Slang is a type of language consisting of words and phrases that are regarded as very informal are more common in speech than writing, even though some writers use it a lot.
Absobloodylutely
Absobloodylutely in Catalan: oi tant; i tant!; Ja ho pots ben dir; ja hi pots pujar de peus… Even efectiviwonder.
Tocat del Bolet (Nuts) is a blog that aims to promote and share Catalan language and culture throughout its most typical expressions, in a fun and informative way.
Thank you for your attention. We look forward to your comments and questions. Nuts ~Tocat del bolet, Catalan culture crossing borders! Share this post!
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!
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:
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 âlegend.â 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
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.piËku.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, CapicĂșa, and then the word was added to the RAE dictionary. Now capicĂșa is widely used in Spanish, too.
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 hill, at 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: AĂnda por riba German: Salz in die Wunde streuen Spanish: Para colmo de males
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 mâa dit Spanish: Un pajarito me ha dicho.
(to be) All ears = (to) listen actively Catalan: sĂłc tot orelles French: tout ouĂŻe German: Ich bin ganz Ohr Italian: tutto orecchie Portuguese: todo ouvidos Spanish: todo oĂdos
An arm and a leg
(to cost) An arm and a leg = very expensive Catalan: costar un ull de la cara French: coĂ»ter les yeux de la tĂȘte German: eine Stange Geld kosten Italian: Costare un occhio della testa Spanish: Costar un riñón
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: ĐžÌгла ĐČĐŸ ŃŃĐŸĐł ŃĐ”ÌĐœĐŸ Portuguese: agulha num palheiro Spanish: Aguja en un pajar
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: jĂ€hzornig sein Spanish: de sangre caliente.
If you need help, just call me. I can come at the drop of a hat.
Bite the bullet
(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
Butterflies in my stomach = to be uneasy, nervous Catalan = tenir papallones a la panxa French: avoir le trac Spanish: tener mariposas en el estĂłmago German: Schmetterlinge im Bauch haben Spanish: mariposas en el estĂłmago
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
(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’Ćil, miser sur le mauvais cheval German: auf dem Holzweg sein Portuguese: bater Ă porta errada, bater na porta errada Spanish: llamar a la puerta equivocada, errar el tiro.
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 heiĂen Brei herumreden Italian: menare il can per l’aia Spanish: andarse con rodeos
Bend over backwards
(to) bend over backwards= make every effort to achieve something, especially to be helpful Catalan: fer mans i mĂ nigues French: Se mettre en quatre German: sich ein Bein ausreiĂen Italian: farsi in quattro Spanish: remover cielo y tierra
(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
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: ÂĄMucha mierda!
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-neirbhĂseach French: un paquet de nerfs German: ein BĂŒndel Nerven Italian: un fascio di nervi Portuguese: uma pilha de nervos Mandarin Chinese: çŽ§ćŒ äžćźçäșș Russian: ĐșĐ»ŃĐ±ĐŸĐș ĐœĐ”ŃĐČĐŸĐČ
By the skin of your teeth
By the skin of your teeth = by a very narrow margin; only just Catalan: pels pĂšls French: de justesse; (colloquial) dâun poil German: mit Ach und Krach Italian: per un pelo Scottish Gaelic: air Ăšiginn Spanish: por los pelos
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: äœ æäșćć·ŽäșćïŒ(literally, have you become dumb?) German: Du hast wohl die Sprache verloren? Italian: Il gatto ti ha mangiato la lingua? Russian: ŃĐ·ŃÌĐș ĐżŃĐŸĐłĐ»ĐŸŃĐžÌĐ»? (literally, âdid you swallow your tongue?â) Spanish: ÂżTe ha comido la lengua el gato?
(to get) Cold feet
Fer-se enrere, acollonir-se (CAT); Ătre moins chaud pour qch (FR); kalte FĂŒĂe bekommen (GE) Echarse atrĂĄs, 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.
Cut some slack
Cut someone some slack : to give some some leeway in their conduct. Catalan: donar una mica de marge French: grappe Ă [qqn] (colloquial); ĂȘtre indulgent envers [qqn] German: mit jdm. nachsichtig sein Spanish: dar cuartelillo.
(to) Draw the line: to set a limit on what you are willing to do or accept. Catalan: marcar una lĂnia vermella. French: tracer un trait German: einen Trennungsstrich ziehen zwischen Spanish: poner lĂmites
Fish out of water = to feel uncomfortable in a situation Catalan: peix fora de l’aigua French: Poisson hors de lâeau German: fehl am Platz Spanish: Pez fuera del agua (SP)
Gift of tongues
Gift of tongues = to be gifted for languages Catalan: (tenir) Do de llengĂŒes
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 GĂ€nsehaut. (I got goosebumps) Italian: venire la pelle dâoca. Portuguese: arrepiar-se Basque: oilo-ipurdi.
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
Hit the books
(to) Hit the books = to study Catalan: fer colzes French: potasser German: die Nase in die BĂŒcher stecken Spanish: empollar; estudiar
(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
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: heiĂes Eisen n Spanish: patata caliente
In the nick of time = Just in time Catalan: just a temps French: juste-Ă -temps German: in der allerletzten Sekunde Portuguese: No Ășltimo instante Spanish: en el Ășltimo momento
In touch
(to keep) In touch = to be in communication with someone and get up-to-date knowledge Catalan: en contacte French: ĂȘtre/ rester en contact German: mit jdm./etw. in Kontakt stehen Portuguese: em contacto Spanish: en contacto
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 douÄ picÄturi de apÄ Portuguese: cara de um, focinho de outro Spanish: como dos gotas de agua
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.
(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
(to) Take it easy = Calm down, keep your hair on Catalan: (pren-t’ho amb) calma, trankiChinese (Mandarin): äŒæŻ (zh) (xiĆ«xi) Galician: relaxar German: sich entspannen Portuguese: sossegar Russian: ŃĐ°ŃŃлаблŃÌŃŃŃŃ (ru) impf (rasslabljĂĄtÊčsja), ŃĐ°ŃŃлаÌбОŃŃŃŃ (ru) pf (rasslĂĄbitÊčsja) Scottish Gaelic: gabh socair Spanish: (tĂłmatelo con) calma, tranquilo/a, tranki
Under the weather
Under the weather = slightly unwell or in low spirits. Catalan: estar moix , no estar fi/na French: ne pas ĂȘtre dans son assiette Galician: indisposto German: angeschlagen Italian: indisposto Spanish: indispuesto, pachucho.
(to) walk on eggshells: (to) be extremely cautious about one’s words or actions Catalan: Anar amb peus de plom French: Marcher sur des Ćufs German: wie auf Eiern gehen Spanish: Andarse con cuidado
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 tiĂł âoften popularly called TiĂł de Nadal (Christmas log) or even Caga tiĂł (“shitting log”, “poo log”), pronounced âCagga-tee-ohââ 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 tiĂł with a stick, while singing various songs. After hitting the tiĂł softly with a stick during the song, it is hit harder on the last verse. Then somebody âmost typically a kidâ puts their hand under the blanket and takes a gift.
TiĂł song (there are many, here is just an example): shit, log, shit nougats, hazelnuts and matĂł cheese, if you don’t shit well, I’ll hit you with a stick, shit, log!
Origin of the Poop Log TiĂł
But where does the TiĂł tradition come from? This pagan tradition, known as making the Christmas tiĂłpoo (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 TiĂł 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 TiĂł 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 â 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!
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.
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 is not my cup of tea in (Mandarin) Chinese
The equivalent idiom in Mandarin Chinese is äžæŻæçè (literally, This is not my dish).
It is not my cup of tea in Czech
In Czech you can say NenĂ to mĆŻj ĆĄĂĄlek kĂĄvy/Äaje (literally, It’s not my cup of coffee/tea).
In German you can say Das ist nicht mein Ding (literally, It is not my thing).
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 Ăš il mio genere (literally, It is not my genre), Non Ăš il mio forte (Informal, literally, It is not my strength), Non Ăš roba per me (colloquial and slightly regional, literally, These are not clothes for me), Non Ăš di mio gradimento (formal, literally, It is not my liking), Non Ăš di mio gusto (formal, literally, It is not of my taste).
It is not my cup of tea in Japanese
In Japanese you can say ć„œăżă§ăŻăȘă (pronounced Konomide wanai, literally, It doesnÂŽt 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).
It is not my cup of tea in Russian is ĐŃĐŸ ĐœĐ” ĐŒĐŸŃ / ĐŃĐŸ ĐœĐ” ĐČ ĐŒĐŸŃĐŒ ĐČĐșŃŃĐ”, pronounced Eto ne moyo / Eto ne v moyom vkuse (Literally: It’s not mine / It’s not to my liking).
It is not my cup of tea in Spanish
In Spanish you may say No es santo de mi devotiĂłn (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 *).
And that’s pretty much it. Thank you for visiting Nuts (Tocat del Bolet)!
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”.
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 âand minoritisedâ languages and, needless to say, we love Scotland.
Scots Gaelic language, also called Scottish Gaelic, Scots Gaelic or Gà idhlig, 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, BĂČrd na GĂ idhlig.
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.
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!
In French you can say zut⯠(literally, cursed, although its meaning can vary considerably depending on the context), Mille misĂšres! (literally, athousand miseries!), or even the multi-purpose Merde! “(Literally, shit! ).
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  ćć (pronounced tiÄn nÇ, Äiy Ä, which is used to express astonishment and translates literally as oh, God!). For example: ćć, çç éœ ć çč äș! æ èŠ æ äș! (Jeepers creepers! Look at the time! I’m late!).
Jeepers creepers in Portuguese
In Portuguese we can say carpa or eh pĂĄ! which are also expressions of surprise or annoyance.
Jeepers creepers in Spanish
In Spanish you can say ÂĄCĂłrcholis!,ÂĄRecĂłrcholis!,ÂĄMecachis! ¥Carajo!… And also ÂĄCaray! O ÂĄCĂĄsita! For instance: RecĂłrcholis, ÂĄno hay manera! (Jeepers creepers, there’s no way to do it!).
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 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
ć„œæ±è„żäžćšćé 性 (pronounced HÇo dĆngxÄ« bĂčzĂ i gĂštĂłu dĂ ; 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 boĂźtes, les bons onguents (literally, Inside the small boxes, the good ointents).
Good things come in small packages in Galician language
