Idioms from Around the World

Browse hundreds of idioms in multiple languages. From animals to food to the human body, discover the colorful expressions that give every language its character — each with its literal translation and real meaning.

Ça ne casse pas trois pattes à un canard (French) — It's nothing special or impressive. Literally: It doesn't break three legs of a duck.
C'est comme pisser dans un violon (French) — A completely pointless effort. Literally: It's like peeing in a violin.
Avoir le cafard (French) — To feel depressed or down. Literally: To have the cockroach.
Poser un lapin (French) — To stand someone up on a date. Literally: To put down a rabbit.
Tomber dans les pommes (French) — Suddenly losing consciousness — possibly derived from the older expression 'être dans les pommes cuites' (to be in the cooked apples), meaning to be utterly exhausted. Literally: To fall in the apples.
Avoir la moutarde qui monte au nez (French) — To be getting angry. Literally: To have the mustard rising to the nose.
Pédaler dans la semoule (French) — To be confused and getting nowhere. Literally: To pedal in the semolina.
Avoir d'autres chats à fouetter (French) — To have more important things to do. Literally: To have other cats to whip.
Raconter des salades (French) — To tell lies or tall tales. Literally: To tell salads.
En faire tout un fromage (French) — To make a big deal out of nothing. Literally: To make a whole cheese out of it.
Couper les cheveux en quatre (French) — To over-analyze or split hairs. Literally: To cut hair in four.
Se regarder le nombril (French) — To be self-centered or narcissistic. Literally: To stare at one's own navel.

From the blog: The Same Idiom in Different Languages: 6 Ideas the Whole World Shares

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