Thread by Krister Vasshus
Thread
Danish idioms, a thread.
When I moved to Denmark, I didn't expect much difficulties in the language. Norwegian and Danish are mutually intelligible, although it might require some training if you aren't used to hearing the other language spoken. I got surprised by idioms.
1/?
When I moved to Denmark, I didn't expect much difficulties in the language. Norwegian and Danish are mutually intelligible, although it might require some training if you aren't used to hearing the other language spoken. I got surprised by idioms.
1/?
In the following tweets, I'll give a direct translation of some idioms, their original Danish wording, and their meaning. Some times the meaning varies, and I might have misunderstood some idioms, so if you're a native Danish speaker, feel free to give a comment.
2/?
2/?
Just pet the horse (klap lige hesten): Used in order to urge someone to take it easy or calm down.
Now that goat has been shaved (så er den ged barberet): Mission accomplished, problem solved or having decided upon something.
3/?
Now that goat has been shaved (så er den ged barberet): Mission accomplished, problem solved or having decided upon something.
3/?
Going out and punching at Severinus (ud og slå til Søren): Having excessive fun, i.e. getting drunk or spending too much money.
Painting the devil on the wall (male fanden på væggen): Expecting the worst case scenario.
4/?
Painting the devil on the wall (male fanden på væggen): Expecting the worst case scenario.
4/?
There's no cow on the ice (der er ingen ko på isen): There's no problem.
Having shot the parrot (at have skudt papegøjen): Having gotten very lucky, i.e. gotten a great partner.
5/?
Having shot the parrot (at have skudt papegøjen): Having gotten very lucky, i.e. gotten a great partner.
5/?
Not sticking up for bun-milk (at ikke stikke op for bollemælk): Not doing a job because the suggested payment is too low.
Doing someone a bear favour (at gøre nogen en bjørnetjeneste): By doing someone a favour, you're actually making their situation worse.
6/?
Doing someone a bear favour (at gøre nogen en bjørnetjeneste): By doing someone a favour, you're actually making their situation worse.
6/?
Putting flies in someones headhead (at sætte nogen fluer i hovedet): Giving someone false hope or believing the impossible.
Pulling cod to the shore (at hale torsk i land): Snoring.
Not able to put your arms down (at ikke kunne få armerne ned): Being very happy or excited
7/?
Pulling cod to the shore (at hale torsk i land): Snoring.
Not able to put your arms down (at ikke kunne få armerne ned): Being very happy or excited
7/?
Knowing one's lice in the hallway (at kende sine lus på gangen): Knowing who you're dealing with.
Driving with the blob (at køre med klatten): Things are going well, or you have success.
Now the ten-pence fell (så faldt tiøren): Finally understanding something.
8/?
Driving with the blob (at køre med klatten): Things are going well, or you have success.
Now the ten-pence fell (så faldt tiøren): Finally understanding something.
8/?
Now the warm water has been shut off (så er det lukket for det varme vand): Uttered by someone who is fed up and don't want to give any more help, or refusing to let the situation go on.
9/?
9/?
They gave a song from the warm countries (de gav en sang fra de varme lande): Giving empty promises or evasive answers.
Shooting a white stick after something (skyde en hvid pind efter noget): Giving something up.
10/(to be continued whenever I remember another one)
Shooting a white stick after something (skyde en hvid pind efter noget): Giving something up.
10/(to be continued whenever I remember another one)
To speak for your mother's sick sister (at tale for sin syge moster): I'm not sure I understand this one correctly, but it seems to be used when someone is trying hard to argue for their own interests (maybe with irrelevant digressions), without achieving it.
11/
11/
It's blowing half a pelican (det blæser en halv pelikan): it's very windy.
Out where the crows turn (ude hvor kragerne vender): Really far out on the countryside. (Can be used about old fashioned opinions too?)
12/
Out where the crows turn (ude hvor kragerne vender): Really far out on the countryside. (Can be used about old fashioned opinions too?)
12/
Who has peed on your sugar-food? (hvem har tisset på din sukkermad?): Why are you upset?
Tak for kaffe (thanks for the coffee): Used when one is overwhelmed or provoked.
13/
Tak for kaffe (thanks for the coffee): Used when one is overwhelmed or provoked.
13/
It looks like the destruction of Jerusalem (det ligner Jerusalems ødelæggelse): It looks like a mess.
To go into the dogs (at gå i hundene): Used when a person selfdestructs and falls into decay
14/
To go into the dogs (at gå i hundene): Used when a person selfdestructs and falls into decay
14/
To tell beard and snot apart (at skille skæg fra snot): To be able to tell what is good quality from what is worthless.
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