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Off topic: Euphemisms like "kick the bucket" for death in other languages? Thread poster: natalykelly
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I am looking for examples of phrases that are used in place of "died" or "death" in other languages, with a literal version of what it means in English. Would anyone be able to post an example from a language other than English? All are welcome. | | |
Passer l'arme à gauche - To pass one's weapon on one's left side. Manger les pissenlits par la racine - To eat dandelions by the roots. Avaler son extrait de naissance - To swallow one's birth certificate. | | |
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a Greek version | Jun 21, 2012 |
could be something like "cast the petals" "τίναξε τα πέταλα" ![](https://cfcdn.proz.com/images/bb/smiles/icon_smile.gif) | |
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Nicole Maina Italy Local time: 04:10 German to Italian + ... German and Italian | Jun 21, 2012 |
the first ones I can think of: German: ins Gras beißen (to bite the grass) den Löffel abgeben (to pass on the spoon) Italian: tirare le cuoia (to pull the leathers)
[Edited at 2012-06-21 11:56 GMT] | | |
Estirar la pata: To stretch your leg Pasar a mejor vida: To pass to a better life Criar malvas: To grow daisies | | |
Kopnąć w kalendarz -> Kick the calendar Wąchać kwiatki od spodu -> Smell flowers from below (more or less) | | |
den Löffel abgeben (= give up your spoon) das Gras (or: die Radieschen) von unten betrachten (look at the grass/the radishes from below) ins Gras beissen (= bite the grass) das Zeitliche segnen (= bless the temporal realm) in die ewigen Jagdgründe gehen (= go to the eternal hunting grounds) | |
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Roman Lutz Germany Local time: 04:10 English to German + ...
"Das Zeitliche segnen" (to meet your maker, or, more literally "to bless the time" ) //Edit: too late...
[Edited at 2012-06-21 12:03 GMT] | | |
Silvia Mira (X) Local time: 03:10 French to Portuguese + ...
In PT from Portugal we use for example: - bater as botas (literally: beat the boots one against the other) - ir fazer tijolo (literally: produce bricks) i hope this was useful ![](https://cfcdn.proz.com/images/bb/smiles/icon_smile.gif) Sílvia | | |
Berna Bleeke (X) Local time: 04:10 English to Dutch
De pijp uitgaan - go out of the pipe (not sure which pipe is meant; maybe the intended meaning is to ascend to the heavens, like the smoke of a pipe goes up?) Het hoekje omgaan - turn a corner (turn around the little corner, literally) De madeliefjes van onderen bekijken - look at the daisies from below Het tijdelijke met het eeuwige verwisselen - exchange the temporal for the eternal
[Edited at 2012-06-21 12:12 GMT] | | |
Ana Gariso Portugal Local time: 03:10 English to Portuguese
Esticar o pernil - something like "strech the leg" Bater as botas - knocking the boots (from military dismiss protocol, when knocking the boots soles one against the other before turning back on a superior) Ir desta para melhor - to go from this one to a better one (life: presupposition) Ir para os anjinhos - to go to the little angels
[Editada em 2012-06-21 12:22 GMT] | |
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"откинуть копыта" (ot'kinut ko'pyta) - the closest to English "kick the bucket", literally meaning "to cast away one's hooves". This one is not truly rude, but not very respectful either![](https://cfcdn.proz.com/images/bb/smiles/icon_smile.gif) | | |
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