25 funny short jokes

Humour > short and funny jokes

25 hilarious one-liners explained

Here are some of the best one-liners we have found on the internet. We have included an explanation of each joke for those who are learning English or, no offence, just don’t get it. Most of them are puns or game on words. You can copy them and text them on whatsapp, Line, Wechat or the messaging APP you use, but please, mention us or at least keep our URL in between each joke. We hope you have fun. So, without further ado, let’s get started!

Stickers for Telegram in English! (Idioms, Jokes and typical expressions)

  1. When life gives you melons, you’re dyslexic.

🙂 tocatdelbolet.cat 🙂

2. I invented a new word: plagiarism!

🙂 tocatdelbolet.cat 🙂

3. “Employee of the month is a good example of how somebody can be both a winner and a loser at the same time.” – Demetri Martin

🙂 tocatdelbolet.cat 🙂

4. Did you hear about the guy whose whole left side was cut off? He’s all right now.

🙂 tocatdelbolet.cat 🙂

5. “It’s sad that a family can be torn apart by something as simple as wild dogs.” – Jack Handey

🙂 tocatdelbolet.cat 🙂

6. “It became so cold in New York last night that it forced the flashers to describe themselves to people.”

🙂 tocatdelbolet.cat 🙂

7. Atheism is a non-prophet organisation.

🙂 tocatdelbolet.cat 🙂

8. Did you hear about the two silk worms in a race? It ended in a tie!

🙂 tocatdelbolet.cat 🙂

9. I want to die peacefully in my sleep, like my grandfather.. Not screaming and yelling like the passengers in his car.

🙂 tocatdelbolet.cat 🙂

10. Thanks for explaining the word “galore” to me, it means a lot.

🙂 tocatdelbolet.cat 🙂
Stickers for Telegram in English! (Idioms, Jokes and typical expressions)

11. Don’t you hate it when somebody answers their questions? I do.

🙂 tocatdelbolet.cat 🙂

12. The future, the present and the past walked into a bar. Things got a little tense.

🙂 tocatdelbolet.cat 🙂

13. Yesterday I accidentally swallowed some food coluoring. The doctor says I’m OK, but I feel like I’ve dyed a little inside.

🙂 tocatdelbolet.cat 🙂

14. My girlfriend said, “You act like a detective too much. I want to split up.” “Good idea,” I replied. “We can cover more ground that way.”

🙂 tocatdelbolet.cat 🙂

15. I’m glad I know sign language. It’s pretty handy.

🙂 tocatdelbolet.cat 🙂

16. Trying to write with a broken pencil is pointless.

🙂 tocatdelbolet.cat 🙂

17. What is the best thing about living in Switzerland? Well, the flag is a big plus.

🙂 tocatdelbolet.cat 🙂

18. I’ve decided to sell my Hoover… it was just collecting dust.

🙂 tocatdelbolet.cat 🙂

19. I was going to share a vegetable joke but it’s corny.

🙂 tocatdelbolet.cat 🙂

20. A guy was admitted to hospital with eight plastic horses in his stomach. His condition is stable.

🙂 tocatdelbolet.cat 🙂

21. I hope the guy who invernted autocorrect burns in Hello!

🙂 tocatdelbolet.cat 🙂

22. I met the man who invented the windowsill. He’s a ledge.

🙂 tocatdelbolet.cat 🙂

23. I was hoping to steal some leftovers from the party but my plans were foiled.

🙂 tocatdelbolet.cat 🙂

24. Most people are shocked when they find out how bad an electrician I am.

🙂 tocatdelbolet.cat 🙂

25. What kind of murderer has moral fiber? – A cereal killer.

Stickers for Telegram in English! (Idioms, Jokes and typical expressions)

Explanations

  1. Melons – Lemons, from the famous sentence “If life gives you lemons, make a lemonade”.

2. Plagiarism already exists. It is the practice of taking someone else’s work or ideas and passing them off as one’s own.

4. Game on words. All right = ok and the whole right side

5. Torn apart= To violently rip or pull someone or something into pieces. Also in a figurative sense.

6. Flaser: a man who exposes his genitals in public.

7. Game on words non-prophet organisation / non-profit organisation .

8. Game on words: tie = a piece of string, cord, or similar used for fastening or tying something and achieving the same score or ranking as another competitor or team.

10. Galore = in abundance

12. Double-meaning of the word “tense”= verb tense and tension, awkward

13. Sound dye = die and dye, colour or tint

14. (to) split up = (to) break up

15. Handy= convenient

16. Pointless = futile, aimless

17:

Flag: Switzerland on Google Android 8.0

18. Hoover = vacuum cleaner

19. Corny= trite, banal, or mawkishly sentimental.

20. Double meaning of the word “stable” = (of a patient or their medical condition) not deteriorating in health after an injury or operation and a building set apart and adapted for keeping horses.

22. Windowsill = a ledge or sill forming the bottom part of a window. Ledge is a ridge and also a shortening of the word “legend.” A legend is someone who is well-known, often for doing something great or incredible.

23. Aluminium foil and foil = prevent (something considered wrong or undesirable) from succeeding.

25. Moral fiber (AE) = integrity, moral standing fiber = grain Cereal sounds like serial

Palyndrome day: 02-02-2020

Amazing facts about language

Palyndromic numbers and the Catalan word Capicua

Today, 02-02-2020, is a palyndrome day. A palindromic number is a number that remains the same when its digits are reversed. Catalans have a special name for this type of number: capicua (pronunced [ka.piˈku.a], it means literally, “headandtail” written together).

Capicua in English, French and Spanish

Capicua in English is a Palindromic number and in French a Nombre palindrome .

Finally, the word of Catalan origin Capicua became popular in Spanish, just by adding an accent on the letter u, that is to say, Capicúa, and then the word was added to the RAE dictionary. Now capicúa is widely used in Spanish, too.

Most common English idioms

English language idioms illustrated and translated to other languages

An idiom is a group of words established by usage as having a meaning not deducible from those of the individual words (e.g. over the hillat the drop of a hat ). Here is a list of the most popular idioms in English translated to other languages and illustrated, some of them with a touch of humour. Enjoy yourself!

Add insult to injury

(to) Add insult to injury = to make a bad situation even worse Catalan: according to the context, it may translate to per si no fos prou, ficar el dit a la llaga or per acabar-ho d’arrodonir/d’adobar (said ironically) French: pour couronner le tout Galician: Aínda por riba German: Salz in die Wunde streuen Spanish: Para colmo de males

(to) Add insult to injury in other languages

A little bird told me

A Little bird told me = someone gave me a piece of information about something that is supposed to be secret Catalan: Un ocellet m’ha dit… French: mon petit doigt m’a dit Spanish: Un pajarito me ha dicho.

A Little bird told me in other languages
idioms

Stickers for Telegram in English! (Idioms, Jokes and typical expressions)

All ears

(to be) All ears = (to) listen actively Catalan: sóc tot orelles French: tout ouïe German: Ich bin ganz Ohr Italian: tutto orecchie Portuguese: todo ouvidos Spanish: todo oídos

All ears 
idioms
All ears in other languages

An arm and a leg

(to cost) An arm and a leg = very expensive Catalan: costar un ull de la cara French: coûter les yeux de la tête German: eine Stange Geld kosten Italian: Costare un occhio della testa Spanish: Costar un riñón

to cost an arm and a leg  in other languages
idioms
idiom

A needle in a haystack

A needle in a haystack = something that is almost impossible to find because it is hidden among so many other things. Catalan: una agulla en un paller French: chercher une aiguille dans une botte de foin German: Nadel im Heuhaufen Italian: ago in un pagliaio Macedonian: и́гла во стог се́но Portuguese: agulha num palheiro Spanish: Aguja en un pajar

a needle in a haystack  in other languages
idioms, English typical expressions
This one is easy to find

A penny for your thoughts

A penny for your thoughts = used to ask someone what they are thinking about. There are no exact equivalents, but we can use these expressions in other languages to convey the same meaning: Catalan: En què penses? French: à quoi penses-tu en ce moment Spanish: ¿En qué estás pensando?

a penny for your thoughts in other languages
idioms, English typical expressions

As fit as a fiddle

A short fuse

A short fuse = have a tendency to lose one’s temper quickly, to have a short temper Catalan: ser de sang calenta French: se mettre en rogne facilement German: jähzornig sein Spanish: de sangre caliente.

a short fuse in other languages
idioms, English typical expressions

Stickers for Telegram in English! (Idioms, Jokes and typical expressions)

At the drop of a hat

At the drop of a hat = right away Catalan: en un tres i no-res. French: sans hésiter Galician: Axiña, decontado German: sofort, unverzüglich Italian: immediatamente, subito Portuguese: na hora Romanian: imediat, îndată Scottish Gaelic: anns a’ bhad, sa bhad, gu grad Spanish: Ipso facto

at the drop of a hat in other languages
idioms, English typical expressions
If you need help, just call me. I can come at the drop of a hat.

Bite the bullet

bite the bullet idiom
(to) bite the bullet in Catalan: fer el cor fort French: Serrer les dents, trouver le courage de faire [qch] German: die Kröte schlucken Italian: farsi cuore Portuguese: Cerrar os dentes Spanish: Hacer de tripas corazón

Brand new

BRAND NEW IDIOM
French: flambant neuf German: nagelneu, brandneu Scottish Irish: amach ón tsnáthaid, (of garment) as an bhfilleadh Spanish: recién estrenado, sin estrenar, flamante

Butterflies in my stomach

Butterflies in my stomach = to be uneasy, nervous Catalan = tenir papallones a la panxa French: avoir le trac Spanish: tener mariposas en el estómago German: Schmetterlinge im Bauch haben Spanish: mariposas en el estómago

butterflies in my stomach in other languages idiom

Back to the drawing board

Back to the drawing board = to start again or try another idea. It is similar to Back to square one or to start from scratch Catalan: sant tornem-hi French: parler pour ne rien dire German: Fangen wir noch mal von vorne an Spanish: volver a la casilla de salida

back to the drawing board in other languages
 idioms

Ball is in your court

Ball is in your court = It is up to you to make a move. Catalan: la pilota és a la teva taulada. French: la balle est dans son camp German: eine Stange Geld kosten Italian: tocca a te Spanish: la pelota está en tu tejado

Ball is in your court in other languages
idioms

Bark up the wrong tree

(to) Bark up the wrong tree = to have a wrong idea Catalan: errar el tret, anar desencaminat French: faire fausse route, se mettre le doigt dans l’œil, miser sur le mauvais cheval German: auf dem Holzweg sein Portuguese: bater à porta errada, bater na porta errada Spanish: llamar a la puerta equivocada, errar el tiro.

to bark up the wrong tree in other languages
idioms

Beat around the bush

(to) beat around the bush = to avoid talking about what is really important and instead talk about other things Catalan: anar-se’n per les branques French: tourner autour du pot German: um den heißen Brei herumreden Italian: menare il can per l’aia Spanish: andarse con rodeos

to beat around the bush in other languages
idioms, English typical expressions

Bend over backwards

(to) bend over backwards= make every effort to achieve something, especially to be helpful Catalan: fer mans i mànigues French: Se mettre en quatre German: sich ein Bein ausreißen Italian: farsi in quattro Spanish: remover cielo y tierra

to bend over backwards in other languages
idiom
idioms, English typical expressions

Bite off more than one can chew

Bite off more than one can chew = to take on a task that is way too big. Catalan: estirar més el braç que la màniga. French: Qui trop embrasse, mal étreint. Spanish: El que mucho abarca, poco aprieta German: Wer zu viel fasst, lässt viel fallen Italian: Chi troppo vuole nulla stringe. Portuguese: Quem muito abarca pouco abraça.

Blow smoke

(to) Blow smoke = (to) deliberately confuse or deceive Catalan: Marejar la perdiu French: parler pour ne rien dire German: jdm. etwas vormachen Spanish: marear la perdiz

to blow smoke in other languages
idioms, English typical expressions

Break a leg!

Break a leg! = have luck (said to actors before they go on stage) Catalan: molta merda! French: Je te dis merde! German: Hals- und Beinbruch! Italian: in bocca al lupo! Portuguese: Merda! Spanish: ¡Mucha mierda!

break a leg in other languages
idioms, English typical expressions

Bundle of nerves

Bundle of nerves = somebody who is extremely anxious or tense. Catalan: un sac de nervis Basque: Buru gabeko oiloak bezala gabiltza Gaelic Irish: bheith an-neirbhíseach French: un paquet de nerfs German: ein Bündel Nerven Italian: un fascio di nervi Portuguese: uma pilha de nervos Mandarin Chinese: 紧张不安的人 Russian: клубок нервов

to be a bundle of nerves in other languages
idioms

By the skin of your teeth

By the skin of your teeth = by a very narrow margin; only just Catalan: pels pèls French: de justesse; (colloquial) d’un poil German: mit Ach und Krach Italian: per un pelo Scottish Gaelic: air èiginn Spanish: por los pelos

by the skin of my teeth in other languages idioms

Cat got your tongue?

Cat got your tongue? = expression used to ask someone why they are not saying anything Catalan: Que se t’ha menjat la llengua el gat? Chinese: 你成了啞巴了嗎?(literally, have you become dumb?) German: Du hast wohl die Sprache verloren? Italian: Il gatto ti ha mangiato la lingua? Russian: язы́к проглоти́л? (literally, “did you swallow your tongue?”) Spanish: ¿Te ha comido la lengua el gato?

cat got your tongue in other languages idiom

(to get) Cold feet

to get cold feet idiom
to get cold feet in Catalan
to get cold feet in  French
to get cold feet in  German
to get cold feet in  Spanish
Fer-se enrere, acollonir-se (CAT); Être moins chaud pour qch (FR); kalte Füße bekommen (GE)
Echarse atrás, acojonarse (SP)

Crying wolf

Crying wolf : someone who continues asking for help when they don’t really need it, with the result that people think they don’t need help when they actually need it. Catalan: que ve el llop! Queixar-se per no-res. Plora-miques. French: crier au loup Spanish: Que viene el lobo.

Crying wolf in other languages
idioms

Cut some slack

Cut someone some slack : to give some some leeway in their conduct. Catalan: donar una mica de marge French: grappe à [qqn] (colloquial); être indulgent envers [qqn] German: mit jdm. nachsichtig sein Spanish: dar cuartelillo.

cut me some slack in other languages

Stickers for Telegram in English! (Idioms, Jokes and typical expressions)

Draw the line

(to) Draw the line: to set a limit on what you are willing to do or accept. Catalan: marcar una línia vermella. French: tracer un trait German: einen Trennungsstrich ziehen zwischen Spanish: poner límites

draw the line in other languages idioms

Easier said than done

Easier said than done: sth that is uncomplicated to propose, but difficult to accomplish. Catalan: més fàcil dir-ho que fer-ho French: plus facile à dire qu’à faire German: leichter gesagt als getan Portuguese: più facile a dirsi che a farsi Spanish: del dicho al hecho hay mucho trecho

easier said than done in other languages
idioms

Fish out of water

Fish out of water = to feel uncomfortable in a situation Catalan: peix fora de l’aigua French: Poisson hors de l’eau German: fehl am Platz Spanish: Pez fuera del agua (SP)

fish out of water in other languages
idioms

Gift of tongues

Gift of tongues = to be gifted for languages Catalan: (tenir) Do de llengües

gift of tongues in other languages
idioms

Get goosebumps

(to) get goosebumps = the body hair stands on end as the result of an intense feeling Catalan: pell de gallina French: Avoir la chair de poule Spanish: Ponerse la piel de gallina German: Ich bekam eine Gänsehaut. (I got goosebumps) Italian: venire la pelle d’oca. Portuguese: arrepiar-se Basque: oilo-ipurdi.

get the goosebumps in other languages

Go the extra mile

(to) Go the extra mile = to make an extra effort. Catalan: fer un esforç extra. French: Se mettre en quatre German: noch einen Schritt weiter gehen Spanish: hacer un esfuerzo extra

go the extra mile in other languages
idioms

Hit the books

(to) Hit the books = to study Catalan: fer colzes French: potasser German: die Nase in die Bücher stecken Spanish: empollar; estudiar

to hit the books in other languages
idioms, English typical expressions
English idioms in Catalan
English idioms in Spanish
English idioms in French
English idioms in German
English idioms in Italian
English idioms in Portuguese
(to) hit the books

Hit the sack / hay / bed

(to) Hit the sack / hay / bed = go to bed Catalan: Anar a dormir, anar a clapar, a fer nones French: Se pieuter German: ins Bett gehen sich in die Falle hauen Italian: assopirsi, appisolarsi Spanish: Irse al sobre; irse a la cama

hit the bed in other languages
idioms, English typical expressions
English idioms in Catalan
English idioms in Spanish
English idioms in French
English idioms in German
English idioms in Italian
English idioms in Portuguese

Hit the nail on the head

(to) hit the nail on the head in Chinese:
Mandarin: 一針見血 (zh), 一针见血 (zh) (yīzhēnjiànxiě) (draw blood on the first prick)
(to) hit the nail on the head in Catalan: Justa la fusta (just to the whip); clavar-la (to nail it).
(to) hit the nail on the head in Czech: uhodit hřebíček na hlavičku, udeřit hřebíček na hlavičku (to hit the cloves on the head,  to hit the nail on the head).
(to) hit the nail on the head in Danish: ramme hovedet på sømmet (to  hit the head on the seam).
(to) hit the nail on the head in Dutch: de spijker op de kop slaan (to hit the nail on the head).
(to) hit the nail on the head in Finnish: osua naulan kantaan (to hit the nail on the head).
(to) hit the nail on the head in French: faire mouche (literally, to do the fly).
(to) hit the nail on the head in German: den Nagel auf den Kopf treffen ((to hit the nail on the head).
(to) hit the nail on the head in Hungarian: fején találja a szöget (hu)
(to) hit the nail on the head in Icelandic: hitta naglann á höfuðið, eiga kollgátuna, hitta í mark, koma orðum að kjarna máls, tilgreina kjarna máls
(to) hit the nail on the head in Italian: colpire nel segno (to hit the mark).
(to) hit the nail on the head in Lithuanian: durti kaip pirštu į akį (prick as finger in the eye)
(to) hit the nail on the head in Polish: trafić w sedno (to hit the nail)
(to) hit the nail on the head in Portuguese: acertar em cheio (literally, to fully hit).
(to) hit the nail on the head in Russian: попа́сть не в бровь а в глаз (popástʹ ne v brovʹ a v glaz) (hit not the brow but the eye), попа́сть в то́чку (popástʹ v tóčku) (hit the spot)
(to) hit the nail on the head in Spanish: dar en el blanco (to hit the bullseye), dar en el clavo (to hit the nail); clavarlo (to nail it)
(to) hit the nail on the head in Swedish: slå huvudet på spiken (to turn your head on the nail).
(to) hit the nail on the head in Basque: bete-betean asmatu (fully invented), erdiz erdi asmatu (half invented)

Hot potato

A hot potato = controversial issue or situation which is awkward to deal with, so everybody is trying to avoid it. Catalan: Patata calenta. French: une patate chaude German: heißes Eisen n Spanish: patata caliente

hot potato in other languages idioms expressions
English idioms in Catalan
English idioms in Spanish
English idioms in French
English idioms in German
English idioms in Italian
English idioms in Portuguese

In minute detail

In minute detail: paying careful attention to the smallest details Catalan: amb tots els ets i uts; fil per randa French: dans les moindre détails German: bis ins kleinste Detail Spanish: minuciosamente; con pelos y señales

in minute detail in other languages idiom
English idioms in Catalan
English idioms in Spanish
English idioms in French
English idioms in German
English idioms in Italian
English idioms in Portuguese

In the nick of time

In the nick of time = Just in time Catalan: just a temps French: juste-à-temps German: in der allerletzten Sekunde Portuguese: No último instante Spanish: en el último momento

in the nick of time in other languages idioms
English idioms in Catalan
English idioms in Spanish
English idioms in French
English idioms in German
English idioms in Italian
English idioms in Portuguese

In touch

(to keep) In touch = to be in communication with someone and get up-to-date knowledge Catalan: en contacte French: être/ rester en contact German: mit jdm./etw. in Kontakt stehen Portuguese: em contacto Spanish: en contacto

keep in touch in other languages
idioms, English typical expressions
English idioms in Catalan
English idioms in Spanish
English idioms in French
English idioms in German
English idioms in Italian
English idioms in Portuguese

Itchy feet

to have itchy feet idiom
to have itchy feet  in Catalan
to have itchy feet  in French
to have itchy feet  in German
to have itchy feet  in Spanish

Jump on the bandwagon

jump on the bandwagon idiom

Let bygones be bygones

Let bygones be bygones = to forget past conflicts and be reconciled. Catalan: fer creu i ratlla. French: Passer l’éponge German: die Vergangenheit ruhen lassen Irish Gaelic: an rud atá thart bíodh sé thart Spanish: pelillos a la mar

Let bygones be bygones in other languages idiom
English idioms in Catalan
English idioms in Spanish
English idioms in French
English idioms in German
English idioms in Italian
English idioms in Portuguese

Like two peas in a pod

Like two peas in a pod = very similar Catalan: com dues gotes d’aigua French: Comme deux gouttes d’eau German: ein Ei dem anderen Romanian: ca două picături de apă Portuguese: cara de um, focinho de outro Spanish: como dos gotas de agua

Like two peas in a pod in other languages
idioms
English idioms in Catalan
English idioms in Spanish
English idioms in French
English idioms in German
English idioms in Italian
English idioms in Portuguese

Glad to see the back of

(to be) glad to see the back of…= (to) be happy to get rid of someone . Similar to good riddance Catalan: Bon vent i barca nova French: bon débarras (fr), bon vent (fr) Italian: a mai più rivederci Spanish: a enemigo que huye, puente de plata, Anda, vete por ahi

glad to see the back of someone in other languages 
idiom
idioms
English idioms in Catalan
English idioms in Spanish
English idioms in French
English idioms in German
English idioms in Italian
English idioms in Portuguese

Not my cup of tea

(It is) Not my cup of tea: used to refer to something that yu don’t like or are not interested in Catalan: No em fa el pes, No és sant de la meva devoció. Chinese (Mandarin):  不是我的菜 (literally, This is not my dish) Czech:  不是我的菜 (literally, This is not my dish). French: C’est (pas) mon truc (literally, it’s not my thing), to say that you don’t like something. The familiar C’est (pas) mon délire (literally, It’s not my delirium) works as well in circles of young friends. Another familiar expression is C’est (pas) mon dada (literally, It’s not my hobby) German: Das ist nicht mein Ding (literally, It is not my thing) Italian: Non è il mio genere (literally, It is not my genre) Japanese: 好みではない (pronounced Konomide wanai, literally, It doesn´t enter my ki) Malay: Bukan bidang aku la (literally, not my field) (Brazilian) Portuguese: Não é minha praia (literally, this is not my beach) Russian:  Это не моё / Это не в моём вкусе, pronounced Eto ne moyo / Eto ne v moyom vkuse (Literally: It’s not mine / It’s not to my liking). Spanish: No es santo de mi devotión (literally, He is not a saint of my devotion)

It is not my cup of tea in other languages
 idioms
English idioms in Catalan
English idioms in Spanish
English idioms in French
English idioms in German
English idioms in Italian
English idioms in Portuguese

Once in a blue moon

Once in a blue moon = very rarely Catalan: Molt de tant en tant German: alle Jubeljahre einmal French: tous les trente-six du mois German: alle Jubeljahre einmal Spanish: Raras veces, cada muerte de obispo.

Once in a blue moon in other languages
 idiom
idioms
English idioms in Catalan
English idioms in Spanish
English idioms in French
English idioms in German
English idioms in Italian
English idioms in Portuguese

On the ball

(to be) On the ball = to be alert, focused Catalan: Estar al cas , alerta French: être éveillé(e), être vif (vive) German: am Ball sein Spanish: estar al loro

to be on the ball idiom in other languages
idioms
English idioms in Catalan
English idioms in Spanish
English idioms in French
English idioms in German
English idioms in Italian
English idioms in Portuguese

To have other fish to fry

to have other fish to fry idiom

Out of the blue

out of the blue idiom

Piece of cake

Piece of cake = very easy Catalan: és bufar i fer ampolles, està tirat, està xupat German: Kinderspiel, Pillepalle, ein Klacks Italian: gioco da ragazzi, una cosa da niente, come bere un bicchier d’acqua, gioco da bambini Portuguese: ser molezaSpanish: está chupado, coser y cantar

piece of cake in other languages 
idiom 
English idioms in Catalan
English idioms in Spanish
English idioms in French
English idioms in German
English idioms in Italian
English idioms in Portuguese

Put my two cents

(to) put my two cents / (to) put in my two-penny worth used to preface a tentative statement of one’s opinion Catalan: dir la meva/seva/nostra/vostra French: mes deux cents (my two cents), grain de sel German: seinen Senf dazugeben Spanish: decir algo

put my two cents in other languages
idioms
English idioms in Catalan
English idioms in Spanish
English idioms in French
English idioms in German
English idioms in Italian
English idioms in Portuguese

Rain buckets

(to) rain buckets, also (to) rain cats and dogs (old-fashioned)= (to) rain heavily Catalan: Ploure a bots i barrals French: pleuvoir des cordes, pleuvoir à verse, pleuvoir des hallebardes, pleuvoir comme vache qui pisse, (Québec) pleuvoir à boire debout, (Belgium) dracher German: German: Bindfäden regnen, in Strömen regnen, aus allen Kannen gießen, aus allen Kannen schütten, es schüttet wie aus Eimern Italian: piovere a catinelle, diluviare, scrosciare, piovere come Dio la manda Portuguese: o céu vir abaixo, chover a cântaros (pt) (Portugal), chover a potes (Portugal), cair um toró (Brazil), chover canivetes (Brazil) Spanish: llover a cántaros Welsh: bwrw hen wragedd â ffyn

rain buckets in other languages
idioms
English idioms in Catalan
English idioms in Spanish
English idioms in French
English idioms in German
English idioms in Italian
English idioms in Portuguese

There is no silver bullet

French: Il n’y a pas de solution miracle Spanish: No hay solución milagrosa

Sit on the fence

(to) sit on the fence = avoid making decisions or choices; remain neutral Catalan: No decidir-se, ser equidistant, no mullar-se French: ménager la chèvre et le chou German: zwischen den Fronten stehen Portuguese: em cima do muro Spanish: estar indeciso, no mojarse

to sit on the fence in other languages
idioms
English idioms in Catalan
English idioms in Spanish
English idioms in French
English idioms in German
English idioms in Italian
English idioms in Portuguese

Steal one’s thunder

(to) steal one’s thunder = To appropriate someone’s ideas, typically in order to be more popular. Catalan: atribuir-se el mèrit French: s’attribuer les mérites Spanish: atribuirse el mérito

steal my thunder
idioms
English idioms in Catalan
English idioms in Spanish
English idioms in French
English idioms in German
English idioms in Italian
English idioms in Portuguese

Take it easy

(to) Take it easy = Calm down, keep your hair on Catalan: (pren-t’ho amb) calma, tranki Chinese (Mandarin): 休息 (zh) (xiūxi) Galician: relaxar German: sich entspannen Portuguese: sossegar Russian: расслабля́ться (ru) impf (rasslabljátʹsja), рассла́биться (ru) pf (rasslábitʹsja) Scottish Gaelic: gabh socair Spanish: (tómatelo con) calma, tranquilo/a, tranki

take it easy in other languages
 idioms
English idioms in Catalan
English idioms in Spanish
English idioms in French
English idioms in German
English idioms in Italian
English idioms in Portuguese

Under the weather

Under the weather = slightly unwell or in low spirits. Catalan: estar moix , no estar fi/na French: ne pas être dans son assiette Galician: indisposto German: angeschlagen Italian: indisposto Spanish: indispuesto, pachucho.

under the weather in other languages
idioms
English idioms in Catalan
English idioms in Spanish
English idioms in French
English idioms in German
English idioms in Italian
English idioms in Portuguese

Up in the air

Up in the air = still to be settled Catalan: en l’aire, el més calent és a l’aigüerta French: être assez vague German: Es ist alles noch offen (literally, Everything is still open) Spanish: en el aire

Up in the air in other languages
idiom
English idioms in Catalan
English idioms in Spanish
English idioms in French
English idioms in German
English idioms in Italian
English idioms in Portuguese

Walk on eggshells

(to) walk on eggshells: (to) be extremely cautious about one’s words or actions Catalan: Anar amb peus de plom French: Marcher sur des œufs German: wie auf Eiern gehen Spanish: Andarse con cuidado

to walk on eggshells in other languages
idioms
typical expressions
English language
English idioms in Catalan
English idioms in Spanish
English idioms in French
English idioms in German
English idioms in Italian
English idioms in Portuguese

When pigs fly

When pigs fly: Referencing the unlikelihood that something will ever happen Catalan: Quan les gallines pixin French: Quand les poules auront des dents German: wenn Ostern und Pfingsten auf einen Tag fallen (de) (literally “when Easter and Pentecost fall on the same day”) Italian: quando gli asini voleranno (literally “when donkeys fly”), alle calende greche (literally “on the Greek calends”) Russian: когда́ рак на горе́ сви́стнет (ru) (kogdá rak na goré svístnet, literally “when a crayfish whistles on the mountain”) Spanish: cuando las vacas vuelen; cuando las ranas críen pelo.

when pigs fly in other languages

This post will be regularly updated with new idioms.

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The Christmas poop log

A eschatological yet charming Catalan Christmas tradition

On our traditions section, today we’ll talk about a Catalan log that, believe it or not, poops nougats, candies and toys at Christmas
The tió —often popularly called Tió de Nadal (Christmas log) or even Caga tió (“shitting log”, “poo log”), pronounced “Cagga-tee-oh”— is a wooden log with a smiley face painted onto one end.
On Christmas Day or, in some households, on Christmas Eve, to make it defecate, one beats the tió with a stick, while singing various songs. After hitting the tió softly with a stick during the song, it is hit harder on the last verse. Then somebody —most typically a kid— puts their hand under the blanket and takes a gift.

Tió song (there are many, here is just an example):
shit, log,
shit nougats,
hazelnuts and mató cheese,
if you don’t shit well,
I’ll hit you with a stick,
shit, log!

Origin of the Poop Log Tió

But where does the Tió tradition come from? This pagan tradition, known as making the Christmas tió poo (or crap, or shit), has a rural origin and it also exists in some areas of Aragon and Occitania (in the south of France).

The Tió was a trunk that burned in the fireplace and then people spread its ashes because it was thought to have protective properties. Somehow it was a symbol for a change of cycle or, if you like, a change of year. The Tió was thought to represent the sleeping nature in winter, and to be a symbol for its abundance. That is why, when you hit it with a stick, what you are really doing is waking it up, that is to say, you wake up the nature that bountifully gives us its fruits — hence the gift “defecated” by the trunk.

This tradition extended in the 18th and 19th centuries. Then it expanded to the cities. After a few decades, the tradition fell into oblivion, but it strongly returned in the 1960’s. From then on, a face was painted onto one end of the log, a typical Catalan hat called barretina was added, and it was covered with a blanket to keep it cold.

Tocat del Bolet ~ Nuts Catalan culture crossing borders!

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It is not my cup of tea

It’s not my cup of tea. Definition, examples and equivalents in other languages.

You say that something is not your cup of tea when it is unconvincing or fails to satisfy. It is mostly used in the negative form, but you can also use it in the positive form to say that you like something. An equivalent expression in English is It doesn’t float my boat. You can say it in positive (for instance, Ok, whatever floats your boat) or in the negative form.

It's not my cup of tea
idioms typical expressions
It's my cup of tea
idioms typical expressions
It doesn't float my boat
idioms

Examples

Football is not my cup of tea, but my brother loves it.

Rococo staircases are not my cup of tea.

Hip Hop is much more my cup of tea than techno music.

It is not my cup of tea in other languages.

It is not my cup of tea in Catalan

In Catalan, a very usual and idiomatic equivalent expression for It is not my cup of tea is No em fa el pes (literally, it doesn’t do me the weight) or No m’acaba de fer el pes (literally, It fails to do me the weight). Yeah, we know it sounds weird, but it is quite widespread.

It's not my cup of tea in Catalan
It's not my cup of tea
idioms typical expressions

It is not my cup of tea in (Mandarin) Chinese

The equivalent idiom in Mandarin Chinese is 不是我的菜 (literally, This is not my dish).

不是我的菜
It is not my cup of tea in Mandarin Chinese
It's not my cup of tea
idioms typical expressions

It is not my cup of tea in Czech

In Czech you can say Není to můj šálek kávy/čaje (literally, It’s not my cup of coffee/tea).

It's not my cup of tea in czech
idioms typical expressions

It is not my cup of tea in French

In French, just like in English, you can say Ce n’est pas ma tasse de thé (literally, It is not my cup of tea) or C’est (pas) mon truc (FR) (literally, it’s not my thing), to say that you don’t like something. The familiar C’est (pas) mon délire (literally, It’s not my delirium) works as well in circles of young friends. Another familiar expression is C’est (pas) mon dada (literally, It’s not my hobby), which is older. It works in negative form but is mostly used affirmatively.

It is not my cup of tea in French
Idioms

It is not my cup of tea in German

In German you can say Das ist nicht mein Ding (literally, It is not my thing).

It is not my cup of tea in German
Das ist nicht mein Ding

It is not my cup of tea in Italian

In Italian you can say Non fa per me (literally, it does not do for me). It is very similar to the Catalan expression No fa per mi. Other expressions in Italian you may use to express the same idea are Non è il mio genere (literally, It is not my genre), Non è il mio forte (Informal, literally, It is not my strength), Non è roba per me (colloquial and slightly regional, literally, These are not clothes for me), Non è di mio gradimento (formal, literally, It is not my liking), Non è di mio gusto (formal, literally, It is not of my taste).

It is not my cup of tea in Italian
Non fa per me

It is not my cup of tea in Japanese

In Japanese you can say 好みではない (pronounced Konomide wanai, literally, It doesn´t enter my ki).

It is not my cup of tea in Malay

In Malai language you can say Bukan bidang aku la (literally, not my field).

Bukan bidang aku la It's not my field in Malay

It is not my cup of tea in (Brazilian) Portuguese

In Brazilian Portuguese the equivalent expression is Não é minha praia (literally, this is not my beach).

It is not my cup of tea in (Brazilian) Portuguese

It is not my cup of tea in Russian

It is not my cup of tea in Russian is Это не моё / Это не в моём вкусе, pronounced Eto ne moyo / Eto ne v moyom vkuse (Literally: It’s not mine / It’s not to my liking).

It's not my cup of tea in Russian
idioms typical expressions

It is not my cup of tea in Spanish

In Spanish you may say No es santo de mi devotión (literally, He is not a saint of my devotion) or No es plato de mi gusto (literally, It is not a dish of my taste *). 

It is not my cup of tea in Spanish

And that’s pretty much it. Thank you for visiting Nuts (Tocat del Bolet)!

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Pep talk

Meaning of Pep talk

A Pep talk is a short speech intended to make someone or a group of people feel more courageous or enthusiastic.

As many Brits, Catalans and football fans know, the current Manchester City coach Pep Guardiola is known, among other things, for this type of motivational speeches.

Examples

His pep talk and leadership convinced them all.

The coach gave the team a pep talk before the game.

Origin of the expression

As it seems, the word “pep” comes from “pepper”. It has been used in the figurative sense of energy or spirit since 1847. A pep talk is intended to energize someone or a group of people and appeared in 1926. The first written use of the phrase “pep talk” was found in “The Mansfield News”.

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Most important Catalan Sayings and Proverbs translated to English

You know what really grinds my gears

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Animal idioms

You can’t get blood out of a stone

Common British English expressions translated to Catalan

Good things come in small packages

Jeepers creepers!

Scottish Gaelic on Duolingo!

More than 25,000 people have already signed up to learn Scottish Gaelic on Duolingo

Madainn mhath! (Welcome!) We have great news: The popular language-learning APP has launched a Scottish Gaelic course created with the help and advise of volunteers across Scotland and more than 25,000 people have already signed up to learn Scottish Gaelic on Duolingo.

This course will probably open up Scottish Gaelic to millions of people in the UK and across the world. So we are over the moon. Tocat del Bolet (Nuts) is committed to the protection of minority —and minoritised— languages and, needless to say, we love Scotland.

Scots Gaelic language, also called Scottish GaelicScots Gaelic or Gàidhlig, is a member of the Goidelic group of Celtic languages. It is currently spoken along the northwest coast of Scotland and in the Hebrides islands. Australia, the United States, and Nova Scotia in Canada are also home to Scots Gaelic communities.

A language involves a way of understanding the world, of relating to one another, of loving and feeling. That’s why Scottish Gaelic, like any other minority language, must be protected and regarded as a cultural treasure.

There is concern about the state of Scots Gaelic. In the 2011 census of Scotland, 57,375 people (only 1.1% of the Scottish population) were reported as able to speak Gaelic, 1,275 fewer than in 2001. It was classed as an indigenous language under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages, which the British government has ratified, and the Gaelic Language (Scotland) Act 2005 established a language-development body, namely, Bòrd na Gàidhlig.

Now Duolingo is contributing to the revival efforts and we would like to thank the popular APP for doing its bit.

So, Scots of the world, unite! Don’t let Scottish Gaelic disappear. We also encourage non-Scottish people to learn this interesting language. As Charlemagne put it, to have another language is to possess a second soul.

Tapadh leibh! (thank you!)

Recommended links

Bòrd na Gàidhlig

Duolingo

Scottish proverbs

Scottish Gaelic ⇆ Catalan Simple Greetings

Most important Catalan Sayings and Proverbs translated to English

Catalan flags explained

Jeepers creepers!

Jeepers creepers. Meaning. Examples. Jeepers creepers in other languages.

Meaning

Jeepers Creepers or just jeepers or creepers is an expression of surprise or annoyance derived from Jesus Christ. You use this exclamation especially if there are kids around or you are from the 1950s. It is similar to Darn it!

Examples

Jeepers creepers! He just shot Albert!

Jeepers creepers! He’s done it again!

douche canoe
jeepers creepers

Jeepers creepers in Catalan

Vatua l’olla! (literally, Oh pot!). Also, Mare de Déu (literally, mother of God) or Alsa Manela (Wow Manela!).

jeepers creepers in Catalan
alça Manela

Jeepers creepers in French

In French you can say zut (literally, cursed, although its meaning can vary considerably depending on the context), Mille misères! (literally, a thousand miseries!), or even the multi-purpose Merde! “(Literally, shit! ).

jeepers creepers in French

Jeepers creepers in German

In German you can use Mensch! (Literally, “man!”), which is an exclamation of surprise.

Jeepers creepers in Italian

In Italian you can say Capperacci (something along the lines of Jeepers creepers or Damn it), or Cavoli!  (literally, sprouts!). For example: Capperacci, sober ubriaco! (Jeepers Creepers, I’m drunk!).

Jeepers creepers in Mandarin Chinese

In Mandarin Chinese you can say  哎呀 (pronounced tiān nǎ, āiy ā, which is used to express astonishment and translates literally as oh, God!). For example: 哎呀, 看看 都 几点 了! 我 要 晚 了! (Jeepers creepers! Look at the time! I’m late!).

Jeepers creepers in Chinese

Jeepers creepers in Portuguese

In Portuguese we can say carpa or eh pá! which are also expressions of surprise or annoyance.

Jeepers creepers in Spanish

In Spanish you can say ¡Córcholis!,¡Recórcholis!,¡Mecachis! ¡Carajo!… And also ¡Caray! O ¡Cásita! For instance: Recórcholis, ¡no hay manera! (Jeepers creepers, there’s no way to do it!).

jeepers creepers in European Spanish

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Good things come in small packages

Sayings. Good things come in small packages. Meaning and example. Good things come in small packages in other languages.

Meaning

When someone says Good / Best / Big / The best things come in small packages they mean that even though something may be small, it is of better quality than big things. So the bottom line is that things should not be underestimated because of their small size.

Example

At the end of the day, little things, such as gathering rosebuds, is what bring meaning back into my life. You know, good things come in small packages.

Good things come in small packages

Good things come in small packages in Basque language

Lurrin ona flasko txikietan saltzen da (literally, a good perfume is sold in small bottles).

Good things come in small packages in Catalan

Al pot petit hi ha la bona confitura (literally, the good jam is in the small jar).

Good things come in small packages in (Mandarin) Chinese

好東西不在個頭大 (pronounced Hǎo dōngxī bùzài gètóu dà; literally Small things are big) .

Good things come in small packages in French

Tout ce qui est petit est mignon (literally, All that is small is nice); also Dans les petites boîtes, les bons onguents (literally, Inside the small boxes, the good ointents).

Good things come in small packages in Galician language

As boas cousas véndense en pequenas doses (literally, Good things are sold in small doses).

Good things come in small packages in German

In den kleinsten Flaschen ist das beste Likör (literally, In the small bottles there is the best liquor).

Good things come in small packages in Italian

Nelle botti piccine ci sta il vino buono (literally, In the small barrels, there is the good wine).

Good things come in small packages in Scots language

In Scottish language —attention, not Scots Gaelic— you can say Guid gear comes in sma’buck which means more or less the same.

Good things come in small packages in Spanish

El perfume (o la esencia) se vende en tarro pequeño (literally, Perfume is sold in small jars).

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You know what really grinds my gears

List of the most annoying daily setbacks and nuisances that really grind my gears

(to) grind one’s gears meaning

(to) grind one’s gears is an American English idiom meaning that something or someone makes you angry or annoys you. This idiom was recently popularized by fictional character Peter Griffin, the main character of the American animated sitcom Family Guy.

What really grinds my gears

Here is a list of the everyday situations, setbacks, misfortunes and twists that really grind my gears, or annoy me to such an extreme that really salt my apples or make me blow a fuse, blow a gasket, blow my top… Well, you know what I mean.

You know what really grinds my gears

I’m not a short fuse, I’m not specially quick to temper… but even though they may seem small details, trifles, or if you like, trivialities, they really manage to get on my nerves. Just imagine they all happen the same day… believe me, it could end up badly. Yeah, even a model citizen could end up losing their head and behaving like Michael Douglas in Falling Down.

So, without further ado, let’s take a look at these annoying and inconvenient daily setbacks:

List of things that grind my gears

When you are in bed, as snug as a bug in a rug, and suddenly remember that you left the washing machine on, so you need to get up and hang up clothes.

annoying things
things that really grind my gears
The washing machine!

When the earphone cables get tangled and you need to spend your valuable time untangling the fu***ng mess.

annoying things
things that really grind my gear

When you step on a dog turd when heading to an important appointment or, even worse, a romantic date.

annoying things
things that really grind my gear

Spoilers… I just hate them! They should know that loose lips sink ships.

annoying things
things that really grind my gear

When you realize, after taking a shower, you didn’t take the towel (specially annoying in winter).

annoying things
things that really grind my gear

When you can’t escape from a smart-ass who happens to be a relative and you run out of painkillers.

annoying things
things that really grind my gear
What a drag! What a headache!

When you placidly conclude your digestive process and find out there isn’t any toilet paper left.

annoying things
things that really grind my gear
Shit!

When egg yolks pop out when frying. However hard you try to disguise your blunder, everybody will notice.

annoying things
things that really grind my gear

When your shoes and, even worse, your socks get wet on a cold and rainy winter day. It only adds insult to injury if you happen to be on your way to work and you are late. You know… It never rains but it pours.

annoying things
things that really grind my gear
Oh, no!

When you forget to save the files you have been working so hard on.

annoying things
things that really grind my gear

What about you? What grinds your gears? Mosquitoes? Rude people? Reckless drivers? Cooking oil spilled out on the kitchen floor? Let us know.

Thank you for you visit. We look forward to seeing you around soon.

Synonyms of (to) grind one’s gears meaning

There are several synonyms of this expressions, such as (to) irritate, (to) annoy, (to) be like a bear with a sore head, (to) blow a fuse, (to) blow a gasket, (to) blow your top, (to be) be cheesed off, (to) drive someone up the wall, (to) fly off the handle, (to) get someone’s goat

(to) Grind one’s gears in other languages

(to) grind one’s gears in Catalan: Treure de polleguera (to) grind one’s gears in French: faire sortir quelqu’un de ses gonds (to) grind one’s gears in German: wahnsinnig machen (to) grind one’s gears in Spanish: sacar de quicio

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