IdiomNature
Croatian
CroatianBacati drvlje i kamenje
Meaning: To hurl furious abuse at someone.
Literally: To throw sticks and stones
Example: “Navijači su bacali drvlje i kamenje na suca.” — The fans called the referee every name under the sun.
English equivalent: To call someone every name under the sun
Origin: Throwing sticks and stones at someone, whatever lies to hand, is attacking them furiously. In Croatian it now means attacking someone in words, with fierce criticism. No particular story lies behind it.
Equivalents in other languages
English: More Croatian idioms
- Pasti s kruške To be clueless and out of touch.
- Ići niz dlaku To go smoothly and agreeably.
- Glavom kroz zid To stubbornly attempt the impossible.
- Okrenuti ploču To abruptly change your tune.
- Mlatiti praznu slamu To engage in pointless talk or effort.
Explore another collection: Tongue Twisters
Tricky phrases to practice out loud, from languages around the world.
- A aranha arranha a rã. A rã arranha a aranha. Contrasts the soft single r of aranha against the hard rolled rr of arranha — one letter…
- 네가 그린 기린 그림은 못 그린 기린 그림이고 내가 그린 기린 그림은 잘 그린 기린 그림이다. (Nega geurin girin geurimeun mot geurin girin geurimigo, naega geurin girin geurimeun jal geurin girin geurimida.) geurin, girin and geurim rotate through nearly the same syllables with only the vowel mov…
- 앞 집 팥죽은 붉은 팥 풋팥죽이고, 뒷집 콩죽은 햇콩 단콩 콩죽이다. (Ap jip patjugeun bulgeun pat put-patjugigo, dwitjip kongjugeun haetkong dankong kongjugida.) Stacks Korean's aspirated p and k against the final consonants, so every word ends where…
Keep exploring