Idioms Explained
Viewing comments for Chapter 26 "Idioms from Around the World"Fanstorians explain the backstory of idioms
14 total reviews
Comment from Irish Rain
I really enjoyed learning about some of
these Danish expressions!
I find different cultures, languages,
peoples, quite fascinating.
My husband is from the mountains of West
Virginia, and he says things sometimes
that I've never heard before.
Like...'Ewe! Bushy!'
Which means 'it's cold.' Who knew? Ha ha...
Loved this!
Blessings...
reply by the author on 14-Jan-2022
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I really enjoyed learning about some of
these Danish expressions!
I find different cultures, languages,
peoples, quite fascinating.
My husband is from the mountains of West
Virginia, and he says things sometimes
that I've never heard before.
Like...'Ewe! Bushy!'
Which means 'it's cold.' Who knew? Ha ha...
Loved this!
Blessings...
Comment Written 13-Jan-2022
reply by the author on 14-Jan-2022
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Thank you so much. Yeah, who would have understoodd what your husband was saying. Amazing! Ulla:)))
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Have a nice weekend!! We're waiting on snow!!
Comment from Begin Again
Oh my goodness, Ulla, I would never have comprehended any of these idioms if you hadn't explained them. Good job and quite entertaining. It makes us marvel as to how they get formed in the first place... after all, shooting a parrot doesn't sound very lucky.
Hugs, Carol
reply by the author on 11-Jan-2022
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Oh my goodness, Ulla, I would never have comprehended any of these idioms if you hadn't explained them. Good job and quite entertaining. It makes us marvel as to how they get formed in the first place... after all, shooting a parrot doesn't sound very lucky.
Hugs, Carol
Comment Written 11-Jan-2022
reply by the author on 11-Jan-2022
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Thank you so very much. I'm glad you enjoyed it. Ulla:)))
Comment from estory
I thought it was an interesting little post that shades light on the differences in local color of a culture. I guess every culture has its own idioms. In America we say we are on skid row, or going on a bender. Having our cake and eating it too. We hit home runs, we go for broke, and in Germany you say Make hay when the sun shines. estory
reply by the author on 11-Jan-2022
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I thought it was an interesting little post that shades light on the differences in local color of a culture. I guess every culture has its own idioms. In America we say we are on skid row, or going on a bender. Having our cake and eating it too. We hit home runs, we go for broke, and in Germany you say Make hay when the sun shines. estory
Comment Written 10-Jan-2022
reply by the author on 11-Jan-2022
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Awe, you liked that. Yes, that's what makes languages so interesting. Ulla:)))
Comment from barbara.wilkey
Thank you for sharing these Danish idioms with us. I always enjoy learning about other countries and language and you assisted me in doing this. I appreciate the help.
reply by the author on 09-Jan-2022
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Thank you for sharing these Danish idioms with us. I always enjoy learning about other countries and language and you assisted me in doing this. I appreciate the help.
Comment Written 09-Jan-2022
reply by the author on 09-Jan-2022
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Thank you so very much, Barbara. I'm glad you enjoyed it. Ulla:)))
Comment from Judy Lawless
These are great additions to Helen's book, Ulla. The camel one, I could sort of figure out, but the other two certainly are very strange to we English speakers. Thanks so much for sharing.
reply by the author on 09-Jan-2022
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These are great additions to Helen's book, Ulla. The camel one, I could sort of figure out, but the other two certainly are very strange to we English speakers. Thanks so much for sharing.
Comment Written 09-Jan-2022
reply by the author on 09-Jan-2022
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Thank you so much, Judy. I really appreciate your lovely review.I'm glad you liked it. Ulla:)))
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You're welcome, Ulla.
Comment from Gloria ....
I quite enjoyed your addition to Idioms book. It is most interesting to read those that I have not heard of before, and yours most definitely apply.
It I can lodge them in my long-term memory I expect to use them, and have people look at me quizzically asking what camel?
Many thanks for sharing.
Gloria
reply by the author on 09-Jan-2022
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I quite enjoyed your addition to Idioms book. It is most interesting to read those that I have not heard of before, and yours most definitely apply.
It I can lodge them in my long-term memory I expect to use them, and have people look at me quizzically asking what camel?
Many thanks for sharing.
Gloria
Comment Written 08-Jan-2022
reply by the author on 09-Jan-2022
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Heheh, thank you so much, Gloria. Yes, people will look at you thinking you've lost it, LOL Thanks again. Ulla:)))
Comment from Mary Kay Bonfante
Thanks, Ulla, for sharing your Danish idioms. You have some very interesting expressions!
I've heard the expression "swallow a camel" before, and it wasn't in Denmark. It's in the Bible. When Jesus criticized the religious leaders of His day, he said,
"You blind guides! You strain out a gnat but swallow a camel."
Matthew 23:24 NIV
They were attentive to the finer points of the law, but ignored the weightier matters of justice and mercy that were meaningful to God. I wonder if there's any connection there, to the etiology of the Danish idiom.
Meanwhile, I hope Danish society has an animal rights organization protecting its parrots against those who might be tempted to take that second idiom too literally! Lol.
reply by the author on 09-Jan-2022
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Thanks, Ulla, for sharing your Danish idioms. You have some very interesting expressions!
I've heard the expression "swallow a camel" before, and it wasn't in Denmark. It's in the Bible. When Jesus criticized the religious leaders of His day, he said,
"You blind guides! You strain out a gnat but swallow a camel."
Matthew 23:24 NIV
They were attentive to the finer points of the law, but ignored the weightier matters of justice and mercy that were meaningful to God. I wonder if there's any connection there, to the etiology of the Danish idiom.
Meanwhile, I hope Danish society has an animal rights organization protecting its parrots against those who might be tempted to take that second idiom too literally! Lol.
Comment Written 08-Jan-2022
reply by the author on 09-Jan-2022
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Thank you so much, Mary Kay.That is maybe where it comes from. Yes,I think the parrots are quite safe.LOL thanks a lot again. Ulla:)))
Comment from Mrs. KT
What an interesting and delightful read, Ulla!
Loved every morsel.
Our son-in-law is British. He's been a member of our family fo twelve years now, and became an American citizen. But he still refers to the trunk of his Jeep as the "boot," and new sneakers are "trainers." I love it!
Thank you for sharing!
diane
reply by the author on 09-Jan-2022
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What an interesting and delightful read, Ulla!
Loved every morsel.
Our son-in-law is British. He's been a member of our family fo twelve years now, and became an American citizen. But he still refers to the trunk of his Jeep as the "boot," and new sneakers are "trainers." I love it!
Thank you for sharing!
diane
Comment Written 08-Jan-2022
reply by the author on 09-Jan-2022
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Thank you so much, Diane. I'm so glad you liked it. Yes I know what you mean. My English is mostly British English and my brother and I have some good laughs when i us a word or an expression he's not familar with. He's from Mass. Thanks a lot again. Ulla:)))
Comment from BethShelby
These are interesting. I'm familiar with swallowing a camel. It is in the Bible "Strain and gnat and swallow a camel" It means you have problems accepting small things, but you are willing to deal with something huge.
I've also heard of shooting the parrot. I heard it came from Norway where they had a cutout of a parrot on pole. To win the prize you had to shoot the parrot. Not like shooting the bird. LOL The last one I hadn't heard but I would have assumed it is because beggars often use buckets when they are broke and need money. I'm glad we're still adding to the idioms.
reply by the author on 08-Jan-2022
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These are interesting. I'm familiar with swallowing a camel. It is in the Bible "Strain and gnat and swallow a camel" It means you have problems accepting small things, but you are willing to deal with something huge.
I've also heard of shooting the parrot. I heard it came from Norway where they had a cutout of a parrot on pole. To win the prize you had to shoot the parrot. Not like shooting the bird. LOL The last one I hadn't heard but I would have assumed it is because beggars often use buckets when they are broke and need money. I'm glad we're still adding to the idioms.
Comment Written 08-Jan-2022
reply by the author on 08-Jan-2022
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Thank you so much, Beth. Well, as Norway was ruled by Denmark until1917 it is not so surprising we have the same sayings. I'm glad you liked them. Ulla:)))
Comment from lyenochka
I love it! Thanks for sharing about these fun sayings. Of course, the first one about swallowing camels came from Jesus. He said to the Pharisees and scribes who were so hypocritical in keeping the Law, "You blind guides! You strain out a gnat but swallow a camel." It's probably from Christian Danes that this expression came.
As for the bucket, there are so many bucket idioms but that meaning is new to me. At least, it's not like the American English "kick the bucket."
But oh, the poor parrot. I wonder how that expression came to be!
reply by the author on 08-Jan-2022
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I love it! Thanks for sharing about these fun sayings. Of course, the first one about swallowing camels came from Jesus. He said to the Pharisees and scribes who were so hypocritical in keeping the Law, "You blind guides! You strain out a gnat but swallow a camel." It's probably from Christian Danes that this expression came.
As for the bucket, there are so many bucket idioms but that meaning is new to me. At least, it's not like the American English "kick the bucket."
But oh, the poor parrot. I wonder how that expression came to be!
Comment Written 08-Jan-2022
reply by the author on 08-Jan-2022
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Hi Helen, I'm glad you liked.it. I had fun writing this but I didn't want it to be too heavy, hence it's short. Ulla:)))