IdiomBody & Senses
Korean
Korean발이 넓다 (bari neopda)
Meaning: To be extremely well-connected.
Literally: To have wide feet
Example: “우리 삼촌은 발이 넓어서 어디를 가도 아는 사람이 있다.” — My uncle has friends in high places; he knows someone wherever he goes.
English equivalent: To have friends in high places
Equivalents in other languages
French: Avoir le bras long Literally: To have a long arm
English: have friends in high places
Origin: Wide feet can stand in many places at once, so a person with wide feet has connections everywhere. The phrase means being well connected, knowing many people. No particular story lies behind it.
More Korean idioms
- 국수를 먹다 (Guksu-reul meokda) To attend a wedding — or, asked as a question, when will you marry?
- 바가지를 쓰다 (bagajireul sseuda) To be overcharged; to get ripped off.
- 비행기를 태우다 (bihaenggireul taeuda) To flatter someone over the top.
- 미역국을 먹다 (Miyeokgugeul meokda) To fail an exam.
- 그림의 떡 (Geurimui tteok) Something desirable but completely out of reach.
- 등잔 밑이 어둡다 (Deungjan mit-i eodupda) The answer is overlooked right under your nose.
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- 백지장도 맞들면 낫다 (Baekjijangdo matdeulmyeon natda) Cooperation and teamwork make even difficult tasks easier; many hands make light work.
- 김칫국부터 마신다 (gimchitgukbuteo masinda) To count your chickens before they hatch.
- 윗물이 맑아야 아랫물이 맑다 (Witmuri malgaya araenmuri makda) Those below follow the example of those above; leaders must behave well first.
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