Proverbs and idioms should never be taken literally, as even in their original language, they have a purely metaphorical and intend to offer a vivid and exaggerated description of a certain subject. So, when we say “you’ll bust a gut laughing”, we don’t actually wish you ill health. On the contrary, the phrase promises a good and fun time!
But when two people from different countries communicate, they might end up understanding proverbs and idioms literally, which can end up in some pretty weird and (usually) funny situations. Here are 15 phrases and idioms that don’t translate that well into English because they sound absolutely bizarre, mind-boggling, and hilarious! And yes, they will have you bust a gut!
1. German - Sie spielt die beleidigte Leberwurst.
2. Chinese - Yí gè zài chuáng shàng chī bǐng gān de nán rén xǐng lái gǎn jué hěn zāo gāo.
3. Hungarian - Apád nem volt üveges!
4. Russian - Вешать лапшу на уши.
5. Latvian - Pūst pīlītes.
6. French - S’occuper de ses oignons.
7. Portuguese - Quem não tem cão caça com gato.
8. German - Sie hat nicht alle Tassen im Schrank.
9. Swedish
10. Norwegian - Å skrive noe bak øret.
11. Tamil - Thanneer Kaattuthal.
12. Chinese - Yòng yígè kuàizi chīfàn de rén shì è de.
13. Polish
14. Ukrainian - Хоч на хвіст собаці лий.
15. Kenyan proverb
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