IdiomDaily Life
Korean
Korean비행기를 태우다 (bihaenggireul taeuda)
Meaning: To flatter someone over the top.
Literally: To put someone on an airplane
Example: “그렇게 비행기 태우지 마, 부끄럽잖아.” — Stop buttering me up like that; it's embarrassing.
English equivalent: To butter someone up
Equivalents in other languages
Chinese: 拍马屁 (pāi mǎpì) Literally: To pat the horse's rump
English: To butter someone up
Polish: podbijać bębenka Literally: To beat the drum
Origin: Putting someone on an airplane is lifting them sky-high with praise. The phrase is modern, from the 20th century, and is said of over-the-top flattery. No particular story lies behind it.
More Korean idioms
- 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.
- 우물에 가 숭늉 찾는다 (Umure ga sungnyung channeunda) To demand results with absurd impatience.
- 누워서 떡 먹기 (nuwoseo tteok meokgi) An extremely easy task.
- 호박이 넝쿨째 굴러 들어왔다 (Hobagi neongkuljjae gulleo deureowatda) Unexpected great fortune fell into your lap.
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