵¹ ʂoʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ taɪ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ pi⁵¹/

to fold one's hands and helplessly await death; to give oneself up for dead


ye olde

From Middle English ye olde, a spelling variant of þe olde (literally “the old”).

I'm not wasting my time going to lectures given by ye olde professor Jones.

Ye Olde Coffee Shoppe

All this time waiting at door. At last young fellow in a white jacket condescended to answer my bell—and asked me to wait some more in the porch. But I didn't see it and walked into ye olde tyme lounge hall, panelled in Elizabethan linen-fold oak made out of chewed paper painted olde shitte colour.

1955, Joyce Cary, Not Honour More, New Directions Publishing, →ISBN, page 98:

Judging from the panicked look and white pallor on Pinky's face, I'd just put him between ye olde rock and ye olde harde place. Not my problem.

2012, Richard Marcinko, Seal Force Alpha, Simon and Schuster, →ISBN:

The saga of the fugitive nags gripped the nation. All day, #horses was a trending topic on social media, as if this was ye olde days.

2024 April 27, Michael Hogan, “Did five frightened horses bolting through London really mean the end was neigh?”, in The Observer, →ISSN:

Pseudo-archaic, pertaining to a historically inaccurate invocation of pre-modern times.


屍橫遍野

ㄕ ㄏㄥˊ ㄅㄧㄢˋ ㄧㄝˇ

/ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ xɤŋ³⁵ pi̯ɛn⁵¹ jɛ²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/siː⁵⁵ waːŋ²¹ pʰiːn³³ jɛː¹³/

/ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ xɤŋ³⁵ pi̯ɛn⁵¹ jɛ²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/siː⁵⁵ waːŋ²¹ pʰiːn³³ jɛː¹³/


I'll say

- Jack's put on a bit of weight recently.
- I'll say!

(idiomatic, colloquial) Used to indicate emphatic agreement


pomp og prakt

Búðin opnaði með pompi og prakt.

The store opened with pomp and circumstance

pomp and circumstance
pomp and circumstance


ejusdem generis

From Latin ejusdem generis ("of the same kind").

I would submit to the court that in order to determine the legislature's intent of the final phrase we need to apply the interpretive maxim of ejusdem generis to the sentence that contains the sequence.

Or what relation has debating \ Of church-affairs with bear-baiting? \ A just comparison still is \ Of things ejusdem generis: \ And then what genus rightly doth \ Include, and comprehend them both?

1663, Samuel Butler, Hudibras (poem), London, →OCLC, →OL, Part 1, canto 1, lines 853–858:

Ejusdem Generis: Where general words follow specific words in a statutory enumeration, the general words are construed to embrace only objects similar in nature to those objects enumerated by the preceding specific words. Where the opposite sequence is found, i.e., specific words following general ones, the doctrine is equally applicable, and restricts application of the general term to things that are similar to those enumerated.

1984 [1891], N. J. Singer, C. D. Sands, J. G. Sutherland, Statutes and statutory construction, 4th edition (reference; hardcover), Chicago: Callaghan, revision of Statutes and Statutory Construction by Sutherland, →OCLC, §47.17:

The wording of §1 calls for the application of the maxim ejusdem generis, the statutory canon that "[w]here general words follow specific words in a statutory enumeration, the general words are construed to embrace only objects similar in nature to those objects enumerated by the preceding specific words."

2001 March 21, Anthony M Kennedy, Supreme Court of the United States, Circuit City Stores, Inc. v. Adams, 532 U.S. 105 (United States Reports; 532) (judicial opinion), Washington, DC: Supreme Court, →ISBN, Court's majority opinion, page 114:

(law) A canon of construction holding that when a general term follows a list of particular terms, the general term only applies to things similar to the particular terms. For example, in the list "sun, moon, and other large objects", the phrase "other large objects" only includes celestial bodies, not houses and elephants.


the ball is in someone's court

En-au-the ball is in someone's court.ogg

From tennis, as when the ball is in someone's court it is their turn to play.

Well there's not much more I can do, so the ball is in your court now.

Achieving that partnership will require leadership and flexibility. Not just from us, but from our friends, the 27 nations of the EU. And as we look forward to the next stage, the ball is in their court, but I am optimistic it will receive a positive response.

2017 October 9, Theresa May, 1:05 from the start, in Theresa May's Brexit speech, via The Guardian:

(idiomatic) It is someone's turn to do something; often making a decision.


quid tibi est

[ˈkʷɪt̪ːɪbiːs̠t̪]

[ˈkʷɪt̪ːɪbɪs̠t̪]

From quid the neuter of quis (“what”) + tibī̆ (“to you”) the dative of tū (“you”) + est (“it is”), form of esse (“to be”). Literally meaning "what do you have?".

Cistellaria by Plautus
Quid tibī est?
Alcēsimarchum nōn vidēs? Ferrum tenēt!
What's wrong?
Don't you see Alcesimarchus? He's got a sword!

(idiomatic) what is it?, what's the matter?, what's wrong?, what ails you?


CVD

Initialism of come volevasi dimostrare (“QED”).


do you come here often

A common phrase for initiating conversation with a stranger, especially one for seeking romantic involvement.

你经常来这儿吗？

does not imply the seeking of romantic involvement


no matter what

I'm going running tomorrow no matter what the weather is doing.

(followed by a phrase) Regardless of, in spite of.

This project will be finished by July no matter what.

No matter what, it's still a good idea.

(not followed by a phrase) Regardless; in any case; even in adverse circumstances.

nə olursa olsun

under any circumstances, whatever happens


it doesn't matter

Audio (US)

I’m afraid I’ve broken your mug. – It doesn’t matter; it was old and I was going to throw it away anyway.

It's not important; don't worry (used to reassure or comfort the person to whom it is said).

𫧃要紧

bōe-iàu-kín / bǒe-iàu-kín / bē-iàu-kín / bōe-á-kín

Maybe we could try fixing this part to the … no, wait, it doesn’t matter.

I withdraw my previous statement (often used if it wasn't heard or understood).


十人十色

ja-pos

十(じゅう)人(にん)十(と)色(いろ) • (jūnin toiro) ^(←じふにんといろ (zifunin toiro)?)

十人十色 (canonical)
jūnin toiro (romanization)
zifunin toiro (romanization)
じふにんといろ (hiragana historical)

[d͡ʑɨːɲ̟in to̞iɾo̞]

different strokes for different folks
different strokes for different folks

there's no accounting for taste
there's no accounting for taste

to each his own; different strokes for different folks; there's no accounting for taste


don't do anything I wouldn't do

(humorous) Behave properly; be well; said on parting


come to papa

/ˌkʌm tə ˈpɑːpə/

/ˌkʌm tə ˈpɑːpə/

PIE word
 *ph₂tḗr
From come + to + papa (“familiar or old-fashioned term of address to one’s father”), originally an invitation by a father for his child to come to him; later called out by gamblers when throwing dice to “invite” winning numbers.

Cut loose, let your hair down, honey / Unwind, turn the lights down low / Relax, let's uncork the stopper / Come to papa, come on, let's go

1962 August 30 and September 22 (dates recorded), Roy C. Bennett, Sid Tepper (lyrics and music), “Relax”, in It Happened at the World’s Fair (soundtrack), performed by Elvis Presley, New York, N.Y.: RCA Victor, published 10 April 1963, →OCLC:

(idiomatic, originally US) Used to encourage someone or something to approach, or an event to occur.

tule tänne vaan

used to encourage someone or something to approach, or an event to occur


répondez s'il vous plaît

(at the end of a letter) please reply, rsvp


répondez s'il vous plaît

Unadapted borrowing from French répondez s’il vous plaît.


head

ка́ждый охо́тник жела́ет зна́ть, где сиди́т фаза́н • (káždyj oxótnik želájet znátʹ, gde sidít fazán)

ка́ждый охо́тник жела́ет зна́ть (canonical)
где сиди́т фаза́н (canonical)
káždyj oxótnik želájet znátʹ (romanization)
gde sidít fazán (romanization)

[ˈkaʐdɨj ɐˈxotʲnʲɪɡ ʐɨˈɫa(j)ɪd͡z ˈznatʲ | ɡdʲe sʲɪˈdʲit fɐˈzan]

Literally, “every hunter wants to know where the pheasant sits”.

lit

visible spectrum
visible spectrum#English

кра́сный красный#Russian

ора́нжевый оранжевый#Russian

жёлтый жёлтый#Russian

зелёный зелёный#Russian

голубо́й голубой#Russian

си́ний синий#Russian

фиоле́товый фиолетовый#Russian

(mnemonic) A mnemonic for the color sequence of the visible spectrum, equivalent to English Roy G. Biv: кра́сный (krásnyj), ора́нжевый (oránževyj), жёлтый (žóltyj), зелёный (zeljónyj), голубо́й (golubój), си́ний (sínij), фиоле́товый (fiolétovyj)

ru:каждый охотник желает знать, где сидит фазан

en-каждый_охотник_желает_знать,_где_сидит_фазан-ru-phrase-3k3STsJt


cross my heart

Shortened form of cross my heart and hope to die

(idiomatic) A declaration that the speaker is telling the truth.


jó utat

jó (“good”) + út (“voyage, trip”) + -at (accusative suffix)


get you

Gary: Ssh. Miss is talking
Debbie: Ooh, get you! Since when have you ever wanted to listen to the teachers?

1996, Stepping Up: four play scripts for the classroom, Jane Lilliard and Mollie Hemens:

When Keanu Reeves falls apart, you just want to hiss "Ooh, get you!"

1998 January 16, “Film: Dancing with the devil”, in The Independent, London, England:

'I know that the thought of travelling with a cashmere wrap makes some people say 'ooh, get you,' Annalisa admits, 'but no one who has ever done it laughs!

2005 September 17, “The 50 Best Ways to Accessorise”, in The Independent, London, England:

(UK) An expression of encouragement, commonly used sarcastically.


ha noe under topplokket

The phrase is based on the figurative sense of topplokket (“the cylinder head”), literally meaning "to have something under the cylinder head".

have something in one's head, i.e. have brains; intelligence


あらがねの

粗金の: lead-in phrase introducing the word 土 (tsuchi)


gratulálunk

Gratulálunk a sikeres záróvizsgádhoz!

Congratulations on your successful final exam!


nvm

(Internet slang, text messaging) Alternative letter-case form of NVM.


חג שמח

head

חַג שָׂמֵחַ • (khag saméakh)

חַג שָׂמֵחַ (canonical)
khag saméakh (romanization)


喊聲震天

ㄏㄢˇ ㄕㄥ ㄓㄣˋ ㄊㄧㄢ

ханьшэнчжэньтянь

/xän²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʂɤŋ⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂən⁵¹ tʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵/

/haːm³³ sɪŋ⁵⁵ t͡sɐn³³ tʰiːn⁵⁵/

/xän²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʂɤŋ⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂən⁵¹ tʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵/

/haːm³³ sɪŋ⁵⁵ t͡sɐn³³ tʰiːn⁵⁵/

loud screams and shouting seemingly shakes the heavens


NPO

(medicine) "nil per os" (nothing by mouth - nothing may be eaten or drunk)


look what the cat dragged in

look what the cat's dragged in
look what the cat's dragged in#English

Alternative form of look what the cat's dragged in


look what the cat's dragged in

look what the cat's dragged in ! (canonical)

En-au-look what the cat's dragged in.ogg

From the habit of domestic cats of bringing home the remains of killed animals.

Still facing the mirror, he drawled, ‘Look what the cat's dragged in. Where have you been?’ Gabriel rubbed his chin.

2009, Monica Ali, In The Kitchen, Random House, →ISBN, page 526:

“Well, look what the cat drug in, Sam,” says a familiar voice, which comes, of course, from everywhere and nowhere.

2012, Cory Doctorow, Charles Stross, The Rapture of the Nerds, Tor Books, →ISBN, page 283:

‘Well, well, look what the cat's dragged in,’ Gracey said as he moved the thick stump of his neck from side to side and rubbed the back of it with the great towel of his hand. ‘Nice to see you grace us with your presence, Swift. […]’

2012, David Park, The Big Snow, A&C Black, →ISBN:

(idiomatic) Used as an ironic acknowledgement of someone's arrival, especially to imply that they are unwelcome or disagreeable in some way.


片甲不回

ㄆㄧㄢˋ ㄐㄧㄚˇ ㄅㄨˋ ㄏㄨㄟˊ

пяньцзябухуэй

/pʰi̯ɛn⁵¹ t͡ɕi̯ä²¹⁴⁻²¹ pu⁵¹ xu̯eɪ̯³⁵/

/pʰi̯ɛn⁵¹ t͡ɕi̯ä²¹⁴⁻²¹ pu⁵¹ xu̯eɪ̯³⁵/

Romance of the Three Kingdoms, circa 14ᵗʰ century CE

Cáo Cāo yǐn bǎiwàn zhī zhòng, bèi wú liáo shī xiǎo jì, shā dé piànjiǎbùhuí.

曹操引百萬之眾，被吾聊施小計，殺得片甲不回。

曹操引百万之众，被吾聊施小计，杀得片甲不回。


NVM

(Internet slang, text messaging) Initialism of never mind.


nem tudom

nem (“do not”) + tud (“know”) + -om (“I”, personal suffix)


eszi, nem eszi, nem kap mást

Literally: "(whether he/she) eats it, (or he/she) doesn't eat it, (he/she) will not get (anything) else"

my way or the highway
my way or the highway

beggars can't be choosers
beggars can't be choosers

(idiomatic) take it or leave it, my way or the highway, beggars can't be choosers, Hobson's choice


akár tetszik, akár nem

akár (“whether”) + tetszik (“to like”) + akár (“or”) + nem (“not”). Literally, “whether [you] like it or not”; the subject is unspecified.

lit

willy-nilly, like it or not (whether desired or not)


nincs kolbászból fonva a kerítés

[ˈnint͡ʃ ˈkolbaːzboːl ˈfoɱvɒ ɒ ˈkɛriːteːʃ]

Literally, “the fence is not woven out of sausage”.

money doesn't grow on trees
money doesn't grow on trees

tejjel-mézzel folyó Kánaán

[[land of milk and honey|Canaan flowing with milk and honey]]

(idiomatic) money doesn't grow on trees (especially used of places that might not live up to the listener’s dreams or expectations)


devil take the hindmost

What if a toy take um ith heeles now, and they runn all away, and cry the Divell take the hindmoſt.

c. 1608–1610 (date written), Francis Beaumont, Iohn Fletcher, Philaster, or Love Lies a Bleeding. […], 4th edition, London: […] VV[illiam] J[ones] for Richard Hawkins, […], published 1634, →OCLC, Act V, page 66:

Land Alianable which would bring in the Stock Jobbing Temper, the Devill take the Hindmost.

1742, James Oglethorpe, “Letter to the Honorable Trustees”, in Lucian Lamar Knight, Kenneth Coleman, Milton Ready, editors, The Colonial Records of the State of Georgia, volume 23, published 1914:

Then, horn for horn, they stretch an strive:
Deil tak the hindmost, on they drive,
Till a’ their weel-swall’d kytes belyve
Are bent like drums;
The auld Guidman, maist like to rive,
‘Bethankit’ hums.

1786, Robert Burns, Address to a Haggis:

And [we] coldly see the all-conquering valiant Sons of Toil sit enchanted, by the million, in their Poor-Law Bastille, as if this were Nature’s Law;—mumbling to ourselves some vague janglement of Laissez-faire, Supply-and-demand, Cash-payment the one nexus of man to man: Free-trade, Competition, and Devil take the hindmost, our latest Gospel yet preached!

1843 April, Thomas Carlyle, “Two Centuries”, in Past and Present, American edition, Boston, Mass.: Charles C[offin] Little and James Brown, published 1843, →OCLC, book III (The Modern Worker), page 170:

"Oh, don't talk to me about your socialists, I've got no patience with them," she cried. "It only means that another lot of lazy loafers will make a good thing out of the working classes. My motto is, leave me alone; I don't want anyone interfering with me; I'll make the best of a bad job, and the devil take the hindmost."

1915, W[illiam] Somerset Maugham, chapter CVIII, in Of Human Bondage, New York, N.Y.: George H[enry] Doran Company, →OCLC, page 572:

Choose your hand, try your best. He who wins, wins it all. Devil take the hindmost.

2010, Andrew Lloyd Webber, Love Never Dies, Song nr. 22

An imprecation that everyone should look after their own interests, leaving those who cannot cope to whatever fate befalls them.


har du røyka sokka dine

(slang, rhetorical) Idiomatic saying expressing disapproval and scorn at someone else's apparent pipe dream or overly vivid imagination. Slang phrase among adolescents from Oslo and nearby districts in the 1970s. Now less common. Literally translates to: "Have you been smoking your socks?"


I think; therefore I am

I think (canonical)
therefore I am (canonical)

From verse 20 to verse 25 are mentioned a series of Signs or Miracles, which should awaken our souls and lead us to true Reality if we try to understand God. (1) There is our own origin and destiny, which must necessarily be our subjective starting-point: “I think; therefore I am”: no particular exertion of our being is here necessary (xxx. 20).

1938, Abdullah Yusuf Ali, The Holy Qur-an: Text, Translation & Commentary, 3rd edition, Lahore: Shaikh Muhammad Ashraf […], footnote 3529, page 1057:

Could it be, we humans, our entire civilization, are the result of a preconceived strategy, plotted by evanescent aliens, about how a conscientious species of living beings should be allowed to discover themselves and to embrace the ability, arriving to the reasonable conclusion: “I think; therefore I am.”

2015, Mark Simkins, “Atlantis 4”, in What the Doormouse Said: Some Tales of a Space Anthropologist, Mustang, Okla.: Tate Publishing & Enterprises, LLC, →ISBN, page 218:

Only the ones blaring their stereos were not saying, “I think; therefore I am”; rather, according to the priest, “They think they are because they hear.”

2019, Peggy Weber, “Quiet Enough”, in Enough as You Are: Overcoming Self-Doubt and Appreciating the Gift of You, Chicago, Ill.: Loyola Press, →ISBN, page 94:

I think, therefore I am
I think, therefore I am#English

Alternative form of I think, therefore I am.


vak vezet világtalant

Literally: “a blind [person] leads the sightless”.

blind leading the blind
blind leading the blind


fools rush in

fools rush in where angels fear to tread#English

Ellipsis of fools rush in where angels fear to tread.


心腹之交

ㄒㄧㄣ ㄈㄨˋ ㄓ ㄐㄧㄠ

синьфу чжи цзяо

/ɕin⁵⁵ fu⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ t͡ɕi̯ɑʊ̯⁵⁵/

/ɕin⁵⁵ fu⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ t͡ɕi̯ɑʊ̯⁵⁵/


有何不可

ㄧㄡˇ ㄏㄜˊ ㄅㄨˋ ㄎㄜˇ

/joʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ xɤ³⁵ pu⁵¹ kʰɤ²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/jɐu̯¹³ hɔː²¹ pɐt̚⁵ hɔː³⁵/

/joʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ xɤ³⁵ pu⁵¹ kʰɤ²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/jɐu̯¹³ hɔː²¹ pɐt̚⁵ hɔː³⁵/

Zhāng Fēi dàjiào yuē: “Yìxìng zhī rén, jiē yù wéi jūn, hékuàng gēgē nǎi Hàncháo zōngpài! Mò shuō Hànzhōng wáng, jiù chēng huángdì, yǒuhébùkě!”

張飛大叫曰：「異姓之人，皆欲為君，何況哥哥乃漢朝宗派！莫說漢中王，就稱皇帝，有何不可！」

张飞大叫曰：「异姓之人，皆欲为君，何况哥哥乃汉朝宗派！莫说汉中王，就称皇帝，有何不可！」


I think, therefore I am

Calque of French je pense, donc je suis or perhaps of Latin cōgitō, ergō sum. First written in French by René Descartes, a 17th century French philosopher, in Discourse on the Method (1637) as je pense donc je suis, which he later expressed in Latin in Principles of Philosophy (1644).

(philosophy) I am able to think, therefore I exist. A philosophical proof of existence based on the fact that someone capable of any form of thought necessarily exists.

French language
I think, therefore I am
René Descartes

bi sedgiǰu bayig-a učir-ača orusiǰu bayin-a

ᠪᠢ ᠰᠡᠳᠭᠢᠵᠤ ᠪᠠᠶᠢᠭᠠ ᠤᠴᠢᠷ ᠠᠴᠠ ᠣᠷᠤᠰᠢᠵᠤ ᠪᠠᠶᠢᠨᠠ


de minimis non curat lex

(law) The law does not concern itself with trifles; expression of the rule that the law will not remedy an injury that is minimal.


hyvät naiset ja herrat

[ˈhyʋæt̪ ˈn̪ɑ̝i̯s̠e̞t̪ ˈjɑ̝ ˈhe̞rːɑ̝t̪]

ladies and gentlemen
ladies and gentlemen


屈己待人

ㄑㄩ ㄐㄧˇ ㄉㄞˋ ㄖㄣˊ

цюйцзи дайжэнь

/t͡ɕʰy⁵⁵ t͡ɕi²¹⁴⁻²¹ taɪ̯⁵¹ ʐən³⁵/

/t͡ɕʰy⁵⁵ t͡ɕi²¹⁴⁻²¹ taɪ̯⁵¹ ʐən³⁵/

to humbly subjugate oneself in service to someone else


egyik tizenkilenc, másik egy híján húsz

[ˈɛɟːik ˈtizɛŋkilɛnt͡s ˈmaːʃik ˈɛɟ ˈhiːjaːn ˈhuːs]

Literally: “one of them is nineteen, the other is one short of twenty”

six of one, half a dozen of the other
six of one, half a dozen of the other

(idiomatic) six of one, half a dozen of the other (they are equally bad)

with a single subject: ő sem jobb a Deákné vásznánál, with multiple subjects: egyik se jobb a Deákné vásznánál

nem különb a Deákné vásznánál/nem jobb a Deákné vásznánál

az egyik tizenkilenc, a másik egy híján húsz


take it or leave it

That's the deal: take it or leave it.

Even when you are making your final offer, presenting the deal as a "take it or leave it" proposition is a mistake.

2007, Michael C. Donaldson, David Frohnmayer, Negotiating For Dummies, Published by For Dummies, page 169 http://books.google.com/books?id=41REtJoy8HMC&pg=RA1-PA69&dq=%22take+it+or+leave+it%22

(idiomatic) Denoting that a situation has to be accepted without change, or rejected outright.

lentejas, si quieres las comes y si no, las dejas

When it comes to eating steak, I could take it or leave it.

(idiomatic) Denoting that one does not care about or is unexcited for something.


招賢納士

ㄓㄠ ㄒㄧㄢˊ ㄋㄚˋ ㄕˋ

чжаосяньнаши

/ʈ͡ʂɑʊ̯⁵⁵ ɕi̯ɛn³⁵ nä⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʂʐ̩⁵¹/

/ʈ͡ʂɑʊ̯⁵⁵ ɕi̯ɛn³⁵ nä⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʂʐ̩⁵¹/

to invite men of wisdom and valor to one's side


不在話下

ㄅㄨˋ ㄗㄞˋ ㄏㄨㄚˋ ㄒㄧㄚˋ

/pu⁵¹⁻³⁵ t͡saɪ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ xu̯ä⁵¹⁻⁵³ ɕi̯ä⁵¹/

/pɐt̚⁵ t͡sɔːi̯²² waː²² haː²²/

/put̚³²⁻⁴ t͡sai²²⁻²¹ ue²²⁻²¹ ha²²/

/put̚⁵⁻²⁴ t͡sai⁴¹⁻²² ue⁴¹⁻²² ha⁴¹/

/put̚³²⁻⁵ t͡sai²²⁻²¹ ue²²⁻²¹ ha²²/

/put̚³²⁻⁴ t͡sai³³⁻¹¹ ue³³⁻¹¹ ha³³/

/put̚³²⁻⁴ t͡sai³³⁻²¹ ue³³⁻²¹ ha³³/

/pu⁵¹⁻³⁵ t͡saɪ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ xu̯ä⁵¹⁻⁵³ ɕi̯ä⁵¹/

/pɐt̚⁵ t͡sɔːi̯²² waː²² haː²²/

/put̚³²⁻⁴ t͡sai²²⁻²¹ ue²²⁻²¹ ha²²/

/put̚⁵⁻²⁴ t͡sai⁴¹⁻²² ue⁴¹⁻²² ha⁴¹/

/put̚³²⁻⁵ t͡sai²²⁻²¹ ue²²⁻²¹ ha²²/

/put̚³²⁻⁴ t͡sai³³⁻¹¹ ue³³⁻¹¹ ha³³/

/put̚³²⁻⁴ t͡sai³³⁻²¹ ue³³⁻²¹ ha³³/

to be an insignificant or obvious thing that is unnecessary to mention


holnapután kiskedden

Literally: “on the day after tomorrow, on small Tuesday”; a second part can be added borjúnyúzó pénteken (on a calf-skinning Friday)

(idiomatic) when pigs fly, at latter Lammas (never)

majd ha cigánygyerekek potyognak az égből


PMSL

(Commonwealth, Internet slang) Initialism of pissing myself laughing. (used to indicate great amusement)

mean sea level pressure
mean sea level pressure#English

(meteorology, rare) Abbreviation of mean sea level pressure (derived from the notation P_(MSL)).


zárt ajtók mögött

zárt (“closed”) + ajtó (“door”) + -k (plural suffix) + mögött (“behind”), literally “behind closed doors”


farkaséhes vagyok

[ˈfɒrkɒʃeːɦɛʃvɒɟok]


TIA

thanks in advance
thanks in advance#English

(Internet slang) Initialism of thanks in advance.


ox is in the ditch

An allusion to the urgency and difficulty of extracting an ox from a ditch in which it has become mired.

"The ox is in the ditch," said she, referring to the New Testament excuse for Sabbath work where the need is great, "and Billy must mend this gate if it is Sunday."

1904, Clifton Johnson, Highways and Byways of the South, Macmillan, page 169:

In talking to his staff, Lyndon B. Johnson always announced the onset of catastrophe with the statement: "The ox is in the ditch!"

1987 March 6, George Reedy, “Can the President Still Lead?”, in New York Times, retrieved 2008-11-07:

"It's obvious that the ox is in the ditch big time," said Sen. Fred Thompson, R-Tenn., chairman of the Senate Governmental Affairs Committee. The Postal Service is projecting up to $5 billion in losses over the next two years.

2001 May 15, “Senators seek Postal Service overhaul”, in USA Today, retrieved 2008-11-07:

"You oughtn't to work on the Lord's Day, son," she told Dad both times. Dad's response was always the same. "The ox is in the ditch, Ma."

2006, Fred Harris, Following the Harvest: A Novel, →ISBN, page 71:

(idiomatic, chiefly southern US) This is a big problem; there is unavoidable or demanding work ahead.


談笑自若

ㄊㄢˊ ㄒㄧㄠˋ ㄗˋ ㄖㄨㄛˋ

таньсяо цзыжо

/tʰän³⁵ ɕi̯ɑʊ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡sz̩⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʐu̯ɔ⁵¹/

/tʰän³⁵ ɕi̯ɑʊ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡sz̩⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʐu̯ɔ⁵¹/

as if nothing had happened
as if nothing had happened

to go on talking and laughing as if nothing had happened


could not get elected dogcatcher

/kəd ˌnɒt ɡɛt ɪˌlɛktɪd ˈdɒɡkæt͡ʃə/

/kəd ˌnɑt ɡɛt əˌlɛktɪd ˈdɔɡˌkæt͡ʃəɹ/

En-au-could not get elected dogcatcher.ogg

Dogcatchers are virtually never elected to their posts; the phrase is hyperbole, using dogcatcher to indicate the most lowly conceivable office.

An insolent Republican newspaper asserts that Mr. Cleveland [i.e., Grover Cleveland] is so unpopular in Washington that he could not be elected dog catcher for the district. This may be true, yet Mr. Cleveland has caught a great many dogs in his day—stealing. His success in that line would naturally make him unpopular with the claims agents and other parasites that throng the capital.

1889 February 18, Chicago Herald, quotee, “Unpopular with rascals”, in The Courier-Journal, volume LXXIV, number 7,355 (New Series), Louisville, Ky.: Louisville Courier-Journal Print. Co., →ISSN, →OCLC, page 4, column 6:

It is a well known fact that the average American town will not elect well educated men to municipal offices if they can help it. A man who wears kid gloves and a plug hat couldn't be elected dog catcher in any town in Oklahoma. That is why the affirmative wish the city manager to be elected by a commission.

1918 October 15, “The City Manager Plan. [Condenst Paragrafs.]”, in J. W. Scroogs, editor, University of Oklahoma Bulletin (New Series; no. 156; University Extension Series; no. 43), Norman, Okla.: University of Oklahoma, →OCLC, page 60:

Men like him couldn't get elected dogcatcher. He was a natural lieutenant, not a leader, and it was a fact he accepted with neither bitterness nor regret.

2006 October, credited to Robert Ludlum, chapter 15, in The Bancroft Strategy, New York, N.Y.: St. Martin’s Press, →ISBN, page 264:

"She's [Christine O'Donnell's] not a viable candidate for any office in the state of Delaware," said the state party chairman, Tom Ross, who is backing [Mike] Castle. "She could not be elected dog catcher."

2010 September 12, Philip Eliot, “GOP Tries to Take Out Tea Party-backed Candidate”, in Yahoo! News, archived from the original on 2010-09-22:

[Donald] Trump, who has a glancing relationship with the truth and speaks English only as a second language, has hurled his insults at [Bob] Corker (whom he said couldn't get elected dog-catcher in his home state) and at [John] McCain — even as he journeyed to Capitol Hill to try to build support for tax reform.

2017 October 25, John L. Micek, “Trump just keeps digging deeper and deeper”, in The Courier-Journal, Louisville, Ky.: Gannett, →ISSN, →OCLC:

(idiomatic, chiefly US, politics, hyperbolic) Said of someone, particularly a politician, who is extremely unpopular.

ei äänestäisi kukaan

said of someone, particularly a politician, who is extremely unpopular


魂不附體

ㄏㄨㄣˊ ㄅㄨˋ ㄈㄨˋ ㄊㄧˇ

/xu̯ən³⁵ pu⁵¹⁻³⁵ fu⁵¹ tʰi²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/wɐn²¹ pɐt̚⁵ fuː²² tʰɐi̯³⁵/

/xu̯ən³⁵ pu⁵¹⁻³⁵ fu⁵¹ tʰi²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/wɐn²¹ pɐt̚⁵ fuː²² tʰɐi̯³⁵/

to be so scared or shocked that one practically leaps out of one's skin


坐不安席

ㄗㄨㄛˋ ㄅㄨˋ ㄢ ㄒㄧˊ

цзо бу ань си

/t͡su̯ɔ⁵¹⁻⁵³ pu⁵¹ ˀän⁵⁵ ɕi³⁵/

/t͡su̯ɔ⁵¹⁻⁵³ pu⁵¹ ˀän⁵⁵ ɕi³⁵/


夜深

/jɛ⁵¹ ʂən⁵⁵/

/jɛ⁵¹ ʂən⁵⁵/

Zhǐ kǒng yè shēn huā shuì qù, gù shāo gāo zhú zhào hóng zhuāng.

只恐夜深花睡去，故燒高燭照紅妝。

只恐夜深花睡去，故烧高烛照红妆。


長吁短嘆

ㄔㄤˊ ㄒㄩ ㄉㄨㄢˇ ㄊㄢˋ

чансюйдуаньтань

/ʈ͡ʂʰɑŋ³⁵ ɕy⁵⁵ tu̯än²¹⁴⁻²¹ tʰän⁵¹/

/ʈ͡ʂʰɑŋ³⁵ ɕy⁵⁵ tu̯än²¹⁴⁻²¹ tʰän⁵¹/

to utter sighs and groans; to moan and groan


肺腑之言

ㄈㄟˋ ㄈㄨˇ ㄓ ㄧㄢˊ

/feɪ̯⁵¹ fu²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ jɛn³⁵/

/fɐi̯³³ fuː³⁵ t͡siː⁵⁵ jiːn²¹/

/feɪ̯⁵¹ fu²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ jɛn³⁵/

/fɐi̯³³ fuː³⁵ t͡siː⁵⁵ jiːn²¹/


萬死不辭

ㄨㄢˋ ㄙˇ ㄅㄨˋ ㄘˊ

/wän⁵¹ sz̩²¹⁴⁻²¹ pu⁵¹ t͡sʰz̩³⁵/

/maːn²² sei̯³⁵ pɐt̚⁵ t͡sʰiː²¹/

/wän⁵¹ sz̩²¹⁴⁻²¹ pu⁵¹ t͡sʰz̩³⁵/

/maːn²² sei̯³⁵ pɐt̚⁵ t͡sʰiː²¹/

to be willing to risk any danger to do one's duty


莫報萬一

ㄇㄛˋ ㄅㄠˋ ㄨㄢˋ ㄧ

мо бао ваньи

/mu̯ɔ⁵¹⁻⁵³ pɑʊ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ wän⁵¹⁻⁵³ i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹/

/mu̯ɔ⁵¹⁻⁵³ pɑʊ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ wän⁵¹⁻⁵³ i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹/

cannot even repay one ten thousandth of what has been done on one's behalf


行坐不安

ㄒㄧㄥˊ ㄗㄨㄛˋ ㄅㄨˋ ㄢ

синцзобу’ань

/ɕiŋ³⁵ t͡su̯ɔ⁵¹⁻⁵³ pu⁵¹ ˀän⁵⁵/

/ɕiŋ³⁵ t͡su̯ɔ⁵¹⁻⁵³ pu⁵¹ ˀän⁵⁵/

so nervous that one doesn't know whether to walk or sit


粉身碎骨

ㄈㄣˇ ㄕㄣ ㄙㄨㄟˋ ㄍㄨˇ

фэньшэньсуйгу

/fən²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʂən⁵⁵ su̯eɪ̯⁵¹ ku²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/fɐn³⁵ sɐn⁵⁵ sɵy̯³³ kʷɐt̚⁵/

/fən²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʂən⁵⁵ su̯eɪ̯⁵¹ ku²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/fɐn³⁵ sɐn⁵⁵ sɵy̯³³ kʷɐt̚⁵/

to have one's body smashed to pieces; to die the most cruel death


olipa kerran

Olipa kerran susi...

(used at the beginnings of fairytales) once upon a time there was


head

amach as na muineacha is isteach sna driseacha

Literally “out of the thickets and into the thornbushes”

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

between Scylla and Charybdis
between Scylla and Charybdis

(idiomatic) out of the frying pan, into the fire, between Scylla and Charybdis


淚如泉湧

ㄌㄟˋ ㄖㄨˊ ㄑㄩㄢˊ ㄩㄥˇ

лэйжуцюаньюн

/leɪ̯⁵¹ ʐu³⁵ t͡ɕʰy̯ɛn³⁵ jʊŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/lɵy̯²² jyː²¹ t͡sʰyːn²¹ jʊŋ³⁵/

/leɪ̯⁵¹ ʐu³⁵ t͡ɕʰy̯ɛn³⁵ jʊŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/lɵy̯²² jyː²¹ t͡sʰyːn²¹ jʊŋ³⁵/


累卵之急

ㄌㄟˇ ㄌㄨㄢˇ ㄓ ㄐㄧˊ

лэйлуаньчжицзи

/leɪ̯²¹⁴⁻³⁵ lu̯än²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ t͡ɕi³⁵/

/leɪ̯²¹⁴⁻³⁵ lu̯än²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ t͡ɕi³⁵/

delicate balancing act (precarious situation analogous to a leaning pile of eggs)


not to put too fine a point on it

en-au-not to put too fine a point on it.ogg

A reference to the fact that the speaker is about to say something blunt rather than fine (that is, delicate or subtle).

My little woman is at present in—not to put too fine a point on it—in a pious state, or in what she considers such, and attends the Evening Exertions (which is the name they go by) of a reverend party of the name of Chadband.

1852 March – 1853 September, Charles Dickens, “Mr. Bucket”, in Bleak House, London: Bradbury and Evans, […], published 1853, →OCLC, page 217:

En route, to his taciturn, and, not to put too fine a point on it, not yet perfectly sober companion, Mr Bloom, who at all events, was in complete possession of his faculties, never more so, in fact disgustingly sober, spoke a word of caution re the dangers of nighttown, women of ill fame and swell mobsmen, […]

1922 February, James Joyce, “[Episode 16: Eumaeus]”, in Ulysses, Paris: Shakespeare and Company, […], →OCLC, part III [Nostos], page 570:

You explain slowly and clearly that you are doing him the honour of not beating about the bush […] Well, you will end up – not to put too fine a point on it (you lower your voice) – having sex. And while you are sure that sex would be very nice, the prognosis for a future between the two of you is not good.

2000, Amy Jenkins, chapter 4, in Honeymoon, London: Hodder & Stoughton, →ISBN; republished as Honeymoon (Flame), London: Hodder & Stoughton, 2001, →ISBN, page 39:

(idiomatic) Used to apologize for a possibly impolite statement one is making; to put it bluntly; to express it in plain terms.

anteeksi ilmaisuni

used to apologize for a possibly impolite statement


倒懸之危

ㄉㄠˋ ㄒㄩㄢˊ ㄓ ㄨㄟ

ㄉㄠˋ ㄒㄩㄢˊ ㄓ ㄨㄟˊ

даосюаньчживэй

/tɑʊ̯⁵¹ ɕy̯ɛn³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ weɪ̯⁵⁵/

/tɑʊ̯⁵¹ ɕy̯ɛn³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ weɪ̯³⁵/

/tou̯³³ jyːn²¹ t͡siː⁵⁵ ŋɐi̯²¹/

/tɑʊ̯⁵¹ ɕy̯ɛn³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ weɪ̯⁵⁵/

/tɑʊ̯⁵¹ ɕy̯ɛn³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ weɪ̯³⁵/

/tou̯³³ jyːn²¹ t͡siː⁵⁵ ŋɐi̯²¹/

critical juncture; the brink of destruction; a danger which puts one in dire straits


自有道理

ㄗˋ ㄧㄡˇ ㄉㄠˋ ㄌㄧˇ

/t͡sz̩⁵¹ joʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ tɑʊ̯⁵¹ li²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/t͡sz̩⁵¹ joʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ tɑʊ̯⁵¹ li²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

to have a plan or strategy already worked out in one's head


tomayto, tomahto

George Gershwin
Let's Call the Whole Thing Off

Uses the American English and British English pronunciations of the word tomato. Allusion to George Gershwin's song "Let's Call the Whole Thing Off": "You like tomato (/təˈmeɪtə/) and I like tomato (/təˈmɑːtə/)".

(idiomatic) Used to dismiss a correction to one's adherence to an alternative standard.

distinction without a difference#English

(idiomatic) Used to dismissively suggest that something is a distinction without a difference.

prašť jako uhoď

to suggest a distinction without a difference

čy v kamiń holovoju, čy kamenem u holovu

чи в камінь головою, чи каменем у голову

"Tomayto, tomahto," she said, and Taylor laughed. So they ended on a good note.

2009, N. B. Grace, Disney High School Musical: #1: Stories from East High Bind Up #1, Disney Press, →ISBN, page 78:

“I withheld truth, but I did not lie.” “Tomayto, tomahto.”

2014, C.E. Murphy, Shaman Rises, Harlequin, →ISBN, page 282:

“Okay, then, how about Michael?” “Tomayto, tomahto.” Kacie sighed in disappointment.

2017, Cheryl Etchison, From the Start: An American Valor Novel, HarperCollins, →ISBN, page 15:

(idiomatic) Used to express two similar things being exactly the same, when they are slightly different.


好色之徒

ㄏㄠˋ ㄙㄜˋ ㄓ ㄊㄨˊ

/xɑʊ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ sɤ⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ tʰu³⁵/

/hou̯³³ sɪk̚⁵ t͡siː⁵⁵ tʰou̯²¹/

/xɑʊ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ sɤ⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ tʰu³⁵/

/hou̯³³ sɪk̚⁵ t͡siː⁵⁵ tʰou̯²¹/

person who is fond of women; lady's man; womanizer; lothario; lecher; libertine


but me no buts

Coined in 1709 by Susanna Centlivre in the play The Busie Body.

Sir Fran. But me no Buts Be gone, Sir: Dare to ask me for Money agen Refuse Forty Thousand Pound! Out of my Doors, I say, without reply.

1709, Susanna Centlivre, The Busie Body:

VVor[thy]. But Sir— / Pol[itick]. But me no buts—vvhat can be the Reaſon of all this vvarlike Preparation, vvhich all our Nevvs-papers have informed us of.

1730, [Henry Fielding], Rape upon Rape; or, The Justice Caught in His Own Trap. A Comedy. […], London: […] J. Wat[t]s, […], →OCLC, Act II, scene xi, page 28:

“I heartily wish I could, but”–– / “Nay, but me no buts—I have set my heart upon it.” / “I am greatly obliged, my dear sir, but”––

1816, [Walter Scott], chapter XI, in The Antiquary. […], volume I, Edinburgh: […] James Ballantyne and Co. for Archibald Constable and Co.; London: Longman, Hurst, Rees, Orme, and Brown, →OCLC, page 236:

Nay, but me no buts, offer me no objections.

1889, Mark Twain [pseudonym; Samuel Langhorne Clemens], A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur’s Court, New York, N.Y.: Charles L. Webster & Company, →OCLC:

"No," said Yapp. "But—" ¶"But me no buts, sir. We can take it that the act of adultery is established.

1980, Tom Sharpe, Ancestral Vices, →ISBN, page 312:

Jim Hacker: But me no buts, Bernard. Shakespeare. / Bernard Woolley: Oh no, Prime Minister. ‘But me no buts’ is circa 1820. Mrs Centlivre used the phrase in 1708, but actually it was Scott’s employment of it in ‘The Antiquary’ in 1816 which made it fashionable.

1982, “The Key”, in Yes, Prime Minister:

‘Yes, but—’ / ‘But me no buts.’ Tom glowered at him. ‘Who’s the captain of this crew, anyway?’

2003, Wilbur Smith, Monsoon, →ISBN, page 1:

Used to cut off objections or qualifications.

ei mitään muttia

used to cut off objections or qualifications


TRDMF

(Internet slang) Initialism of tears running down my face.


you welcome

LL-Q1860 (eng)-Flame, not lame-you welcome.wav

Pronunciation spelling
pronunciation spelling

(African-American Vernacular) Pronunciation spelling of you're welcome.


無計可施

ㄨˊ ㄐㄧˋ ㄎㄜˇ ㄕ

/u³⁵ t͡ɕi⁵¹ kʰɤ²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʂʐ̩⁵⁵/

/mou̯²¹ kɐi̯³³ hɔː³⁵ siː⁵⁵/

/u³⁵ t͡ɕi⁵¹ kʰɤ²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʂʐ̩⁵⁵/

/mou̯²¹ kɐi̯³³ hɔː³⁵ siː⁵⁵/

at the end of one's tether
at the end of one's tether

at a loss as to what to do; at one's wits' end; at the end of one's tether


眉來眼去

ㄇㄟˊ ㄌㄞˊ ㄧㄢˇ ㄑㄩˋ

мэйлайяньцюй

/meɪ̯³⁵ laɪ̯³⁵ jɛn²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕʰy⁵¹/

/mei̯²¹ lɔːi̯²¹ ŋaːn¹³ hɵy̯³³/

/meɪ̯³⁵ laɪ̯³⁵ jɛn²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕʰy⁵¹/

/mei̯²¹ lɔːi̯²¹ ŋaːn¹³ hɵy̯³³/

to make eyes at each other; to flirt with each other


犬馬之報

ㄑㄩㄢˇ ㄇㄚˇ ㄓ ㄅㄠˋ

цюаньмачжибао

/t͡ɕʰy̯ɛn²¹⁴⁻³⁵ mä²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ pɑʊ̯⁵¹/

(archaic) a sincere effort to repay a favor


目不轉睛

ㄇㄨˋ ㄅㄨˋ ㄓㄨㄢˇ ㄐㄧㄥ

му бу чжуань цзин

/mu⁵¹⁻⁵³ pu⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂu̯än²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕiŋ⁵⁵/

/mu⁵¹⁻⁵³ pu⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂu̯än²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕiŋ⁵⁵/

to gaze into each other's eyes; to not take their eyes off of each other


秋波送情

ㄑㄧㄡ ㄅㄛ ㄙㄨㄥˋ ㄑㄧㄥˊ

/t͡ɕʰi̯oʊ̯⁵⁵ pu̯ɔ⁵⁵ sʊŋ⁵¹ t͡ɕʰiŋ³⁵/

/t͡ɕʰi̯oʊ̯⁵⁵ pu̯ɔ⁵⁵ sʊŋ⁵¹ t͡ɕʰiŋ³⁵/

(of a woman) to make eyes; to ogle; to cast amorous glances


il gatto ti ha mangiato la lingua

Literally, “Has the cat eaten your tongue?”.

lit

cat got your tongue?
cat got someone's tongue


non c'è trippa per gatti

Literally, “there is no tripe for cats”.

at someone's disposal
at someone's disposal

(Rome, idiomatic) there are few or no resources at someone's disposal


do kurwy nędzy

Literally, “for [the] misery of [a] whore”.


水陸畢陳

ㄕㄨㄟˇ ㄌㄨˋ ㄅㄧˋ ㄔㄣˊ

шуйлу би чэнь

/ʂu̯eɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ lu⁵¹⁻⁵³ pi⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʰən³⁵/

/ʂu̯eɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ lu⁵¹⁻⁵³ pi⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʰən³⁵/

to set out a full spread of delicacies from land and sea


n.d.

(in bibliographies) Abbreviation of no date.

(academia) Initialism of no data (used to indicate where information was not available, especially in tables, rather than leaving a blank).


天心人意

ㄊㄧㄢ ㄒㄧㄣ ㄖㄣˊ ㄧˋ

тяньсинь жэньи

/tʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵ ɕin⁵⁵ ʐən³⁵ i⁵¹/

/tʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵ ɕin⁵⁵ ʐən³⁵ i⁵¹/

the will of heaven and the desire of men


I told you so

1918 September–November, Edgar Rice Burroughs, “The Land That Time Forgot”, in The Blue Book Magazine, Chicago, Ill.: Story-press Corp., →OCLC; republished as chapter IV, in Hugo Gernsback, editor, Amazing Stories, (please specify |part=I to III), New York, N.Y.: Experimenter Publishing, 1927, →OCLC:

For the left, the seismic week delivered an “I told you so” years in the making.

2023 April 1, Jonathan Weisman, “Trump and Fox News, Twin Titans of Politics, Hit With Back-to-Back Rebukes”, in The New York Times, →ISSN:

Used to remind someone that they were already warned by the speaker/writer that a certain event would happen.


進酒作樂

ㄐㄧㄣˋ ㄐㄧㄡˇ ㄗㄨㄛˋ ㄌㄜˋ

цзиньцзюцзолэ

/t͡ɕin⁵¹ t͡ɕi̯oʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡su̯ɔ⁵¹⁻⁵³ lɤ⁵¹/

/t͡sɵn³³ t͡sɐu̯³⁵ t͡sɔːk̚³ lɔːk̚²/

/t͡sɵn³³ t͡sɐu̯³⁵ t͡sɔːk̚³ lɔːk̚²/

(literary) to pour alcohol and toast and to seek plesure


陽春白雪

ㄧㄤˊ ㄔㄨㄣ ㄅㄞˊ ㄒㄩㄝˇ

янчуньбайсюэ

/jɑŋ³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰu̯ən⁵⁵ paɪ̯³⁵ ɕy̯ɛ²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/jœːŋ²¹ t͡sʰɵn⁵⁵ paːk̚² syːt̚³/

/jɑŋ³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰu̯ən⁵⁵ paɪ̯³⁵ ɕy̯ɛ²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/jœːŋ²¹ t͡sʰɵn⁵⁵ paːk̚² syːt̚³/

The name of the song White Snow on a Warm Spring Day, composed in the state of Chu during the Warring States Period. This song was considered to be refined and extremely difficult to sing.

caviar to the general
caviar to the general

(figurative) highbrow art and literature; caviar to the general


ek verstaan nie

LL-Q14196 (afr)-Oesjaar-ek verstaan nie.wav


gag me with a spoon

"Gag me with a spoon," I said. He scratched his head.

1999, Tamar Myers, Baroque and Desperate: A Den of Antiquity Mystery:

"Whatever!" I pretend to stick my finger in my mouth and make a choking sound of mock disgust at Beth's compliment. "Like gag me with a spoon!" I laugh.


who's 'she', the cat's mother

Who's 'she' (canonical)
the cat's mother (canonical)

"She's coming on the trip with us too!"

"Who's 'she', the cat's mother?"

Sorry, Gran is coming with us too.

(idiomatic, somewhat dated, British, Ireland, New England) A rebuke especially directed towards children for having referred to a woman as "she", instead of using her name or an appropriately respectful title.


puun ja kuoren välissä

puun (“of wood”) + ja (“and”) + kuoren (“of bark”) + välissä (“between”)

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


I'm all right, Jack

From my vantage point at the large, shiny bar in the centre of the room, I could swear I spotted Harriet Harman with her trade unionist husband "I'm all right, Jack" Dromey.

2008 November 6, Bill Blanko, “Party politics”, in The Guardian:

(British) Indicates a selfish attitude, not worried about any problems one's friends and neighbours might have. Often associated with strikes and other trade union industrial actions.


check is in the mail

Your check is in the mail. I gave it to my son to mail yesterday. I hope he remembered.

The reply was usually either a story about financial problems, or the "check is in the mail" dodge.

It was the sure-fire sign of a business — or an individual — in financial distress: The old check-is-in-the-mail ploy.

1992, Donald L. Barlett with James B. Steele, America: What Went Wrong?, page 155:

The person with whom you speak may be well schooled in the "check is in the mail" run-around.

1997, Jeff Davidson, The Complete Idiot's Guide to Assertiveness, page 306:

(idiomatic, often ironic) A common excuse used by debtors to put off creditors.


多歷年所

ㄉㄨㄛ ㄌㄧˋ ㄋㄧㄢˊ ㄙㄨㄛˇ

до ли няньсо

/tu̯ɔ⁵⁵ li⁵¹ ni̯ɛn³⁵ su̯ɔ²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/tu̯ɔ⁵⁵ li⁵¹ ni̯ɛn³⁵ su̯ɔ²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/


STF

(Internet slang, vulgar) Initialism of să te fut.


得未曾有

ㄉㄜˊ ㄨㄟˋ ㄘㄥˊ ㄧㄡˇ

/tɤ³⁵ weɪ̯⁵¹ t͡sʰɤŋ³⁵ joʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/tɤ³⁵ weɪ̯⁵¹ t͡sʰɤŋ³⁵ joʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/


kasta pärlor åt svin

kasta pärlor för svin
kasta pärlor för svin

cast pearls before swine
cast pearls before swine

(variant of kasta pärlor för svin) cast pearls before swine


作如是觀

ㄗㄨㄛˋ ㄖㄨˊ ㄕˋ ㄍㄨㄢ

цзо жу ши гуань

/t͡su̯ɔ⁵¹ ʐu³⁵ ʂʐ̩⁵¹ ku̯än⁵⁵/

/t͡su̯ɔ⁵¹ ʐu³⁵ ʂʐ̩⁵¹ ku̯än⁵⁵/


vì sao

[vɪj˦˩ ʂaːw˧˧]

[vɪj˨˩ ʂaːw˧˧]

Chiến tranh giữa các vì sao

Star Wars (literally, “Wars Between/Among the Stars”)

Used other than figuratively or idiomatically: see vì, sao.


偷目竊望

ㄊㄡ ㄇㄨˋ ㄑㄧㄝˋ ㄨㄤˋ

/tʰoʊ̯⁵⁵ mu⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡ɕʰi̯ɛ⁵¹⁻⁵³ wɑŋ⁵¹/

/tʰoʊ̯⁵⁵ mu⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡ɕʰi̯ɛ⁵¹⁻⁵³ wɑŋ⁵¹/


神魂飄蕩

ㄕㄣˊ ㄏㄨㄣˊ ㄆㄧㄠ ㄉㄤˋ

шэньхуньпяодан

/ʂən³⁵ xu̯ən³⁵ pʰi̯ɑʊ̯⁵⁵ tɑŋ⁵¹/

/ʂən³⁵ xu̯ən³⁵ pʰi̯ɑʊ̯⁵⁵ tɑŋ⁵¹/

to be mixed up and confused; to be deeply fascinated (by someone's compelling beauty)


曲意逢迎

ㄑㄩ ㄧˋ ㄈㄥˊ ㄧㄥˊ

/t͡ɕʰy⁵⁵ i⁵¹ fɤŋ³⁵ iŋ³⁵/

/t͡ɕʰy⁵⁵ i⁵¹ fɤŋ³⁵ iŋ³⁵/


衣不解帶

ㄧ ㄅㄨˋ ㄐㄧㄝˇ ㄉㄞˋ

и бу цзе дай

/i⁵⁵ pu⁵¹ t͡ɕi̯ɛ²¹⁴⁻²¹ taɪ̯⁵¹/

/i⁵⁵ pu⁵¹ t͡ɕi̯ɛ²¹⁴⁻²¹ taɪ̯⁵¹/

Literally: to not loosen the belt to one's clothing (so that one can disrobe and go to sleep, because one is so busy)


心神恍惚

ㄒㄧㄣ ㄕㄣˊ ㄏㄨㄤˇ ㄏㄨ

синьшэньхуанху

/ɕin⁵⁵ ʂən³⁵ xu̯ɑŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹ xu⁵⁵/

/sɐm⁵⁵ sɐn²¹ fɔːŋ³⁵ fɐt̚⁵/

/ɕin⁵⁵ ʂən³⁵ xu̯ɑŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹ xu⁵⁵/

/sɐm⁵⁵ sɐn²¹ fɔːŋ³⁵ fɐt̚⁵/


分花拂柳

ㄈㄣ ㄏㄨㄚ ㄈㄨˊ ㄌㄧㄡˇ

фэнь хуа фу лю

/fən⁵⁵ xu̯ä⁵⁵ fu³⁵ li̯oʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/fən⁵⁵ xu̯ä⁵⁵ fu³⁵ li̯oʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

to gracefully saunter over (like an elegant woman etc.)


忍辱偷生

ㄖㄣˇ ㄖㄨˇ ㄊㄡ ㄕㄥ

ㄖㄣˇ ㄖㄨˋ ㄊㄡ ㄕㄥ

жэньжутоушэн

žɛnʹžutoušɛn

/ʐən²¹⁴⁻³⁵ ʐu²¹⁴⁻²¹ tʰoʊ̯⁵⁵ ʂɤŋ⁵⁵/

/ʐən²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʐu⁵¹ tʰoʊ̯⁵⁵ ʂɤŋ⁵⁵/

/jɐn³⁵ jʊk̚² tʰɐu̯⁵⁵ sɐŋ⁵⁵/

/ʐən²¹⁴⁻³⁵ ʐu²¹⁴⁻²¹ tʰoʊ̯⁵⁵ ʂɤŋ⁵⁵/

/ʐən²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʐu⁵¹ tʰoʊ̯⁵⁵ ʂɤŋ⁵⁵/

/jɐn³⁵ jʊk̚² tʰɐu̯⁵⁵ sɐŋ⁵⁵/

to endure humiliation in order to remain alive


度日如年

ㄉㄨˋ ㄖˋ ㄖㄨˊ ㄋㄧㄢˊ

/tu⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʐ̩⁵¹ ʐu³⁵ ni̯ɛn³⁵/

/tou̯²² jɐt̚² jyː²¹ niːn²¹/

/tɔ²²⁻²¹ lit̚⁴⁻³² lu²⁴⁻²² nĩ²⁴/

/tɔ³³⁻²¹ zit̚⁴⁻³² zu²³⁻³³ nĩ²³/

/tɔ³³⁻²¹ zit̚⁴⁻³² zi²³⁻³³ nĩ²³/

/tu⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʐ̩⁵¹ ʐu³⁵ ni̯ɛn³⁵/

/tou̯²² jɐt̚² jyː²¹ niːn²¹/

/tɔ²²⁻²¹ lit̚⁴⁻³² lu²⁴⁻²² nĩ²⁴/

/tɔ³³⁻²¹ zit̚⁴⁻³² zu²³⁻³³ nĩ²³/

/tɔ³³⁻²¹ zit̚⁴⁻³² zi²³⁻³³ nĩ²³/


如雷灌耳

ㄖㄨˊ ㄌㄟˊ ㄍㄨㄚˋ ㄋㄜˇㄦ

ㄖㄨˊ ㄌㄟˊ ㄍㄨㄚˋ ㄋㄜˇㄦ

/ʐu³⁵ leɪ̯³⁵ ku̯ä⁵¹ nɤɻ²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/jyː²¹ lɵy̯²¹ kuːn³³ jiː¹³/

/ʐu³⁵ leɪ̯³⁵ ku̯ä⁵¹ nɤɻ²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/jyː²¹ lɵy̯²¹ kuːn³³ jiː¹³/


head

you don't dip your pen in the company inkwell

you don't dip your pen in company ink#English

Alternative form of you don't dip your pen in company ink


如雷貫耳

ㄖㄨˊ ㄌㄟˊ ㄍㄨㄚˋ ㄋㄜˇㄦ

ㄖㄨˊ ㄌㄟˊ ㄍㄨㄚˋ ㄋㄜˇㄦ

/ʐu³⁵ leɪ̯³⁵ ku̯ä⁵¹ nɤɻ²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/jyː²¹ lɵy̯²¹ kuːn³³ jiː¹³/

/ʐu³⁵ leɪ̯³⁵ ku̯ä⁵¹ nɤɻ²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/jyː²¹ lɵy̯²¹ kuːn³³ jiː¹³/

Romance of the Three Kingdoms, circa 14ᵗʰ century CE

Xuándé xiàbài yuē: “Hànshì mòzhòu, Zhuō Jùn yúfū, jiǔ wén xiānshēng dàmíng, rúléiguàn'ěr.”

玄德下拜曰：「漢室末胄，涿郡愚夫，久聞先生大名，如雷貫耳。」

玄德下拜曰：「汉室末胄，涿郡愚夫，久闻先生大名，如雷贯耳。」


淚下如雨

ㄌㄟˋ ㄒㄧㄚˋ ㄖㄨˊ ㄩˇ

лэй ся жу юй

/leɪ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ ɕi̯ä⁵¹ ʐu³⁵ y²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/leɪ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ ɕi̯ä⁵¹ ʐu³⁵ y²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/


weapons hold

(military) An order that weapons may be fired at targets (especially aircraft or missiles) only when under attack, or in response to a formal order.


weapons tight

(military) An order that weapons may only be fired at targets (especially aircraft or missiles) that are positively identified as hostile.


weapons free

(military) An order that weapons may be fired at targets (especially aircraft or missiles) that are not positively identified as friendly.


Nollaig Chridheil agus Bliadhna Ùr Mhath

Nollaig Chridheil agus Bliadhna Mhath Ùr

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!
Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!


veselé Vánoce

Veselé Vánoce (canonical)
veselé Vánoce (nominative plural)
veselých Vánoc (genitive plural)
veselým Vánocům (dative plural)
veselé Vánoce (accusative plural)
veselé Vánoce (plural vocative)
veselých Vánocích (locative plural)
veselými Vánocemi (instrumental plural)
veselými Vánoci (instrumental plural)


in the driver's seat

(idiomatic) Having the most important role in a storyline or recognition. Of primary importance.

(idiomatic) In control of an entity or situation.


non plus ultra

→ Dutch: non plus ultra

→ German: Non Plus Ultra

→ English: ne plus ultra

→ French: non plus ultra

→ German: Nonplusultra

→ Italian: non plus ultra

[noːn pɫ̪uːs̠ ˈʊɫ̪t̪räː]

Literally, “nothing further beyond”, nōn (“not”) + plūs (“more”) + ultrā (“beyond”). An ancient post-classical Mediterranean aphorism, fabulously alleged to have been inscribed somewhere upon the Pillars of Hercules as a warning to ships to sail no further. Adopted during the Renaissance as a metaphor for the stifling influence of ancient philosophy on the progress of thought. Compare Gādēs.

A warning to not go beyond (this point).


青史傳名

ㄑㄧㄥ ㄕˇ ㄔㄨㄢˊ ㄇㄧㄥˊ

циншичуаньмин

/t͡ɕʰiŋ⁵⁵ ʂʐ̩²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂʰu̯än³⁵ miŋ³⁵/

/t͡ɕʰiŋ⁵⁵ ʂʐ̩²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂʰu̯än³⁵ miŋ³⁵/

one's name will be passed down in history books


流芳百世

ㄌㄧㄡˊ ㄈㄤ ㄅㄞˇ ㄕˋ

/li̯oʊ̯³⁵ fɑŋ⁵⁵ paɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʂʐ̩⁵¹/

/lɐu̯²¹ fɔːŋ⁵⁵ paːk̚³ sɐi̯³³/

/li̯u¹¹ foŋ²⁴ pak̚² sɨ⁵⁵/

/li̯oʊ̯³⁵ fɑŋ⁵⁵ paɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʂʐ̩⁵¹/

/lɐu̯²¹ fɔːŋ⁵⁵ paːk̚³ sɐi̯³³/

/li̯u¹¹ foŋ²⁴ pak̚² sɨ⁵⁵/

to leave a good name for a hundred generations


遺臭萬年

ㄧˊ ㄔㄡˋ ㄨㄢˋ ㄋㄧㄢˊ

ичоуваньнянь

/i³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰoʊ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ wän⁵¹ ni̯ɛn³⁵/

/wɐi̯²¹ t͡sʰɐu̯³³ maːn²² niːn²¹/

/i³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰoʊ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ wän⁵¹ ni̯ɛn³⁵/

/wɐi̯²¹ t͡sʰɐu̯³³ maːn²² niːn²¹/

to go down in history as a byword of infamy


buon Natale e felice anno nuovo

buon Natale e felice anno nuovo ! (canonical)

/ˈbwɔn naˈta.le e‿f.feˈli.t͡ʃe ˈan.no ˈnwɔ.vo/


折箭為誓

ㄓㄜˊ ㄐㄧㄢˋ ㄨㄟˊ ㄕˋ

чжэцзяньвэйши

/ʈ͡ʂɤ³⁵ t͡ɕi̯ɛn⁵¹ weɪ̯³⁵ ʂʐ̩⁵¹/

/t͡siːt̚³ t͡siːn³³ wɐi̯²¹ sɐi̯²²/

/ʈ͡ʂɤ³⁵ t͡ɕi̯ɛn⁵¹ weɪ̯³⁵ ʂʐ̩⁵¹/

/t͡siːt̚³ t͡siːn³³ wɐi̯²¹ sɐi̯²²/

The implication was that if one broke one's promise, one's fate would be similar to that of the arrow's.


罪惡貫盈

ㄗㄨㄟˋ ㄜˋ ㄍㄨㄢˋ ㄧㄥˊ

цзуйэ гуаньин

/t͡su̯eɪ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ ˀɤ⁵¹⁻⁵³ ku̯än⁵¹ iŋ³⁵/

/t͡sɵy̯²² ɔːk̚³ muːn¹³ jɪŋ²¹/

/t͡su̯eɪ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ ˀɤ⁵¹⁻⁵³ ku̯än⁵¹ iŋ³⁵/

/t͡sɵy̯²² ɔːk̚³ muːn¹³ jɪŋ²¹/


人神共憤

ㄖㄣˊ ㄕㄣˊ ㄍㄨㄥˋ ㄈㄣˋ

жэньшэньгунфэнь

žɛnʹšɛnʹgunfɛnʹ

/ʐən³⁵ ʂən³⁵ kʊŋ⁵¹⁻⁵³ fən⁵¹/

/jɐn²¹ sɐn²¹ kʊŋ²² fɐn¹³/

/ʐən³⁵ ʂən³⁵ kʊŋ⁵¹⁻⁵³ fən⁵¹/

/jɐn²¹ sɐn²¹ kʊŋ²² fɐn¹³/


時不可失

ㄕˊ ㄅㄨˋ ㄎㄜˇ ㄕ

/ʂʐ̩³⁵ pu⁵¹ kʰɤ²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʂʐ̩⁵⁵/

/ʂʐ̩³⁵ pu⁵¹ kʰɤ²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʂʐ̩⁵⁵/

there is not a moment to lose; we mustn't let this opportunity pass us by


karácsony este

[ˈkɒraːt͡ʃoɲɛʃtɛ]

karácsony (“Christmas”) + este (“evening”)


before you can say Jack Robinson

Uncertain. There is some speculation that this is a reference to Sir John Robinson, the Lieutenant of the Tower of London from 1660 to 1680 and Lord Mayor of London in 1662, but there is nothing known about him that is associated with speed (Samuel Pepys called him as “a talking bragging bufflehead.”), and the phrase does not appear in print until 1778.

You have to be careful in that area. They'll have your wallet before you can say Jack Robinson.

And if you see a sign of anyone being about the place, — living, or dead, or anyhow — you give me a yell. I shall be on the lookout, and I’ll be with you before you can say Jack Robinson.’

Father is seated inside the carriage before you can say Jack Robinson.

2002, Michel Faber, The Crimson Petal and the White, Canongate Books (2010), page 772:


あけおめ

明けましておめでとう 明けましておめでとう#Japanese

(informal) Clipping of 明けましておめでとう (akemashite omedetō, “Happy New Year”)


あけおめことよろ

明けましておめでとう、今年もよろしくお願いします 明けましておめでとう、今年もよろしくお願いします#Japanese

(informal) Clipping of 明けましておめでとう、今年もよろしくお願いします (akemashite omedetō, kotoshi mo yoroshiku onegai shi masu): an expression celebrating the new year and seeking good relations throughout the new year


人定勝天

nhân định thắng thiên
nhân định thắng thiên#Vietnamese


人地生疏

ㄖㄣˊ ㄉㄧˋ ㄕㄥ ㄕㄨ

/ʐən³⁵ ti⁵¹ ʂɤŋ⁵⁵ ʂu⁵⁵/

/jɐn²¹ tei̯²² saːŋ⁵⁵ sɔː⁵⁵/

/ʐən³⁵ ti⁵¹ ʂɤŋ⁵⁵ ʂu⁵⁵/

/jɐn²¹ tei̯²² saːŋ⁵⁵ sɔː⁵⁵/

to be unfamiliar with the place and the people; to be a stranger in a strange place


明知就裡

ㄇㄧㄥˊ ㄓ ㄐㄧㄡˋ ㄌㄧˇ

/miŋ³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ t͡ɕi̯oʊ̯⁵¹ li²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/mɪŋ²¹ t͡siː⁵⁵ t͡sɐu̯²² lɵy̯¹³/

/miŋ³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ t͡ɕi̯oʊ̯⁵¹ li²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/mɪŋ²¹ t͡siː⁵⁵ t͡sɐu̯²² lɵy̯¹³/

to clearly understand the inside scoop or principle


メリークリスマス

[me̞ɾʲiː kɯ̟ɾʲisɨma̠sɨ]


肉顫心驚

ㄖㄡˋ ㄔㄢˋ ㄒㄧㄣ ㄐㄧㄥ

ㄖㄡˋ ㄓㄢˋ ㄒㄧㄣ ㄐㄧㄥ

жоу чань синь цзин

/ʐoʊ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʈ͡ʂʰän⁵¹ ɕin⁵⁵ t͡ɕiŋ⁵⁵/

жоу чжань синь цзин

/ʐoʊ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʈ͡ʂän⁵¹ ɕin⁵⁵ t͡ɕiŋ⁵⁵/

/ʐoʊ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʈ͡ʂʰän⁵¹ ɕin⁵⁵ t͡ɕiŋ⁵⁵/

/ʐoʊ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʈ͡ʂän⁵¹ ɕin⁵⁵ t͡ɕiŋ⁵⁵/


紅光紫霧

ㄏㄨㄥˊ ㄍㄨㄤ ㄗˇ ㄨˋ

хун гуан цзы у

/xʊŋ³⁵ ku̯ɑŋ⁵⁵ t͡sz̩²¹⁴⁻²¹ u⁵¹/

/xʊŋ³⁵ ku̯ɑŋ⁵⁵ t͡sz̩²¹⁴⁻²¹ u⁵¹/

red rays of light and purple mist (considered to be a lucky omen)


前遮後擁

ㄑㄧㄢˊ ㄓㄜ ㄏㄡˋ ㄩㄥ

ㄑㄧㄢˊ ㄓㄜ ㄏㄡˋ ㄩㄥˇ

цяньчжэхоуюн

/t͡ɕʰi̯ɛn³⁵ ʈ͡ʂɤ⁵⁵ xoʊ̯⁵¹ jʊŋ⁵⁵/

/t͡ɕʰi̯ɛn³⁵ ʈ͡ʂɤ⁵⁵ xoʊ̯⁵¹ jʊŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/t͡ɕʰi̯ɛn³⁵ ʈ͡ʂɤ⁵⁵ xoʊ̯⁵¹ jʊŋ⁵⁵/

/t͡ɕʰi̯ɛn³⁵ ʈ͡ʂɤ⁵⁵ xoʊ̯⁵¹ jʊŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

amidst a throng and clamor; noisy and crowded


棄舊換新

ㄑㄧˋ ㄐㄧㄡˋ ㄏㄨㄢˋ ㄒㄧㄣ

цицзюхуаньсинь

/t͡ɕʰi⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡ɕi̯oʊ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ xu̯än⁵¹ ɕin⁵⁵/

/hei̯³³ kɐu̯²² wuːn²² sɐn⁵⁵/

/hei̯³³ kɐu̯²² wuːn²² sɐn⁵⁵/

to abandon the old and exchange it for the new


so crazy it just might work

(informal) Possibly feasible though unconventional; plausible and previously unconsidered as a course of action.


綁赴市曹

to tie up and take to the market place (where public executions were carried out)

ㄅㄤˇ ㄈㄨˋ ㄕˋ ㄘㄠˊ

/pɑŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹ fu⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʂʐ̩⁵¹ t͡sʰɑʊ̯³⁵/

/pɑŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹ fu⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʂʐ̩⁵¹ t͡sʰɑʊ̯³⁵/

(archaic) to carry out a public execution in a city center (as a warning to others)


there isn't any easy way to say this

ezt nem tudom elég kíméletesen megfogalmazni


je t'en prie

/ʒə t‿ɑ̃ pʁi/

go ahead, please, help yourself (response to being asked permission, e.g. to come in, to pass someone, to start eating)

you're welcome, don't mention it (familiar, in response to a thank you)


南郭處士

ㄋㄢˊ ㄍㄨㄛ ㄔㄨˇ ㄕˋ

/nän³⁵ ku̯ɔ⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰu²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʂʐ̩⁵¹/

/nän³⁵ ku̯ɔ⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰu²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʂʐ̩⁵¹/

南郭 (the southern wall of a city; a city in the south; a Chinese surname: Nanguo) + 處士 (a reclusive scholar)

a person without any real abilities who tries to blend in with professionals


暴屍於市

/pɑʊ̯⁵¹ ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ y³⁵ ʂʐ̩⁵¹/

/pʰu⁵¹ ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ y³⁵ ʂʐ̩⁵¹/

/pʊk̚² siː⁵⁵ jyː⁵⁵ siː¹³/

/pɑʊ̯⁵¹ ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ y³⁵ ʂʐ̩⁵¹/

/pʰu⁵¹ ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ y³⁵ ʂʐ̩⁵¹/

/pʊk̚² siː⁵⁵ jyː⁵⁵ siː¹³/

to display the corpse (of a criminal etc.) in the streets (as a warning or posthumous humiliation)


Blwyddyn Newydd Dda

/ˈblʊiðɪn ˈnɛ.wɪð ðaː/


曠世逸才

ㄎㄨㄤˋ ㄕˋ ㄧˋ ㄘㄞˊ

/kʰu̯ɑŋ⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʂʐ̩⁵¹⁻⁵³ i⁵¹ t͡sʰaɪ̯³⁵/

/kʰu̯ɑŋ⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʂʐ̩⁵¹⁻⁵³ i⁵¹ t͡sʰaɪ̯³⁵/


BFI

Initialism of brace for impact (“a common warning from United States military units to infer a warning to brace themselves”).


Շնորհավոր Նոր Տարի և Սուրբ Ծնունդ

head

Շնորհավոր Նոր Տարի եւ Սուրբ Ծնունդ

Շնորհավոր Նոր Տարի եւ Սուրբ Ծնունդ • (Šnorhavor Nor Tari ew Surb Cnund)

Շնորհավոր Նոր Տարի եւ Սուրբ Ծնունդ (canonical)
Šnorhavor Nor Tari ew Surb Cnund (romanization)

/ʃ(ə)noɾɑˈvoɾ noɾ tɑˈɾi jev suɾpʰ t͡səˈnund/

[ʃ(ə)noɾɑvóɾ noɾ tɑɾí jev suɾpʰ t͡sənúnd]

/ʃ(ə)noɾɑˈvoɾ noɾ dɑˈɾi jev suɾp d͡zəˈnunt/

[ʃ(ə)noɾɑvóɾ noɾ dɑɾí jev suɾpʰ d͡zənúntʰ]

en-Շնորհավոր_Նոր_Տարի_և_Սուրբ_Ծնունդ-hy-phrase-kB7BZ2qh


ականջ դնել

ականջ դնել • (akanǰ dnel)

/ɑˈɡɑnt͡ʃ təˈnel/

[ɑɡɑ́nt͡ʃʰ tʰənél]

Hy-ականջ դնել.ogg


helppoa kuin heinänteko

Se on helppoa kuin heinänteko.

It's easy as pie. / It's a piece of cake.

Lukio oli vaikea, mutta se oli helppoa kuin heinänteko verrattuna teknilliseen opistoon.

High school was difficult, but it was a walk in the park compared to college engineering classes.

(simile) easy as pie, very easy, walk in the park


עכ״ל

Abbreviation of עַד כַּאן לְשׁוֹנוֹ (ad kan l'shonó, “until here is his language”).

abbrev

עַד כַּאן לְשׁוֹנוֹ

direct quotation
direct quotation#English

Used to indicate the end of a direct quotation.


exsqueeze me

And a bit of peace and quiet to eat it in, after all the din, ken. I picked up my tea and walked away. Exsqueeze me for breathing! Ronaldson said behind me.

Exsqueeze me, but saying I don't have much to go on is a ridiculous understatement. Give me something to think about, Sel.

Oooh, exsqueeze me! What are those guys, totally clueless? We're supposed to get all hot and bothered over Massachusetts?

2003, Mary-Ann Tirone Smith, She's Not There:

[bell rings] “And chug!” [belches] “Well, ex-squeeze me.” “I love drunk Beef. Give him another shot, Pam.” “Gladly. You still got it, Beef.”

2024 April 14, Kit Boss, “A Chug's Life Adventure” (12:53 from the start), in The Great North, season 4, episode 10, spoken by Beef Tobin (Nik Offerman):


b' àill leibh

Sorry? Pardon? (plural or formal singular)


怒氣填胸

ㄋㄨˋ ㄑㄧˋ ㄊㄧㄢˊ ㄒㄩㄥ

нуци тянь сюн

/nu⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡ɕʰi⁵¹ tʰi̯ɛn³⁵ ɕi̯ʊŋ⁵⁵/

/nu⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡ɕʰi⁵¹ tʰi̯ɛn³⁵ ɕi̯ʊŋ⁵⁵/


madarat lehetne fogatni

madár (“bird”) + -at (accusative suffix) + lehetne (“could be, it would be possible”) + fogatni (“to have someone catch”), literally: "one could have him/her catch a bird".

affix

Madarat lehetne fogatni velem.

A nővéremmel madarat lehetne fogatni.

Máriával madarat lehetne fogatni.

(idiomatic) to be happy as a lark, to walk on air, to be on cloud nine


same here

"I can't come to the picnic this weekend, because I'm looking after the kids." / "Same here. We're going to the reservoir."

"I can't get onto the network." / "Same here."

"The gas gauge shows empty." / "Same here."

I agree; I am in the same situation; I have had or am having the same experience or perception.


雲屯雨集

ㄩㄣˊ ㄊㄨㄣˊ ㄩˇ ㄐㄧˊ

юньтунь юйцзи

/yn³⁵ tʰu̯ən³⁵ y²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕi³⁵/

/yn³⁵ tʰu̯ən³⁵ y²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕi³⁵/

(people) gathered together in great numbers


do you know who I am

An arrogant expression of one's importance.


what's it to you

"I saw you in the chemist yesterday, what did you buy?" / "What's it to you?"

(defensively) Why are you asking? Why do you want to know?.

¿quién te ha dado vela en este entierro?

"Hey, leave that girl alone." / "'What's it to you'?"

Mind your own business
mind one's own business

none of your business
none of your business

Mind your own business; it's none of your business.


same to you

Jack: “Merry Christmas, Bob.” / Bob: “Same to you, Jack.”

“Go to hell, bozo!” – “Same to you, fella!”

I wish to you what you have just wished to me.


臨難苟免

ㄌㄧㄣˊ ㄋㄢˋ ㄍㄡˇ ㄇㄧㄢˇ

линьнаньгоумянь

/lin³⁵ nän⁵¹ koʊ̯²¹⁴⁻³⁵ mi̯ɛn²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/lin³⁵ nän⁵¹ koʊ̯²¹⁴⁻³⁵ mi̯ɛn²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

to live in defeat and humiliation when faced with disaster


սիրտը խառնել

head

սիրտը խառնել

սիրտը խառնել • (sirtə xaṙnel)


fuck you, Jack, I'm alright

Early 20th-century sailors' slang, popularised during the First World War.

(offensive, vulgar) Used to epitomize arrogance and selfishness, with dismissive disregard of others.


lägga två strån i kors

Literally, "to put two straws as a cross".

Han lade inte två strån i kors för att hjälpa oss

(idiomatic) to give a minimum amount of attention or support


SVP

Initialism of s’il vous plaît. (please – lit. if it pleases you) (formal or plural)


every good boy deserves fudge

LL-Q1860 (eng)-Flame, not lame-every good boy deserves fudge.wav

(music, mnemonic) A mnemonic phrase to help remember the order of the five lines on a musical treble stave in order from the bottom to the top: E G B D F.


Richard of York gave battle in vain

(mnemonic) A mnemonic phrase to help remember the order of the seven colours of the rainbow: red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo, violet.


autre pays, autre coutume

Literally, “another country, another custom”.

lit

when in Rome, do as the Romans do
when in Rome, do as the Romans do


ունայնություն ունայնությանց

head

ունայնություն ունայնությանց • (unaynutʻyun unaynutʻyancʻ)

From Old Armenian ունայնութիւն (unaynutʻiwn, “vanity”) + ունայնութեանց (unaynutʻeancʻ, “of vanities”).

uder

ունայնութիւն

en-ունայնություն_ունայնությանց-hy-phrase-mvbNh3MR


pull the other one

pull the other one, it's got bells on#English

Alternative form of pull the other one, it's got bells on


չգիտեմ

head

չգիտեմ • (čʻgitem)

[t͡ʃʰəɡitém]


pull the other one, it's got brass bells on


je to pro mě španělská vesnice

to je pro mě španělská vesnice
to je pro mě španělská vesnice#Czech

Alternative form of to je pro mě španělská vesnice


to je pro mě španělská vesnice

Literally, “it's a Spanish village to me”.

lit

it's all Greek to me
it's all Greek to me


貫斗牛

ㄍㄨㄢˋ ㄉㄡˇ ㄋㄧㄡˊ

/ku̯än⁵¹ toʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ni̯oʊ̯³⁵/

/ku̯än⁵¹ toʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ni̯oʊ̯³⁵/

Literally: passing through the Dipper and the Ox constellations

(archaic) (of heroism etc.) bright and strong; for all to see


彌天亙地

toblanket the skies and be all over the ground

ㄇㄧˊ ㄊㄧㄢ ㄍㄣˋ ㄉㄧˋ

митяньгэньди

/mi³⁵ tʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵ kən⁵¹⁻⁵³ ti⁵¹/

/nei̯²¹ tʰiːn⁵⁵ kɐŋ³⁵ tei̯²²/

/mi³⁵ tʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵ kən⁵¹⁻⁵³ ti⁵¹/

/nei̯²¹ tʰiːn⁵⁵ kɐŋ³⁵ tei̯²²/

(literary) to be everywhere; to be pervasive


不可勝言

ㄅㄨˋ ㄎㄜˇ ㄕㄥˋ ㄧㄢˊ

ㄅㄨˋ ㄎㄜˇ ㄕㄥ ㄧㄢˊ

/pu⁵¹ kʰɤ²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʂɤŋ⁵¹ jɛn³⁵/

/pu⁵¹ kʰɤ²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʂɤŋ⁵⁵ jɛn³⁵/

/pu⁵¹ kʰɤ²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʂɤŋ⁵¹ jɛn³⁵/

/pu⁵¹ kʰɤ²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʂɤŋ⁵⁵ jɛn³⁵/

cannot be expressed in words; there are no words to describe it


head

my very educated mother just served us nine pumpkins

From the initial letters of the names of the eight planets, plus Pluto, formerly considered a planet.

(astronomy, slightly dated, mnemonic) Used to remember the order and names of the (then) nine planets of the solar system: Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune, Pluto.

mein Vater erklärt mir jeden Sonntag unsere neun Planeten

my very educated mother just served us nine pizzas

my very educated mother just served us nachos

my very educated mother just served us noodles


չեմ հասկանում

չեմ հասկանում • (čʻem haskanum)


short of

He tried everything short of lending her the money himself.

Nothing short of apologizing to your boss will do.

Except; but; without resorting to; up to the point of.

He's a nice person, but a bit short of brains.

brakować (used in the third person neuter, the person lacking in the dative)

An Olympic athlete cannot perform at any level short of world-class.


舉動荊棘

ㄐㄩˇ ㄉㄨㄥˋ ㄐㄧㄥ ㄐㄧˊ

цзюйдунцзинцзи

/t͡ɕy²¹⁴⁻²¹ tʊŋ⁵¹ t͡ɕiŋ⁵⁵ t͡ɕi³⁵/

/t͡ɕy²¹⁴⁻²¹ tʊŋ⁵¹ t͡ɕiŋ⁵⁵ t͡ɕi³⁵/

every move one makes seems as difficult as walking through brambles


what it is

Possibly a combination of what up with how goes it and similar phrases. First use appears c. 1972. See cite below.

Mrs. Franklin breaks her embrace, begins running water into the sink to wash dishes...What it is, baby. What it is.

"What it is?" David greeted me.

1997, April Sinclair, Ain't Gonna be the Same Fool Twice, HarperCollins, →ISBN, page 181:

A boy broke out of the crowd shouting, "Hey! Hey! What it is, brothers, what it is?"

2001, Chris Fuhrman, The Dangerous Lives of Altar Boys, University of Georgia Press, →ISBN, page 162:

"What it is, my niggaz?" Hollywood gave True a pound then jerked him in for a hug.

2007, K'wan, Still Hood, Macmillan, →ISBN, page 87:

(slang, African-American Vernacular) A casual greeting.


eine Kette ist nur so stark wie ihr schwächstes Glied

a chain is only as strong as its weakest link


připravit se, pozor, start

on your mark, get set, go
on your mark, get set, go


go jump in the lake

When I asked for help cleaning the mess I made, the janitor told me to go jump in the lake, but he was only joking.

... to sell it to the Mond or the International Nickel Company, and if they didn't choose to take it from us, they would tell us to go jump in the lake.

1917, Ontario. Royal Nickel Commission, George Thomas Holloway, Report of the Royal Ontario Nickel Commission: with appendix, page 22:

We would tell the USSR to go jump in the lake. There would be no way we would tolerate that.

1985, Australia. Parliament. Senate, Parliamentary debates, Senate, weekly Hansard, Issue 10, page 193:

(idiomatic, derogatory, colloquial, often sarcastic) Used to tell someone to go away, or that their request will not be met.


kamera, klapka, jedeme

lights, camera, action
lights, camera, action


ars longa, vita brevis

ars longa (canonical)
vīta brevis (canonical)

A Latin translation of the Ancient Greek of a phrase from Hippocrates' Aphorisms, section 1, number 1: “Ὁ βίος βραχύς ἡ δὲ τέχνη μακρά (Ho bíos brakhús hē dè tékhnē makrá)”.

art is long, life is short
art is long, life is short


眼若流星

ㄧㄢˇ ㄖㄨㄛˋ ㄌㄧㄡˊ ㄒㄧㄥ

/jɛn²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʐu̯ɔ⁵¹ li̯oʊ̯³⁵ ɕiŋ⁵⁵/

/ŋaːn¹³ jœːk̚² lɐu̯²¹ sɪŋ⁵⁵/

/jɛn²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʐu̯ɔ⁵¹ li̯oʊ̯³⁵ ɕiŋ⁵⁵/

/ŋaːn¹³ jœːk̚² lɐu̯²¹ sɪŋ⁵⁵/


虎體猿臂

ㄏㄨˇ ㄊㄧˇ ㄩㄢˊ ㄅㄧˋ

ху ти юань би

/xu²¹⁴⁻³⁵ tʰi²¹⁴⁻²¹ ɥɛn³⁵ pi⁵¹/

/xu²¹⁴⁻³⁵ tʰi²¹⁴⁻²¹ ɥɛn³⁵ pi⁵¹/

a body like that of a tiger and arms like those of an ape


dans la foulée

LL-Q150 (fra)-WikiLucas00-dans la foulée.wav


彪腹狼腰

ㄅㄧㄠ ㄈㄨˋ ㄌㄤˊ ㄧㄠ

бяо фу лан яо

/pi̯ɑʊ̯⁵⁵ fu⁵¹ lɑŋ³⁵ jɑʊ̯⁵⁵/

/pi̯ɑʊ̯⁵⁵ fu⁵¹ lɑŋ³⁵ jɑʊ̯⁵⁵/

an abdomen like that of a small tiger and a waist like that of a wolf; strong and husky


կար չկար

կար չկար • (kar čʻkar)

/kɑɾ t͡ʃʰəˈkɑɾ/

[kɑɾ t͡ʃʰəkɑ́ɾ]

/ɡɑɾ t͡ʃəˈɡɑɾ/

[ɡɑɾ t͡ʃʰəɡɑ́ɾ]

կար-չկար կար-չկար#Armenian

Alternative spelling of կար-չկար (kar-čʻkar)


կար-չկար

կար-չկար • (kar-čʻkar)

/kɑɾ t͡ʃʰəˈkɑɾ/

[kɑɾ t͡ʃʰəkɑ́ɾ]

/ɡɑɾ t͡ʃəˈɡɑɾ/

[ɡɑɾ t͡ʃʰəɡɑ́ɾ]

(used at the beginnings of fairytales) Once upon a time. Literally, “there was, there was not…”.


լինում է, չի լինում

լինում է, չի լինում

լինում է, չի լինում • (linum ē, čʻi linum)

linum ē (romanization)
čʻi linum (romanization)


一覽無遺

/i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ län²¹⁴⁻²¹ u³⁵ i³⁵/

/jɐt̚⁵ laːm¹³ mou̯²¹ wɐi̯²¹/

/i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ län²¹⁴⁻²¹ u³⁵ i³⁵/

/jɐt̚⁵ laːm¹³ mou̯²¹ wɐi̯²¹/

to take in everything at a glance; to have an uninterrupted view


一覽無餘

/i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ län²¹⁴⁻²¹ u³⁵ y³⁵/

/jɐt̚⁵ laːm¹³ mou̯²¹ jyː²¹/

/i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ län²¹⁴⁻²¹ u³⁵ y³⁵/

/jɐt̚⁵ laːm¹³ mou̯²¹ jyː²¹/


กาลครั้งหนึ่ง

th-phrase

กาลครั้งหนึ่ง • (gaa-lá-kráng-nʉ̀ng)

From กาล (gaan, “time”) + ครั้ง (kráng, classifier for time) + หนึ่ง (nʉ̀ng, “one”).

com

(used at the beginnings of fairytales) once upon a time.


за три пизды

head

за три пизды́

за три пизды́ • (za tri pizdý) (obscene, vulgar)

за три пизды ́ (canonical)
za tri pizdý (romanization)

Не хочу́ я е́хать за три пизды́.

I don’t wanna go out in bumfuck nowhere.

(vulgar) very far away; in bumfuck nowhere; Bumfuck, Egypt; BFE


een geluk bij een ongeluk

/ən ɣəˈlʏk ˌbɛi̯ ən ˈɔŋ.ɣəˌlʏk/

Literally, “a [stroke of] luck along with (a) misfortune”.

m-g

a 􂀿stroke of􂁀 luck along with (a) misfortune


la tvilen komme tiltalte til gode

From legal parlance in connection with criminal proceedings: la (“let”) tvilen (“the doubt”) komme (“come”) tiltalte (“the defendant”) til gode (“(to the) benefit (of)”).

benefit of the doubt
benefit of the doubt

(law) give the defendant the benefit of the doubt

(figuratively) give someone the benefit of the doubt


la tvilen kome tiltalte til gode

From legal parlance in connection with criminal proceedings: la (“let”) tvilen (“the doubt”) kome (“come”) tiltalte (“the defendant”) til gode (“(to the) benefit (of)”).

(law) give the defendent the benefit of the doubt


kreivin aikaan

Originally a reference to the period when count Per Brahe ruled Finland as governor general of Gustavus Vasa in mid-17th century. This period was regarded as one of very favorable development for the country. Compare Swedish i grevens tid.

(idiomatic) At the best possible moment; at the most appropriate time; right when needed.


臥薪嘗膽

CJKV/code

Sino-Xenic (臥薪嘗膽):
* → Japanese: 臥(が)薪(しん)嘗(しょう)胆(たん) (gashinshōtan)
* → Korean: 와신상담(臥薪嘗膽) (wasinsangdam)
* → Vietnamese: ngọa tân thường đảm (臥薪嘗膽)

→ Vietnamese: nằm gai nếm mật, nếm mật nằm gai (calques)

ㄨㄛˋ ㄒㄧㄣ ㄔㄤˊ ㄉㄢˇ

восиньчандань

/wɔ⁵¹ ɕin⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰɑŋ³⁵ tän²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/ŋɔː²² sɐn⁵⁵ sœːŋ²¹ taːm³⁵/

/wɔ⁵¹ ɕin⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰɑŋ³⁵ tän²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/ŋɔː²² sɐn⁵⁵ sœːŋ²¹ taːm³⁵/

From the story of the King Goujian of Yue [5th BCE], who forced himself to sleep on firewood and lick a gallbladder everyday to remember the humiliation of his previous defeat by the State of Wu.

to undergo self-imposed hardships; to nurse vengeance; to endure hardships to accomplish some ambition


先見之明

ㄒㄧㄢ ㄐㄧㄢˋ ㄓ ㄇㄧㄥˊ

сяньцзяньчжимин

/ɕi̯ɛn⁵⁵ t͡ɕi̯ɛn⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ miŋ³⁵/

/siːn⁵⁵ kiːn³³ t͡siː⁵⁵ mɪŋ²¹/

/siɛn⁴⁴⁻²² kiɛn²¹⁻⁵³ t͡si⁴⁴⁻²² biɪŋ²⁴/

/siɛn³³ kiɛn⁴¹⁻⁵⁵⁴ t͡si³³ biɪŋ²⁴/

/siɛn⁴⁴⁻²² kiɛn²¹⁻⁵³ t͡si⁴⁴⁻²² biɪŋ¹³/

/siɛn⁴⁴⁻³³ kiɛn¹¹⁻⁵³ t͡si⁴⁴⁻³³ biɪŋ²⁴/

/siɛn⁴⁴⁻³³ kiɛn²¹⁻⁴¹ t͡si⁴⁴⁻³³ biɪŋ²³/

/ɕi̯ɛn⁵⁵ t͡ɕi̯ɛn⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ miŋ³⁵/

/siːn⁵⁵ kiːn³³ t͡siː⁵⁵ mɪŋ²¹/

/siɛn⁴⁴⁻²² kiɛn²¹⁻⁵³ t͡si⁴⁴⁻²² biɪŋ²⁴/

/siɛn³³ kiɛn⁴¹⁻⁵⁵⁴ t͡si³³ biɪŋ²⁴/

/siɛn⁴⁴⁻²² kiɛn²¹⁻⁵³ t͡si⁴⁴⁻²² biɪŋ¹³/

/siɛn⁴⁴⁻³³ kiɛn¹¹⁻⁵³ t͡si⁴⁴⁻³³ biɪŋ²⁴/

/siɛn⁴⁴⁻³³ kiɛn²¹⁻⁴¹ t͡si⁴⁴⁻³³ biɪŋ²³/

prophetic vision; foresight; being ahead of one's time


kb

ich hab grad echt kb mir noch was zu kochen...ich glaub ich bestell pizza
i really cba to cook something rn...i'm just gonna order pizza

(text messaging) Initialism of kein Bock.


kb

(text messaging) Initialism of kusura bakma.


毫不費力

ㄏㄠˊ ㄅㄨˋ ㄈㄟˋ ㄌㄧˋ

/xɑʊ̯³⁵ pu⁵¹⁻³⁵ feɪ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ li⁵¹/

/xɑʊ̯³⁵ b̥u³ feɪ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ li⁵¹/

/hou̯²¹ pɐt̚⁵ fɐi̯³³ lɪk̚²/

/xɑʊ̯³⁵ pu⁵¹⁻³⁵ feɪ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ li⁵¹/

/xɑʊ̯³⁵ b̥u³ feɪ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ li⁵¹/

/hou̯²¹ pɐt̚⁵ fɐi̯³³ lɪk̚²/


с Рождеством

head

с Рождество́м

с Рождество́м • (s Roždestvóm)

с Рождество́м (canonical)
s Roždestvóm (romanization)

LL-Q7737 (rus)-Tatiana Kerbush-с Рождеством.wav

The verb поздравля́ть (pozdravljátʹ, “to congratulate”) is implied.


's e do bheatha

From Middle Irish dia do betha or dé do betha (with ’s e ‘(it is) he’ substituted for dia reanalyzed as ‘god’), from Old Irish rot·bia do bethu (“you shall have your life”) or rot·bé do bethu (“may you have your life”). Compare Irish Dé do bheatha and is é do bheatha.

inh

don't mention it, you're welcome (in response to tapadh leat) (informal and singular)

do as you please (informal and singular)


a/s/l

Alternative form of asl (“age, sex, location”)


莫敢誰何

ㄇㄛˋ ㄍㄢˇ ㄕㄨㄟˊ ㄏㄜˊ

/mu̯ɔ⁵¹ kän²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʂu̯eɪ̯³⁵ xɤ³⁵/

/mu̯ɔ⁵¹ kän²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʂu̯eɪ̯³⁵ xɤ³⁵/

nobody dare (stop them or get in their way)


咎由自取

ㄐㄧㄡˋ ㄧㄡˊ ㄗˋ ㄑㄩˇ

/t͡ɕi̯oʊ̯⁵¹ joʊ̯³⁵ t͡sz̩⁵¹ t͡ɕʰy²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/kɐu̯³³ jɐu̯²¹ t͡siː²² t͡sʰɵy̯³⁵/

/kɐu̯³³ jɐu̯²¹ t͡siː²² t͡sʰɵy̯³⁵/