Idiomatic expressions or idioms are phrases that do not translate directly from one language to another and are often couched in the history and language of a specific culture. A good example of an idiom is, “it’s raining cats and dogs.” To a native English speaker it is obvious that people’s pets are not literally falling from the sky but to a learner of English this expression could be very confusing indeed!
Below are some useful idiomatic expressions. Integrating idioms into your everyday conversation is essential to achieving fluency in a foreign language.
In Spanish:
Me estás tomando el pelo.
(You are taking me by the hair)
You’re pulling my leg.
Voy a consultarlo con la almohada.
(I’m going to consult my pillow about it)
I’m going to sleep on it.
Siempre me da la lata.
(He’s always giving me the can)
He’s always bothering me.
La entrevista va a ser pan comido.
(The interview will be eaten bread)
The interview will be a piece of cake.
Aquí hay gato encerrado.
(There is an enclosed cat here)
Something here smells fishy.
Cuesta un ojo de la cara.
(It costs an eye off the face)
It costs an arm and a leg.
In German:
Ich habe die Nase voll.
(I have my nose full)
I am fed up.
Es ist mir Wurst.
(It is sausage to me)
I don’t care.
Ich drücke dir die Daumen.
(I will press my thumbs for you)
I will keep my fingers crossed for you.
Was ich nicht weiss, macht mich nicht heiß.
(What I don’t know doesn’t make me hot)
What I don’t know can’t hurt me.
Nimmst du mich auf den Arm?
(Are you taking me by the arm?)
Are you pulling my leg?
Das ist ein Hundewetter.
(It is dog weather)
It’s raining cats and dogs.
If you have have had a funny experience with a foreign idiom visit my Facebook fan page to share or comment below!
