Job Discussion Forums

saudade · Joined: 11 Feb 2004 Posts: 48 Location: Campinas, Brazil

I live in Brazil at the moment, and I came across two Brazilian expressions that I thought were really funny, and very Brazilian. One translates roughly to �talk zucchini�, and means small talk. And then there are a number of Brazilian expressions having to do with being flexible, but my favorite is �if you don�t have a dog, walk your cat�.

I'm curious to hear any expressions people have come across in their various travels in various cultures, whether they�re unique to that culture or just a different slant on a universal theme.

Alitas · Joined: 19 May 2003 Posts: 187 Location: Maine

LEARN SOME VENEZUELAN WORDS AND EXPRESSIONS
> > >
> > > Good, great: "ch�vere"
> > > Let's go: "Vamos a dejar el pelero"
> > > No way: "ni de vaina"
> > > Pay attention: "ponte las pilas"
> > > Acting gay: "solt� el plumero", "bot� la segunda"
> > > Just about: "de vainita"
> > > Travel to the US: "vamos p'al norte"
> > > Travel to Europe: "cruzar el charco"
> > > Go to the beach this weekend: "bajar este fin" (
> > > region)
> > > Do it: "echale piernas", "�chale bolas", "�chale
> pich�n"
> > > Dance enthusiastically: "bailar a calz�n quitao"
> > > How are you?: "Como est� la vaina?"
> > > Friend: "pana"
> > > To scope: "bucear"
> > > French Kiss: "latear", "darse latas"
> > > Clunker:"pote"
> > > Drug addict: "da�ao"
> > > Buzzed: "prendido", "entonado"
> > > Piss drunk: "cargar una pea", "cargar un pe�n"
> > > Hangover: "rat�n"
> > > Visit girlfriend: "marcar tarjeta"
> > > Sleep (also: leave party early):
"arrugar","guindar"
> > > No class: "niche"
> > > In that direction: "porai pa'arriba"
> > > In that other direction: "porai pa'abajo"
> > > Thank you my friend: "de pinga, pana"
> > > Bad Odor: "tufo", "viol�n"
> > > Watch out!: "Mosca!"
> > > Someone bold: "un avi�n"
> > > I can't believe it/wow: "qu� bolas!"
> > > You're wrong: "estas pelao"
> > > Someone who never pays, leech: "chulo"
> > > Thrifty, frugal: "pichirre"
> > > Rookie/young: "pich�n"
> > > A lot: "burda"
> > >
> > > Y por supuesto, ESPECIALES :
> > >
> > > Half way ready: "listo"
> > > In a while: "ahora"
> > > In a long while: "ahorita mismo"
> > >
> > > NIVEL AVANZADO (HIGH LEVEL) :
> > >
> > > Your day will come: "A cada cochino le llega su
> sabado"
> > > Very angry : "Arrecho"
> > > Pay what you owe : "B�jate de la mula"
> > > Wild party : "Bochinche"
> > > A large and dense crowd : "Bulul�"
> > > Something that no longer serves you : "Cachivache"
> > > To sweet talk a woman : "Calentarle la oreja"
> > > Take a leak : "Cambiarle el agua al canario"
> > > Little boy : "Carajito"
> > > Something of poor quality : "Chimbo"
> > > Something less than it should be : "Chucuto"
> > > The top, the older members : "Cogollo"
> > > Bad financial situation : "Comer cable"
> > > Complicity : "Conchupancia"
> > > Never : "Cuando la rana eche pelos"
> > > Stand someone up : "Echar carro"
> > > Enamoring :"Echar los perros"
> > > To have a few drinks : "Echarse los palos"
> > > Pure show : "Ech�n"
> > > In a few words : "En dos platos"
> > > Have a lot of fun : "Gozar un pullero"
> > > Kiss ass : "Jala bola"
> > > Bothersome : "Lavativa"
> > > You rat! : "Mu�rgano !"
> > >

Lanza-Armonia · Posted: Wed Mar 03, 2004 4:39 am Post subject:

There's a Chinese one which I found highly amusing. When I first heard it I broke into laughter. The translation is "Don't fish into a tree". Not too great but it sounds a shi-te load better in Chinese. Or another is "Close eye, not disappear". Meaning if you leave a problem unsolved it will not disolve my itself. Slightly more prophetic but also slightly more pathetic than the first!

LA

dmb · Joined: 12 Feb 2003 Posts: 8397

My favourite Turkish one is when you are unable to speak. The translation is I ate a quince

Will. · Joined: 02 May 2003 Posts: 783 Location: London Uk

The French version is 'I swallowed my tongue'
I like the Dutch/Flemish? version of 'pull your leg'which is 'you can't take me round the corner'

Sara Avalon · Joined: 25 Feb 2004 Posts: 254 Location: On the Prowl

This is bound to be a great thread!

An expression in Kuwait that describes someone who likes to add fuel to a fire is "had-daa-ba" , or "wood tosser" - the person who chucks the wood onto a fire. Laughing

Another is you don't "smoke" a cigarette, you drink it.

Lanza-Armonia · Posted: Wed Mar 03, 2004 8:35 am Post subject:

@Sara - I love your avitar. Is it your own picture or one from the net? <Noting I like pus-sy cats>

LA

Sara Avalon · Joined: 25 Feb 2004 Posts: 254 Location: On the Prowl

Yep it's from the net. Don't know who took it though. Confused

gingermeggs · Joined: 29 Jan 2004 Posts: 162

I'd like to contribute something funny, but, as we say here in China, it would be like.."playing piano to the cattle"..

Lanza-Armonia · Posted: Wed Mar 03, 2004 12:13 pm Post subject:

Thanks Ginger. A none-sarcy reply was appreiciated

LA

saudade · Joined: 11 Feb 2004 Posts: 48 Location: Campinas, Brazil

Those are great! Another Brazilian one is "dog bitten by snake is afraid of sausages", which is a version of once bitten, twice shy...

gingermeggs · Joined: 29 Jan 2004 Posts: 162

But,Ammonia, did you get the meaning?

Now, no need to get narky,
Whenever I'm sarky.
Quite frankly, I don't give a damn.
But I'll protest like hell,
At the way thay you spell,
Cos, I reckon your "quals" are a sham.